Trip Planner: Africa / Egypt / Matrouh Governorate / Siwa / Shali Fortress

Shali Fortress, Siwa

4.6

#2 of 7 in Historic Sites in Matrouh Governorate

See the enigmatic ruins of Shali Fortress, which once towered above the oasis. Dating back to the 13th century, the fortress was built from "kershef"--a mixture of salt, mud, and rocks. It wasn't meant to last more than a few decades, but it was destroyed by a heavy rainfall in 1926. Today, it is largely abandoned apart from some buildings near the edges, which are mostly used for storage. Walk through the labyrinth of impressive organic shapes, which once used to rise up to 60 m (197 ft) in height. Follow the path that spans the remnants of this ghost town, past the ancient mosque to the top, which offers scenic views. Make Shali Fortress a centerpiece of your Siwa vacation itinerary, and find what else is worth visiting using our Siwa online trip planner.

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Tours to Shali Fortress

Private Siwa Oasis Day tour from Marsa Matruh (North Coast) BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $205

Duration: 12 hours

Buy tours from $205

Budget Travel Package to Siwa Oasis from Cairo or Giza BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $571

Duration: 6 days

Buy tours from $571

Shali Fortress reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating

107 reviews

By DanoMPLS

You are in Siwa. Of course you are going here. Great views, you don’t need much time, but it might be hot. The hotel serves up some good grub when you are done. more »
By Ahmedlkhouly

Shali fortress was destroyed by rain earlier before, and currently they are trying to restore it with the UNESCO so actually there are not much to see except for the old rooms and the view from the... more »

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