Siwa Oasis hosts Return to Source from 15 November
Published on 11/07/2026 at 11:02 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSWater, desert and visitor context
- Molly Basterfield brings Return to Source to Siwa Oasis from 15 to 22 November 2026.
- The programme combines water dance, somatic movement, voice activation and dream work in salt lakes, springs and desert.
- Egypt's water ministry places Siwa about 320 km southwest of Marsa Matrouh and identifies five villages in the oasis.
Siwa Oasis will host Return to Source: Water & Desert Initiation from 15 to 22 November 2026, bringing underwater movement into the salt lakes, thermal springs and desert around Siwa. The retreat is led by Dahab-based underwater dancer and water therapist Molly Basterfield.
Return to Source brings water dance to Siwa
The programme combines water dance, somatic movement, voice activation and dream work, according to SceneNow's event report. It moves Basterfield's practice from Dahab's sea into the oasis's salt water, natural springs and surrounding desert.
Basterfield has developed underwater movement through freediving, buoyancy and exercises focused on trust, support and emotional awareness. The Siwa programme connects those strands with dream work and the geography of an inland oasis, rather than presenting the water as a separate activity from the desert setting.
The event is a retreat rather than a general public opening of the oasis. Visitors looking for this programme will therefore find a scheduled experience in Siwa between 15 and 22 November, not a new access rule for the lakes or springs.
Siwa Oasis links the retreat to water management
Siwa is both a tourism destination and a working oasis with environmental and agricultural importance. Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation describes the area as facing rising agricultural drainage levels, water salinity and excessive groundwater abstraction.
The ministry's Siwa Oasis development project covers irrigation, drainage and protection of agricultural land and local communities. Its published plan includes three phases, 12 deep production wells and reinforcement of the Siwa Lake embankments over 14 km.
This gives the November retreat a specific setting: its water-based sessions take place in an oasis where springs, salt lakes, agriculture and water infrastructure are closely connected. The programme's combination of movement, voice and dream work is consequently tied to Siwa's natural features, not just to an indoor workshop venue.
The same ministry page places Siwa approximately 320 km southwest of Marsa Matrouh and identifies five villages with their surrounding settlements. Those details help distinguish the destination from similarly named hotels, camps or event listings elsewhere in Egypt.
Visiting Siwa Oasis: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Return to Source: Water & Desert Initiation runs from 15 to 22 November 2026 in Siwa Oasis, with activities in salt lakes, thermal springs and the surrounding desert.
- The programme is a retreat, so it should not be treated as a general public opening or a change to access rules for Siwa's lakes and springs.
- Siwa lies in Egypt's Western Desert, approximately 320 km southwest of Marsa Matrouh, and the oasis includes five villages and their surrounding settlements.
- The terrain described for the programme includes salt water, natural springs and desert areas; participants should expect activities connected with water and outdoor ground rather than a conventional museum visit.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Siwa Oasis on social platforms
These links open searches for Siwa Oasis on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Siwa Oasis
When does Return to Source take place at Siwa Oasis?
Return to Source: Water & Desert Initiation takes place from 15 to 22 November 2026. The retreat brings water dance, somatic movement, voice activation and dream work to Siwa.
What is Siwa Oasis?
Siwa is an Egyptian oasis of environmental, agricultural and tourism importance. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation identifies five villages and describes projects addressing water levels, salinity and groundwater use.
Where is Siwa Oasis and how do you get there?
Siwa lies approximately 320 km southwest of Marsa Matrouh in Egypt's Western Desert. The verified event information identifies Siwa Oasis as the setting but does not specify a public transport route.
