Great Sand Sea Egypt: Dunes, Sandboarding and Safari From Siwa
Local insight by Eyad Elzaghandi
4 min read
Great Sand Sea Egypt: one of the largest dune fields on Earth, stretching from Siwa Oasis south along the Libyan border. The easiest way to experience it is a half-day 4×4 safari from Siwa: dune driving, sandboarding, a swim in a desert lake or hot spring and sunset over the dunes. Licensed operators arrange the permit.
- WhereSouth of Siwa to the Libyan border
- SizeAbout 72,000 km²
- Best experienceHalf-day 4×4 safari
- ActivitiesDunes, sandboarding, springs
- PermitArranged by operator
- Best monthsOctober to April
In this guide
What is the Great Sand Sea?
The Great Sand Sea covers roughly 72,000 square kilometres of Egypt and Libya: dune after dune, some over 100 metres high, with almost nothing else in sight. Explorers in the 1920s and 30s, including the ones who inspired The English Patient, crossed it with camels and early cars. Today you can feel a small piece of it in an afternoon from Siwa.
What a Great Sand Sea safari is like
A typical safari leaves Siwa in the early afternoon in a 4×4. Your driver lets some air out of the tyres and heads into the dunes, climbing and dropping in long, thrilling slides. You stop on high crests for photos and sandboarding, cool off in a desert lake or the warm spring of Bir Wahed, then watch sunset from the top of a dune with tea. You are back in Siwa for dinner.
Sandboarding: easier than it looks
You do not need experience. Boards are provided, the sand is soft, and the worst that happens is a sandy roll down the slope. The climb back up is the hard part, so pace yourself.
When to go
October to April has the best conditions. In summer go only late in the afternoon, when the sand cools. Always bring water, sunglasses and a scarf.
Permits and safety
The Great Sand Sea is a border region, so all trips need a permit arranged in advance by a licensed operator. Go only with an experienced local driver and a well-maintained 4×4.
How to include it in your trip
The Great Sand Sea safari is included in our 3-day Siwa Oasis tour, the 4-day Siwa tour and the 5-day Siwa and White Desert tour. Want something different in the same trip? The White Desert offers chalk formations instead of dunes. Compare them in our Egypt desert safari guide.
Great Sand Sea Egypt: the short version
The Great Sand Sea Egypt is the Sahara of your imagination, just outside Siwa. A half-day 4×4 safari is the best way to feel the Great Sand Sea Egypt without needing a long expedition.
Great Sand Sea FAQ
Where is the Great Sand Sea?
In the Western Desert, from south of Siwa along the Libyan border.
Can you visit the Great Sand Sea from Siwa?
Yes. Half-day 4×4 safaris leave from Siwa town.
Do you need a permit for the Great Sand Sea?
Yes. Licensed operators arrange it in advance.
Is sandboarding in Siwa safe?
Yes, the sand is soft and boards are provided. Go at your own pace.
What is Bir Wahed?
A warm spring in the dunes near Siwa, often visited at sunset on a safari.
Eyad was born in Bahariya Oasis and works as a licensed tour guide in the Western Desert. With the Egypt Desert Trips team of local guides and drivers, he hosts travelers in the Black Desert, the White Desert, Siwa and Fayoum. Meet the team.
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