6 Best Hotels in Siwa, Western Desert Oases

Certainly the most expensive hotel in the oases—and the most unusual—it has been watched by eco-travelers with great interest. The hotel's name means "White Mountain," and it has been built entirely from local materials incorporating desert stones and bricks. Its stunning design has won wide acclaim. Everything is natural, from the nummalites (small coin-like fossils) on bathroom walls to the furniture made of gypsum blocks. There's no electrical power at the lodge: the chef cooks on a wood-burning stove, and beeswax candles and oil lamps illuminate the lodge after sunset. This also means there are no fans, heaters, or air-conditioning—a drawback to some—but the architecture is designed to keep the rooms warm in winter and cool in summer. The lodge's pool is a natural spring. Local and imported alcohol is served.

Nestled below the jagged ruins of Shali, this eco-lodge has been designed to blend with the architecture of the 13th-century fortress. Constructed of karshif and palm trunks, it merges traditional aesthetics with modern comfort and amenities. Guest rooms are spread out on three levels and linked by staircases and small shady courtyards. Enjoy a drink or a meal on the terrace in the evening while watching the activities of the shops and street hawkers below.

This three-story concrete building's best assets are its beautiful, lush palm garden, friendly atmosphere, and central location. Happily, it's just far enough away from the square to be removed from most of the noise. Rooms in the main building are spartan; some have fans and a few have private baths. Skip them and check into one of the six recently constructed bungalows, which have enclosed bathrooms and small terraces. This hotel has an Internet café.

The owner of one of the longest-established hotels in the oases continues to expand and improve the choice of rooms. Hidden in a quiet, shady palm garden just outside town on the way to Aghurmi, this two-story hotel offers clean air-conditioned rooms and fan-cooled bungalows. Better still are the luxury El Khan suites, which come with air-conditioning and large bathrooms. A spring feeds a large, inviting pool in the leafy palm garden. Guests can dine in the gardens, or in more a formal setting indoors.

One of the prettiest and best-equipped hotels in the oases, the traditional styling of these single-story mud-brick bungalows surrounded by maturing gardens helps make the resort a relaxing place to stay. Interior decor is simple, with natural desert tones and locally made blankets and carpets. The bathrooms are unusual for the area in that they have walk-in showers and ceramic-tiled counters. But truly unique is the resort's pool: it's about four feet wide and snakes 600 feet through the gardens like a lazy river. Take an afternoon dip, and retreat to the resort's spa for some pampering.

This traditionally styled hotel made from red stone, karshif, and palm trunks has rooms leading off an internal courtyard. Rooms are simply yet stylishly furnished using Siwan handicrafts (carpets, baskets, and blankets). Fans are used to keep the interiors cool. Some rooms have terraces overlooking the gardens, for which there's no extra charge, so ask for one when you book. The interior communal lounge has palm trees growing out through the ceilings, and the canopies of these same trees provide shade for the upstairs terrace and restaurant.