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This travel guide details everything you need to know for visiting the salt pools of Siwa Oasis. From how to get there, organising a tour, what to expect and why they need to be on your Siwa itinerary!
Intriguing. Otherworldly. Magical.
All words that come to mind when thinking back to the mesmerising salt pools of Siwa Oasis. Pools that are vibrant teal in colour and lined with frosted borders of crystallised salt that glisten in the midday sun.
They’re not just a spectacle to look at though, these concentrated lakes have a salinity level of 95%! This means you can float effortlessly on the surface with no need to swim or worry about sinking.
For reference, the world-famous Dead Sea in Jordan and Israel is only 34%!
The unique experience of floating in these magical salt pools easily makes it to the top of my list of things to do in Siwa Oasis!
In recent years, the picture-perfect salt lakes have garnered increasing attention since going viral across social media. This has transcended them to be the main draw for tourists making the trip to a destination that isn’t exactly on Egypt’s classic tourist trail.
But there’s a bit of logistical planning involved in order to have the best visit possible, therefore I’ve created this guide to make organising your trip to Siwa Oasis’ salt lakes as simple as possible.
Where to Find Siwa’s Salt Pools – Siwa Oasis Map
Once you’ve made your way from either Alexandria or Cairo to Siwa, you’ll be wondering where on earth in this dry, dusty town on the fringe of the Sahara Desert you’re supposed to find these mesmerising turquoise spectacles.
Well, the salt lakes are actually situated within Siwa Salt Group’s salt mine, around 12km east of the town centre. This is a working salt mine but it’s open for tourists to visit daily. You’re able to relax, float in the pools and capture photos that’ll bring you right back in years to come.
Below, I’ve included a Google Maps screenshot which gives you a clear idea of where the salt mine is located in relation to Siwa Oasis.
Short on time?
Visit the salt lakes as part of an action-packed full-day tour of Siwa Oasis. See the best of Siwa during an epic one-day adventure!
How to Get To the Salt Lakes
The best options to visit the salt pools are either on a full-day Siwa sightseeing tour or by tuk-tuk.
To organise a tuk-tuk driver head to El Souq Square (outside Shali Fortress). You’ll find many drivers around here that you can book a half-day return trip with. Considering it’s a 45-minute journey each way it’s normal to arrange 3-4 hours for this trip.
The price will depend on your negotiation skills but you should expect to pay around 400EGP for the return trip. This is the total price (not per person) and the driver will stay with you for the duration.
Alternatively, your hotel or camp may be able to recommend or organise a tuk-tuk driver for you.
Note: Drivers may offer additional stops too which is up to you. A great option is to combine the salt lakes with a hot spring where you can shower and freshen up
A piece of advice is to make sure your driver knows where to find the smaller Instagram-worthy pools – not just the large ones at the entrance. The smaller ones are natural openings in the salt crust and very unique making for excellent photo spots!
It’s hard to describe but there’s also something more intimate and enclosing about floating in a shoebox-sized pool where you can just about touch the crystallised edges.
We made the mistake of assuming these would be easy to find but oh were we wrong! The salt mine is a large area and we found ourselves climbing up big salt mounds with our driver trying to spot where there might be one of these elusive pools!
Thankfully we had allowed time for two visits as there was a chance of cloudy weather and we made sure to find a driver who knew exactly where he was going for the second day!
Once you’ve organised a driver buckle up for the 45-minute journey which could be very bumpy depending on which route he takes! Or if you’re lucky he may take you along a paved palm tree-lined road.
Regardless, the second half of the journey is over a thin strip of road which crosses the large lake to the east of Siwa. Once across the lake you’ll soon come across the entrance to the salt mine on the right-hand side of the road.
Note: Technically you could get there by cycling but I don’t recommend this for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s a long 12km ride without much shade. Second, it’s quite rugged terrain within the salt mine and as I mentioned it’s not the easiest to navigate without someone who knows where they’re going!
