Siwa, Dahshur rank among best tourist villages for 2024: UNWTO

According to a new report issued by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Siwa in Matrouh Governorate and Dahshur in Giza Governorate are among the best tourist villages and natural places worldwide for 2024, as cited by TimeOut magazine. Siwa Oasis is regarded as a natural reserve due to its pristine architectural style. The habitat is defined by one- or two-story buildings, with even the hotels and resorts reflecting an ancient architectural form. Siwa and Dahshur were chosen over 54 other villages featured on the list for 2024, which is an increase from 32 villages in the preceding year. An earlier report published in August by The Telegraph recommended Siwa as a must-see tourist destination. The Oasis offers a unique experience with its network of ancient mud-brick lanes, dungeons, mosques, gardens, minarets, lookouts, wells, and gatehouses. Additionally, tourists have the opportunity to purchase specialized souvenirs, Siwa salt, considered among the cleanest types of salt in the world, and olive oil, which is procured from the countless olive trees thriving in Siwa's greener regions. Siwa offers a singular recreational activity of bathing in warm sand, denoted as a treatment for arthritis, besides swimming in warm turquoise saltwater lakes and a safari in the Saharan dunes. As per the report, Siwa is unlike any other place in Egypt, thereby warranting a visit.