A stunning city in Egypt that boasts "mirage-like" sky-blue waters and a romantic Old Town has been named among the top places to go in Africa and the Middle East in 2025.

       Siwa Oasis is located some 439 miles from the Egyptian capital Cairo and is one of the most remote destinations in the world.

       But those willing to seek it out are bowled over by its azure salt lakes and lush vegetation, emerging like a vision in the heart of the desert.

       Sat between between the Qattara Depression and the Great Sand Sea in the Western Desert of the Sahara, Siwa Oasis has long been a source of intrigue for visitors and drew ancient civilisations, including the Pharaonic dynasties, the Greeks and the Romans, to its awe-inspring landscape.

       English language travel guide company Fodors named the city on its 2025 Go List, where it identified some of the most unique and interesting places to visit in the area.

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       Explaining Siwa Oasis' had to feature on the list, Fodors said it "has a timelessness that can make the past several millennia seem nothing more than a fever-dream".

       It also highlights the city's unique character, and the cultural make up of the settlement which is "primarily inhabited by Amazigh (Berber), whose rich tradition of cultural independence has only ever been partially tempered by the ministries of far-away Cairo".

       The outlet singles out some of its most eye-catching landmarks, including the 13th-century Shali fortress citadel and mosque, which "rises five stories over the surrounding mud-brick town".

       "Brimming with alleyways worth traversing, it’s also the obvious point from which to seek out the Temple of the Oracle," it adds.

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       Fodors recommends taking a 4×4 tour of the desert dunes, where you can see Siwa’s three surrounding salt lakes which "remain as evocative as any sight in Egypt".

       And while it is definitely one of the less accessible travel destinations you may come across, there are good accomodation options, including the Siwa Shali Resort on the cusp of both Siwa town and the desert.

       The hotel is 15 minutes by car from the Shali fortress, and is singled out as a great place to rest up after a day of exploring.

       The no-fills eco-lodge Adrere Amellal on the west bank of Siwa Lake, which boasts 39 hand-built rooms is also said to be an excellent base to enjoy the area from.

       As you'd expect its pretty warm throughout the year, with very little rainfall. Average maximum daytime temperatures range from a scorching 38C in July, to a more pleasant 20C during cooler months like January, as per weather-and-climate.com.

       Fodors recommends visiting between October and March to make the best of the less intense temperatures.

       And though the area had remained largely isolated from tourists for hundreds of years, it has risen in popularity, with guided trips that can be booked from Cairo, which is a drive of some eight hours away.