Entrance Fee and Opening Times
The salt lakes are open for tourists to visit between 8.30am – 5.30pm and there’s currently no fee to enter.
Honestly, I found this to be a pleasant surprise with the world we live in. Normally increased tourism is an excuse to extract every dollar possible from people. However, Siwa Salt Group seem to be fully focused on extracting only rock salt and not money from our pockets!
What to Expect at the Salt Lakes
I’m going to start by saying that it’s important to manage your expectations and understand that, as I mentioned, Siwa’s salt pools are part of a working salt mine. The photos that you see on Instagram depicting a paradise-like secluded oasis show only one side of the coin.
You just need to be aware that within the salt mine there’s also loud machinery, workers and trucks moving around, and diggers excavating salt.
Having said that, the salt lakes are still a surreal phenomenon to see and an absolute must when in Siwa! Floating freely in the salty water remains one of my top highlights in Egypt!
Once you enter the salt mine you’re soon welcomed with a selection of large turquoise pools. These are the most developed – when I say developed I mean lined with some chairs and the busiest with tours. This is also where you’ll find a couple of tents to change into swimwear if needed.
Don’t get stuck here though! The best of the salt lakes lie deeper in the salt mine. If you take my advice and hire a knowledgeable driver he will drive you further and seek out the quieter pools.
You’ll see many different sizes of pools with sparkling blue water and huge mounds of excavated rock salt as your driver winds his way through the maze of roads.
Some are straight-edge rectangles 3-4 metres deep which have been purposefully extracted to mine the salt. Others are unique shapes and depths that have naturally opened in the salt crust. The latter ones make for perfect individual swimming holes!
Although, no matter which pools you stop at, the vivid turquoise colour is striking! Many are lined with crystal white salt and beg the question of how they are even real! Even if you’re not a photographer you’re going to want to take some snaps!
Once you’ve captured some photos take some time to float and relax in the refreshingly cold water. You cannot sink even if you try!
Embrace the bizarre yet calming experience and let any worries drift away into the surrounding desert landscape.
Read Next: Fatnas Island: The Best Sunset Spot In Siwa Oasis
Health Benefits of Siwa’s Salt Lakes
Many tourists visiting the salt lakes these days are, like us, there to admire the profound colours, experience the fascinating sensation of effortlessly floating, and maybe snap a few shots for the gram.
However, it’s worth noting that the salt lakes in Siwa have health benefits too. And before social media, this was the main reason why people came here to soak. The highly concentrated salt pools are said to have healing properties that can treat various ailments.
These include skin and sinus conditions and rheumatism to name a few.
Helpful Things to Note
Here’s a list of quick tips to ensure your visit to Siwa’s salt pools is as comfortable as possible.
– Wear your swimwear underneath to change easily.
– Bring a bottle of water to wash the salt off after swimming.
– Bring flip flops/sandals as the rock salt in sharp to stand on.
– Don’t put your head or eyes underwater – it’ll ruin your day!
– Don’t shave for a few days before visiting or it could be painful!
– Try and visit on a sunny day at midday for the most spectacular colours.
– Combine your trip with a hot spring or Cleopatra’s pool to freshen up.
Siwa Salt Lakes Frequently Asked Questions
Can you Swim in Siwa’s Salt Lakes?
Yes! Swimming in the salt pools is a unique experience in which your body floats on the surface. This makes it safe even for non-swimmers.
Why Do You Float?
Your body floats on the surface due to the water’s 95% salinity level and density.
How deep are Siwa’s Salt Pools?
The pools have a maximum depth of up to four metres. However, there are many different sizes with varying depths. Some also have narrow strips of ankle-deep water that you can walk across.
Final Thoughts
Without a shadow of a doubt, an afternoon floating in Siwa’s magical salt pools is one of the top things to do when on a trip to this unique area of northwestern Egypt.
There are not many experiences that compare and it’s something that I’m confident you’ll reminisce on for a long time to come!
If you have any questions about visiting Siwa or the salt lakes leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!
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