Adrere Amellal Ecolodge in Siwa, Egypt
Adrere Amellal is a luxurious eco lodge in Siwa Oasis, and is hands down the most unique place I have every stayed in Egypt! Let me show you this majestic hotel in the desert, where the beds are made of salt, the sunsets are once-in-a-lifetime, and the hospitality is unparalleled.
Gus (that’s me!) during my sunset at Adrere Amellal Eco Lodge
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I have known about Adrère Amellal for years, and always wrote it off as "that fancy resort in the desert where Katy Perry stayed", not thinking I would ever stay there myself, but on my latest trip to Siwa I decided to try Adrère Amellal to see what the experience is like, and now I'm officially spoiled! After you experience the unique rooms (each one is different) and communal spaces, dine with other guests at unforgettable meals (at a different dining location each meal) all made by a personal chef, and experience the natural beauty of the eco lodge's surroundings (its own small mountain overlooking the entire Oasis, and directly on the naturally salty Siwa Lake), you'll be spoiled too!
A delicious candlelit dinner from my personal chef was one of the many reasons I was spoiled at Adrere Amellal!
What does Adrere Amellal mean?
View from the top of the “White Mountain”, Adrere Amellal’s namesake
The name "Adrère Amellal" comes from the language of the original nomadic inhabitants of the Western Desert, and means "The White Mountain" - the mountain that provides the background of this Siwa ecolodge.
Arriving at Adrere Amellal
I was transferred out to Adrere Amellal from downtown Siwa Town in a vintage Mercedes 4×4 - an experience in and of itself!
After trying several other eco lodges in Egypt, and also staying at another ecolodge in Siwa on the same trip after experiencing Adrere Amellal, I had an idea of what the experience could be like, but I was still excited when my private driver arrived in a vintage Mercedes 4x4 in downtown Siwa Town to pick me up and bring me out to Adrère Amellal.
The private transfer was arranged by the ecolodge (they also can arrange transportation all the way from Cairo), and took me out of Siwa Town, and then along Siwa Lake, before taking a private road behind the White Mountain and over to the entrance of the property.
The drive was beautiful, and itself part of the experience. Leaving the hustle and bustle of Siwa Town behind and heading out into the desert, and then driving around Siwa Lake, offers interesting and beautiful views of the oasis countryside.
Check in and my room at Adrere Amellal Siwa
My room at Adrere Amellal - one of the special desert rooms - was spacious and beautiful, with <almost> everything made from local materials.
Checking in was unlike anything I've ever experienced - I had a tour around the property, checking out the pool, artisan gallery (full of unique, handmade products, from ceramics to clothes), and some of the dining areas (I was told that my meals would all be at a different dining area, and that I would "figure out" which one was the meal location when it was time), and then brought to my room with a glass of cold hibiscus tea as my welcome drink (delicious!). I was in a cavernous "Special Desert Room", which is one of the larger suites they have, and I've never stayed in a space that big before! My room must have been more than 1,000 square feet, and featured two massive beds made out of salt (with amazingly comfortable mattresses and ostrich feather pillows), two large couches, candles in multiple niches in the walls (since this ecolodge does not use electricity aside from heating water for showers), a clothes rack, and a giant bathroom.
Everything in the room (except for a few small things like sink faucets or matches) was made with local materials and was created in Siwa Oasis, and it really felt like I was a king out in the desert in my massive suite!
The Food and Drinks at Adrere Amellal
Breakfast was served at a dining area overlooking Siwa Lake
Adrere Amellal had several dining areas, and like my host explained, I just needed to walk around the property for a few minutes at each meal time to find which area was being used for that day's breakfast, lunch, or dinner (or I could ask any of the many friendly staff members who were always around).
Every meal was made by our personal chef onsite, and had a unique selection of appetizers and mains. All food and local beer, wine, and spirits are included in the cost of the stay, so Adrere Amellal operates on an all-inclusive type model, but nothing feels like the excess that sometimes is there at a traditional, all-inclusive resort.
Every meal at Adrere Amellal was served at a different dining area
I ate everything they served, and it was all amazing - check out the YouTube video to see all the food I enjoyed.
Even though I don't have any dietary needs or restrictions, the chef at Adrere Amellal has experience making dishes for anyone, including folks who are vegetarian/vegan, lactose intolerant, gluten-sensitive, allergies, etc.
They had local beer, wine, and spirits available, and I was able to order and drink as much as I wanted, although I usually had just a few glasses of wine with lunch and dinner, and maybe a beer or two while hanging out at the pool. There is not a huge variety of local Egyptian beer and wine, and Egypt isn't known as a destination for folks who are really into beer or wine in general, but Adrere Amellal had the best quality local alcohol Egypt has to offer.
Is Staying at Adrere Amellal worth it?
