Fatnas Island, Siwa Oasis, Egypt– “I now see why the Egyptians worshiped the sun!” That was a powerful ‘in the moment’ comment that I overheard an Egyptian-American doctor say. We were a small group of strangers who were watching the sunset on Fatnas Island, aka ‘Fantasy Island’. I held on to that idea of the ancient Egyptians worshiping the Sun God “Ra”, all the while I was gazing at Ra disappearing over the desert horizon.
I was very far away from home while watching this magical sunset. I was in Siwa Oasis, which is one of Egypt’s most isolated communities very close to the Libyan border. It took me ten hours on an overnight bus from Cairo to get to Siwa, and the journey was less than comfortable. I was sleep deprived, dusty and un-showered from sightseeing during the day but it was all worth it when I took my seat on Fatnas Island.
This was not my first time to travel and view a sunset. I have witnessed the beauty of a glorius sunset in far off places like Jordan, Oia-Greece, the Philippines; and in locations closer to home, like Hawaii and the beaches of California. There is something about chasing Ra to watch him set in different parts of the world. As the quote goes, “SUNSETS are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully.”
Getting to Fatnas Island is easier than getting to Siwa Oasis! If you have transportation like a motorcycle cart, car, or tumnayah you can drive to Fatnas Island rather quickly. It is less than three miles from the center of town.
If you have a tour guide, more than likely he will bring you to Fatnas Island at the end of your long day.
Once you arrive to Fantasy Island and park, find a comfortable seat along the beach or on the dock. There is a also café on the island where you can get a cold drink before the sun sets. Some people are here for hours before the sunset, and make a great day of it.
Yes, this was a long journey to watch a sunset, but now we know why the ancient Egyptians worshiped the Sun God “Ra”.
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SUNSETS are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully…
– Kristen Butler
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📸 All photos are taken by me and are my intellectual property – Trixie Navarre
Trixie Navarre 
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