The International Hot Spring Hotel is a ***three-star category hotel in Bahariya Oasis, the most northerly oasis in the Egyptian Western Desert and only 350 kms from the Giza Pyramids.
The family-run hotel welcomes guests to the tranquil environment of the oasis, with its fresh air, perfect stillness and almost perpetual sunshine.White Desert Tours, our travel agency, specialises in conducting safaris into the unknown Egypt, the Western Desert. If you wish to experience this Other Egypt, the 70 per cent of the country that falls within the Sahara Desert, then you have found the perfect spot.
The International Hot Spring Hotel and White Desert Tours have pioneered tourism in the Western Desert since 1995. Located in Bahariya Oasis, the hotel is the perfect gateway to your desert experience in Egypt.
Shali Lodge, also known as kenooz by the Siwans, is a charming hotel in Siwa Oasis situated in the middle of an olive and palm grove. It is located within a five minute walk from the center of town.
Built using traditional Siwan methods, Shali Lodge offers twenty rooms of different styles and sizes. The lodge has been operating since 1999 and was created in collaboration with local Siwan craftsman and builders as part of an initiative to revitalize the fading tradition of Siwan architecture and building.
Situated outside the historic fortress of Shali, Albabenshal offers guests 13 rooms on three levels connected through alleyways and terraces overlooking the center of town on one side and the fantastic ruins of the fortress on the other.
On the main terrace, Albabenshal restaurant serves a range of dishes such as Curcuma Rice, Shakshouka, and One Thousand Leaf Fetir.
Siwa, the most inaccessible of all Egypts oasis until very recently, is also one of the most fascinating, lying some 60 feet below sea level. On the edge of the Great Sand Sea, its rich history includes a visit from Alexander the Great to consult the Oracle of Amun in 331 BC. Archaeologists, such as Liana Souvaltsis and implied that the great military leader was buried here, but no real evidence has come from this. The King of Persia lead a 50,000 man army to the area to destroy the oracle, but the entire army was lost in the desert.
Olive oil is still made in the area by crushing the olives from the 70,000 olive trees in the area with stones. The dates are gathered by zaggala (stick bearers), who must remain celibate until the age of forty, and the area boasts some 300,000 date trees. It is located on the old date caravan route, yet until recently, it received few other visitors and retained much of its heritage. In fact, until the battles which took place around the oasis in World War II, it was hardly governed by Egypt, and remained mostly a Berber (Zenatiya) community for the prior thirteen centuries. Siwans continue to have their own culture and customs and they speak a Berber language, called Siwi, rather than Arabic. Interestingly, each October there is a three-day festival during which Siwans celebrate the harvesting season for olives and dates.
The area is also famous for its springs, of which there are approximately 1,000. The water is sweet, and is said to have medical properties.
Many women still wear traditional costumes and silver jewelry like those displayed in The Traditional Siwan House museum in the town center. In fact, the area is also well known for its crafts, particularly woven cloth.
Nabila Tours & Cruises specializes in tours to the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean; such as Egypt, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Greece,..... etc. We offer private and shared tours to accommodate every client's need.
We have been providing our clients with phenomenal vacations for the past 37 years.
Our friendly and experienced staff ensures a smooth, relaxing and memorable travel experience that you will remember for a lifetime.
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