Olimpia Emo Capodilista

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge

  • Where:
  • Why:My friend’s 30th birthday
  • When:April 2022
  • Who:50 friends

"Solitude in the Sahara"

On the edge of the glimmering Lake Siwa is Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge in Egypt. The 40-room hotel is completely sustainable with no plastic, no electricity, water supplied from a natural spring, and buildings made from mud and other natural materials. Though admittedly not an easy place to reach, the destination is worth every ounce of effort — the hotel rises like a sand castle with a striking backdrop of the dunes, the endless desert, the palm-lined Siwa oasis, and the starriest sky. With unique but comfortable rooms, and amazing locally-sourced food, Adrere Amellal is a perfect desert hideaway, best suited for a romantic trip or with a group of friends. 

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Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge The entrance to my room

The entrance to my room

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Adrere Amellal blending into the landscape

Adrere Amellal blending into the landscape

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge The pool — our oasis

The pool — our oasis

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Our daily lunch spot under the palms

Our daily lunch spot under the palms

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Being a pharaoh...

Being a pharaoh...

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge In my element

In my element

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Pretending to be Lawrence of Arabia

Pretending to be Lawrence of Arabia

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge The Siwa salt pools

The Siwa salt pools

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Desert trips

Desert trips

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Attempting to sand board down the dunes

Attempting to sand board down the dunes

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge One of the evening drinks spots

One of the evening drinks spots

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge The hotel's bar, one among many, looking decadent in the candlelight

The hotel's bar, one among many, looking decadent in the candlelight

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Various rooms in the hotel, made of sand bricks and salt

Various rooms in the hotel, made of sand bricks and salt

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Another cosy spot — everything made of natural materials

Another cosy spot — everything made of natural materials

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Aerial view of Adrere Amellal from the White Mountain

Aerial view of Adrere Amellal from the White Mountain

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Breaking their fast as we were there during the holy month of Ramadan

Breaking their fast as we were there during the holy month of Ramadan

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge A desert excursion

A desert excursion

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge The candlelit bedroom at night

The candlelit bedroom at night

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Climbing to the top of the White Mountain

Climbing to the top of the White Mountain

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Candlelit tables — everything is made from salt

Candlelit tables — everything is made from salt

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge Adrere Amellal by night

Adrere Amellal by night

Highs & Lows

  • No electricity. The whole hotel is lit with candles.

  • The stars at night!!!

  • The landscape and views are spectacular.

  • All the rooms are unique and very comfortable.

  • Amazing food that's produced at the hotel or locally sourced.

  • Go completely off-grid with no wifi and spotty 3G.

  • We arrived on the last day of an unusual 40 degrees C heatwave which brought biting flies to the pool. Usually the temperate is much milder, and even cold at night.

The Barometer

  • Design
  • Location
  • Future Forward
  • Night's Sleep
  • Service
  • Amenities
  • Takeable Treats
  • Refer a Friend
  • Overall Value
  • Life Changing
Total: 43/50

Important Bits

  • Type

    Desert Hideaway

  • Vibe

    Lawrence of Arabia meets Alexander the Great

  • Location

    A serene palm-lined oasis surrounded by sand dunes

  • Rooms

    40

  • Pre-Arrival & Arrival Experience

    It was all organized by our friend so I can't speak to the booking process but the manager was extremely kind and always around to help with anything

  • Future Forward

    Despite taking you back in time, Adrere Amellal is sustainably future forward. No plastic, no electrics, and the hotel relies on water from the springs. The buildings are made out of mud bricks and the bed frames from rock salt — basic but incredibly comfortable

  • Music

    Only the Berbers singing and dancing around the fire at night. As we were celebrating a birthday, our group decided to bring a large portable speaker for a boogie under the stars

  • Year Opened

    2000

  • Designed By

    Mounir Neamatalla, the owner

  • Health & Wellness

    A serene fresh water pool amongst the palm trees

  • Food

    Thanks to the abundant fresh water springs, Siwa is very green and the hotel grows most of its own produce. The food is great, especially their vegetarian lunches and home-made date jam with local cheese for breakfast. Lunch is by the pool, dinner is somewhere different every night

  • Bar, Events & Nightlife

    There are a number of bars around the hotel to try a different location every night

  • Minibar & Retail

    The hotel has a great boutique store that sells cotton and silk kaftans, shirts for men, bed linens and homewares

  • Accessibility

    No

  • Pet Friendly

    No

  • Children

    Yes — but probably better as a romantic trip or with a large group of friends

  • Price

    Great value

  • Tel.

    +20 22736 7879

  • Website

    Visit website

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge

Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge

Adrere Amellal, Siwa, Egypt

Siwa Salt Lakes

Siwa Salt Lakes

Salt Lakes, Siwa, Egypt

Desert Sand Dunes

Desert Sand Dunes

Siwa Desert, Egypt

Culture!

Culture!

Shali Fortress, Siwa, Egypt

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