Valley of Whales & Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore ancient whale fossils
- Marvel at cascading waterfalls
- Discover unique desert landscapes
- Learn about Egypt's geological history
- Enjoy a scenic desert drive
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip transportation from Cairo
- Guided tour of Valley of Whales
- Visit to Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Day Tour to El Fayoum Visiting starting with pickup from your Hotel at 07:00 AM, Drive from Cairo to El Fayoum around 1 hour, and start the tour by visitng the Tunis Village in Fayoum, The small village of Tunis (‘izbat Tunis) is located in the oasis of Fayoum, on the way to Wadi Rayan. Located on a hill facing a large salt water lake, the village overlooks a stunning view of the edge of the desert on the other side of the lake. It is one of the most beautiful places in Egypt.
The valley of Wadi El-Rayan is an area of 1759 km2, 113 km2 of which are the dominating water body of the Wadi El Rayan lakes. It is located about 65 km southwest of Faiyum city and 80 km west of the Nile River. The Wadi has been used for man-made lakes from agricultural drainage which has made a reserve of the two separate Wadi El Rayan Lakes. The reserve is composed of a 50.90 km2 upper lake and a 62.00 km2 lower lake, with waterfalls between the two. Among the springs, there are three sulphur springs at the southern side of the lower lake, with extensive mobile sand dunes. Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls are considered to be the largest waterfalls in Egypt. At the south and southeast of the springs is Gabal Manqueer Al Rayan, where marine fossils and archeological remains are found. Gabal Madwera, near the lower lake, is known for its extensive dune formations.
Lake Qarun or Qarun Pool is a lake in the city of Fayoum in Upper Egypt. It is located northwest of the city of Beni Suef, west of the Nile River, about 50 kilometers away from it. Lake Qarun is located in Fayoum Governorate and is one of the largest natural lakes in Egypt.
Wādī al-Ḥītān ( lit. 'Wadi of the Whales' Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [ˈwa.diː elˈħit.æːn] is a paleontological site in the Faiyum Governorate of Egypt, some 150 kilometres (93 mi) south-west of Cairo. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005 for its hundreds of fossils of some of the earliest forms of whale, the archaeoceti (a now extinct sub-order of whales). The site reveals evidence for the explanation of one of the greatest mysteries of the evolution of whales: the emergence of the whale as an ocean-going mammal from a previous life as a land-based animal. No other place in the world yields the number, concentration and quality of such fossils, nor their accessibility and setting in an attractive and protected landscape. The valley was therefore inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005. Archaeoceti. enjoy Sand boarding, Enjoy the Sand Dunes and Magic Lake in one of the best destinations in Egypt Then drive back to your hotel in Cairo.
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour involves moderate walking; ensure you're comfortable with this level of activity.
- The tour operates in English; consider this if you're not a native speaker.
- Meals and beverages are not included; plan accordingly for food and drinks.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for desert terrain.
- Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect against the sun.
- Carry a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- Entrance fees
- Jeep Safari included
Traveler reviews
Cool desert trip
Super cool and interesting trip! We do not think the lack of seat belts in the car is ok.
Great day out in the desert.
The drivers and tour guide were excellent. We were picked up from our hotel at the time specified in a comfortable car. The guide was informative and friendly. We got a welcome drink of tea at the desert camp (which also has good clean facilities) and then went on the 4x4 trip through the desert, up and down the sand dunes at speed which 3 of us absolutely loved and one of us was slightly terrified by! The valley of the whales was an interesting place and the lunch in the Bedouin tent was excellent, followed by a visit to the waterfall.
Superb day
We visited this very interesting valley. Beautiful landscapes and we take a leap of 40 million years to admire these incredible whale skeletons. Perfect driver and guide
A full and enjoyable day out.
Or guide Hamad Abo Rakika picked us up on time and we’re set off on the first part of the journey, a two hour drive over to al fayoum for a change over to a jeep for the cross desert stage of 45 minutes. This is quite exciting and younger clients will have a great time. Us older ones just hang on and go with it. Once there the valley of the whales is fascinating, who’s ever heard of fossilised crabs? I hadn’t. The whales are actually ancient relatives from about 35 million years ago. