Gareth Leonard's video: THE COOLEST TOWN in EGYPT Siwa Oasis Travel Guide

🍿WATCH NEXT First 24 Hours in Egypt ► https://youtu.be/8bl3wPRuzP0 🔔 PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, for more travel vlogs ► https://bit.ly/you-da-best​​​​ 👕 15% OFF CUTS Clothing ► https://cuts.team/traveldeeper Siwa Oasis, Egypt - The urban oasis of Siwa is one of Egypt’s most isolated settlements with a population of about 33,000 people, mostly made of Berbers; an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa, and being so remote, they’ve developed their own unique desert culture. Almost Every Egyptian friend we spoke with since the beginning of our trip in Cairo told us we should go east towards Sharm El Sheik and Dahab first, instead of Siwa Oasis. They said the mountains are beautiful and the Red Sea beach resorts are pristine and relaxing… but instead, we chose to go West. a grueling 9-hour journey towards the Libyan border all because I saw a photo of place that looked so unique to anything I’d ever experienced. The ancient Citadel of Shali, rising up through the heart of modern downtown Siwa, tucked away in Egypt’s Western Desert. It looked so different and foreign in photographs and now walking up through here in person proved that unwavering urge to be true. This fortified city was built by Berber populations in the 13th century to protect inhabitants from wandering tribes. The Siwa Shali is a Labyrinth of huddled buildings that once rose four or five stories high and housed hundreds of people, and the entire compound is made of mud from clay, salt and rock that acts as a natural insulator from the scorching summer months. In 1926 however, a three-day torrential rain storm caused more damage than any invader had managed in hundreds of years, and people have since moved out to more modern homes with running water and electricity. But what remains, is one of the coolest ruins I’ve ever seen. Along with the incredible Egyptian Food, one of the most popular attractions in Siwa Oasis are the salt pools outside of downtown Siwa. You see, years ago people realized that there’s a lot of money to be made in the salt trade here in Siwa, and inevitably mines were created to extract the natural resource from the massive dried up salt lakes just outside town. As diggers dug, the holes would naturally fill with freshwater from underground springs, and the crazy aqua green and turquoise colored pools that would form as a result, are what we came to see first-hand. As if an isolated community, wildly interesting ruins, and multi-colored therapeutic salt pools weren’t enough, oh yeah, Siwa is also the perfect gateway into the Western Sahara Desert. We finish this picture perfect trip to Siwa, as per usual, with a meal and a new perspective. It was easy getting here, but the juice was most definitely worth the squeeze. I hope you enjoyed this Egypt Travel Vlog from Siwa Oasis, Egypt as much as we did making it! ❤️ If so, please hit that "👍" button, and leave a comment! See ya next week! ---------- WATCH ANOTHER "TRAVEL DEEPER" SERIES: ✈️ Russia ► https://bit.ly/Travel-Deeper-Russia-Series Philippines ► https://bit.ly/Travel-Deeper-Philippines-Series Japan ► https://bit.ly/Travel-Deeper-Japan-Series Brazil ► https://bit.ly/Travel-Deeper-Brazil-Series Australia ► https://bit.ly/Travel-Deeper-Australia-Series USA ► https://bit.ly/Travel-Deeper-USA-Series Mexico ► https://bit.ly/Travel-Deeper-Mexico-Series ---------- WHO AM I? Hi! My name is Gareth Leonard, an American Travel YouTuber with a passion for slow, meaningful Travel. I have spent the past 13+ years traveling around the world while creating travel vlogs to help inspire and educate people to “Travel Deeper.” If you enjoy my work, please subscribe to this channel and turn on the notifications bell to stay up-to-date with my travel deeper adventures. Daily updates can also be found on my Instagram Stories (@traveldeeper), so if you’ve read this far, send me a DM with the “🦊” emoji so I know you’re a real one! Thanks for following along! 🙏