The Siwa Oasis, the westernmost group of oases in the Sahara and home to the only Berber population in Egypt, is a place with a culture and tradition dating back thousands of years. At the foot of a huge rock of salt stone and close to the shores of a salt lake glistening in the sun, you will find one of the most unique hotels in the world, almost as if scattered in the sand. A paradise of sand and clay, salt and palm trees. The Adrère Amellal.
Adrère Amellal, Berber for »White Mountain«, is a hotel like no other. A luxurious eco-lodge that, despite or perhaps because of its exclusive location, is committed to sustainable tourism, deceleration and restraint instead of extravagant opulence. The core concept here is the connection with nature and the heritage of local tradition. From what is taken for granted in other contexts Amenities such as electricity, wifi, air conditioning or room service are deliberately dispensed with here. Instead, space is created for thought, peace and relaxation in harmony with nature and with yourself. Rough Luxe.
In contrast to other hotels with a similar reputation, the unique building and character of the exclusive eco-lodge is not the work of a famous architect or renowned hotelier. Even though the idea for this extraordinary facility in the middle of the North African desert was conceived by one of Egypt’s most famous ecologists—Dr. Mounir Neamatalla—is Adrère Amellal is a product of the co-creation of the local population, a team of collaborators interested in sustainability and comments from hotel guests.
Dr. Mounir Neamatalla, the founder and managing director of EQI—Environmental Quality International, is committed to eco-sensitive development in the Middle East and North Africa with his company, which was founded in 1981. Since the beginning of the project, the aim has been to involve the local Siwan community in the development of this initiative and thus preserve and promote the local culture.
Local craftspeople constructed the buildings using traditional building methods and thus under ideal conditions and in harmony with nature. For example, the roofs were covered with palm trees, which ensure optimal temperatures day and night. The walls were built from kershef —, a traditional mixture of sun-dried rock salt, clay and straw. The bathrooms are made of sandstone and the beds and bedside tables are made of salt stone. Even the water for the swimming pool, one of the most classic features of the resort, comes from one of the 1,000 local Siwa springs. Even with the limited number of 40 rooms, care is taken not to exhaust the natural capacities of the immediate environment.
While the color palette of the eco-lodge is dominated by the sand-colored buildings and landscapes, the white of the linen fabrics and the bright blue of the adjacent salt lake during the day, at night it is the black of the desert sky and the flickering red-gold of the candlelight that give this oasis within the oasis its very special charm.
When it comes to cuisine, extravagant menu requests make way for authentic dishes with locally and organically produced ingredients. And where you dine in the evening is also entirely in the hands of the wind. Guests only know when dinner will be served — but the menu and location change daily. The only thing guests can rely on in the evening is that a discreetly lit candlelit path will lead them to their table.
The Adrère Amellal is a refuge for culturally interested and ecologically sensitive travelers. It is a place where you can find peace and relaxation in its origins, a place that respects nature and brings you closer to it in a gentle and authentic way. [MS]
