What to do in Siwa Oasis

The remotest of Egypt's destinations, Siwa is a time capsule for an ancient way of life. Visit local Berber villages, where people live as they have done for centuries in mud-brick hamlets (definitely make a stop at the 6th-century Temple of the Oracle), and then head to the oasis: with its olive and date palm groves, it's an idyllic spot for a picnic or a dip in one of the natural springs. Siwa is surrounded by two expansive deserts, the Great Sand Sea and the White Desert, both of which can be explored on foot or longer 4x4 drives. The former is home to immense dunes (hello, sandboarding) while the latter must be viewed at sunrise or sunset when the spires of crystal and quartz shimmer vividly. In a destination like this, stargazing is beyond imagination...