Adrere Amellal is the most expensive hotel you can stay at in Egypt, so it won't be the right choice for everyone, but for those who have it in their budget range, a stay at Siwa's premier ecolodge will be one of the most memorable pieces of any Egypt adventure.
The wonderful hospitality of the staff at Adrere Amellal was a highlight of my stay
There are truly no other hotels, or even ecolodges, that come close to Adrere Amellal. I have never stayed at a property that has the same level of attention to detail for the materials and amenities, hospitality of the staff, variety and quality of the food, and beauty of the natural surroundings as Adrere Amellal. So if Adrere Amellal is within your reach, and you want an experience unlike anything in Egypt, with amazing meals, all-you-can-drink local wine and beer, a natural landscape that is breathtaking and private, and great service, definitely book one of the unique rooms at Adrère Amellal! Even if you spend multiple days in Siwa Oasis, but splurge on just one or two nights at this ecolodge, you'll have a great experience.
There is no electricity at Adrere Amellal (they will charge devices for you), so get ready for pristine, candlelit nights where you can see the stars
Something important to note about Adrere Amellal is that aside from having hot water for the shower and bathroom, there is no electricity in the rooms or common spaces (they will charge phones and devices in a separate area upon request, though). So get ready to rise with the sunrise, enjoy the hotel's amenities by day, and then as night falls, see the entire property magically lit up with hundreds of candles (dinner by candlelight, anyone?).
If Adrere Amellal is out of your budget, there are two other spectacular properties, managed by the same company as Adrere Amellal, that offer similar vibes in the local aesthetics of the site, combined with good food and hospitality:
Shali Lodge (not to be confused with Shali Resort): This lodge is a 10 minute walk from the center of Siwa Town, so while it doesn't have the same feel as the isolation and natural surroundings of Adrere Amellal, the hotel was made by the same designer and the rooms have a similar feel, but at a fraction of the cost. The restaurant has good quality food, and the lodge is able to arrange excursions at a moderate cost.
Albabenshal Heritage Lodge: This hotel is built into the side of Shali Fortress, so it's right in the center of things in Siwa Town and a great location in order to explore the fortress, rent a bike and explore that way, or get the vibe for staying "in the city". The rooms feature similar aesthetics to Shali Lodge, and just like the sister lodge, they have a good onsite restaurant and arrange excursions.
How to book a room at Adrere Amellal
I can easily arrange a stay at Adrere Amellal for you, and even arrange all other aspects of your trip to Egypt! Send me an email, and let's start planning your trip!
What to do at Adrere Amellal
Like other hotels in Siwa Oasis, Adrere Amellal's easiest activity is simply relaxing in nature, reading a book, going for a swim, enjoying the sun, or taking a walk in nature, but you can always go off-campus to do some sightseeing around Siwa Oasis.
Relaxing and slowing down by the pool or lake at Adrere Amellal is one of the biggest draws to staying here
What to do onsite at Adrere Amellal
Adrere Amellal's namesake, the White Mountain, is my top recommendation to experience while staying there. It took about 20 minutes to hike up to the top, and the path was clearly marked and only moderately steep, and the views from the top were definitely worth it. It's here that I saw the most breathtaking sunset I've ever experienced! Hiking up to the top of the mountain, hanging out and enjoying the view, and then returning to the ecolodge only takes an hour or so altogether.
It’s easy to hike up the White Mountain for breathtaking views of Adrere Amellal and the Lake
Adrere Amellal also has a center dedicated to Lee Miller and his Egypt photography, so that's an interesting part of the complex to explore, to look at the collection of black and white photographs of Egypt (or you can purchase the book with all the photographs from the gallery).
The Lee Miller Gallery features dozens of the famous photographer’s photographs from Siwa Oasis and Egypt
The artisan gallery is a great place to shop, with dozens of types of local, handmade products. Things like clothes, bags, pillows, glassware, candleholders, rugs, ceramics, and more make for great gifts of mementos.
Adrere Amellal’s gallery has dozens of types of local, handmade products, great for gifts or souvenirs
And of course, relaxing at the pool, in the lake, or around the property is always an option, too.
What to do around Adrere Amellal
Around Adrere Amellal, Siwa Oasis offers tons of different activities, depending on what you're interested in:
Historical sites
Gebel el Mawta is a small mountain that has dozens of ancient Egyptian Tombs, several of which you can visit. Nearby, there are two dilapidated temples (don't get your hopes up for anything spectacular), the Temple of the Oracle (Amon Temple), and the Temple of Umm Ubayd.
Shali Fortress in Siwa Oasis is a historic site with panoramic views of Siwa Town and the Oasis
Shali Fortress is much newer than the ancient Egyptian sites, but this historic fortress is still over 1,000 years old. Climbing up the fortress to the panoramic viewing area is the perfect spot to experience sunset over Siwa Town.
Hot and cold springs
Aman Ykdin is my favorite hot spring in Siwa Oasis - think of it as a natural hot tub!
