Mountain of the Dead

The Mountain of the Dead, Gebel al-Mawta, is a conical hill on the edge of Siwa town riddled with rock-cut tombs, an ancient necropolis carved into the soft stone over centuries. From a distance the honeycomb of dark openings pocking the slope is unmistakable.

A handful of tombs are open to visitors and preserve vivid painted decoration from the Greco-Roman era, with birds, gods and hieroglyphic scenes still clinging to the walls in ochre and blue. Locals sheltered among these tombs during the Second World War, and some bear the marks of that time.

Climb to the top for one of the best panoramas in Siwa, taking in the town, the palm sea and the salt lakes glinting beyond. It's a short, rewarding stop rich in atmosphere.