Siwa Oasis is known for its natural springs, and swimming in hot or cold springs are one of the favorite pastimes of tourists and locals alike. For hot springs, head to Aman Ykden (pronounced UH-MAN YUCK-DIN), which you'll have to order something from the restaurant or pay a small fee to enter (it's at a private camp, so it's only for guests of the camp and visitors to the restaurant/day pass users). This hot spring is huge, and the water temperature is hotter than a hot tub (I only lasted a few minutes before having to sit on the edge of the spring with just my feet under the hot water). I recommend going in the evening, when the stars overhead and the steam rising off the hot spring are magical.
For cold springs, my favorite (and a tourist favorite) is Cleopatra's Spring, just outside Siwa Town. It's a large cold spring that almost feels like a natural swimming pool, with several cafes surrounding it, the perfect spot to hang out for an afternoon swimming and enjoying a meal and drinks at one of the surrounding spots.
Ride bike around Siwa Oasis
Siwa Oasis is the perfect spot to go on a leisurely bike ride, and many of the main sites can be visited by bicycle. If you get dropped off in Siwa Town from Adrere Amellal, you can easily rent a bike for the day, and explore the main sites in Siwa like the Shali Fortress, Mountain of the Dead and the Temple of the Oracle, take a dip in Cleopatra's Bath, and then return downtown for some shopping before heading back to Adrere Amellal. Bike rental places are a dime a dozen nearby the entry to Shali Fortress, so look around there. Just be sure to inspect the bike thoroughly before renting it!
Exploring in the desert
The desert around Siwa Oasis is beautiful, and easy to explore with a 4-wheel-drive vehicle (and Bedouin guide), by horseback, or by Tuk Tuk (if just going somewhere like the salt springs).
Salt springs - my unpopular opinion
Siwa’s salt pools are actually an industrial mining area for one of Siwa’s major exports - they’re not the Instagram paradise that many content creators say they are
Look at any "influencer" or Instagrammer who visits Siwa Oasis, and you'll see them ranting and raving about the salt springs, combined with (carefully framed and cropped) photos and videos of them floating in a perfectly-turquoise-blue-water salt pool.
This area always shows up on recommended lists of what to do in Siwa, and I hate to break the news to you, but the salt pools in Siwa are really for industrial salt mining. One of Siwa's main exports is salt that is dug from these desert pools, so while you are floating in a salt pool, a few pools over will be a backhoe, making noise and putting exhaust fumes into the atmosphere, while another few hundred feet away a giant truck will go crunching along, laden down with natural materials bound for one of the refining facilities or transport out of the oasis.
To me, this is an interesting spot to visit, but isn't a "must-see" in any way, and isn't actually relaxing. Although it is cool to see how easy it is to float in the super salty water of the pools!
If you do go, bring water shoes, a towel, and some water. The pools have extremely sharp salt crystals on the sides and bottom, and it's easy to cut your feet on these. There also aren't any facilities in the area, so having your own towel to dry off with is critical, and don't expect any bathrooms or water nearby.
Frequently asked questions about Adrere Amellal
Who is the owner of Adrere Amellal?
Adrere Amellal is owned by Mounir Neamatallah, who was inspired to build the ecolodge after witnessing the beauty of the White Mountain, Siwa Lake, and the surroundings of what is now the ecolodge site.
How to get to Adrere Amellal?
Most tourists will take a private vehicle from Cairo (an 8-9 hour drive, one way), or get a transfer from Siwa Town (30 minutes) to Adrere Amellal. However, there is a small airport for private and charter-operated flights, and the folks at Adrere Amellal can arrange the quick, one-hour flight for anyone who is interested. There are no regular commercial flights to or from Siwa Oasis, though, which is part of the charm - getting out to this remote desert paradise is a journey in and of itself, and limits the throngs of tourists from Cairo or Upper Egypt from coming all the way out to Adrere Amellal.
What is unique about the Adrere Amellal Lodge in Siwa, Egypt?
Adrere Amellal has many unique aspects - from the entire property being constructed with local materials, to the meals all differing (and even being served in different dining areas), to all meals, non-alcoholic, and alcoholic beverages being automatically included, and the property having its own private mountain, there is so much that makes a stay at this desert ecolodge special.
How much does it cost to stay at Adrere Amellal?
Adrere Amellal’s Salt Suite are MASSIVE! These multi-level suites feature in-room dining areas, multiple sleeping areas, and grandiose living quarters
Adrere Amellal has three types of rooms (even though each room is unique):
Standard Desert Rooms are $640 USD per night for single travelers, or $840 per night for two travelers sharing one room.
Special Desert Rooms (like the one I stayed at) are $1045 per night, and the enormous Salt Suites are $1845 per night.
What questions do you have about Adrere Amellal, and what do you think - would you stay at this amazing ecolodge? Leave a comment and let me know!
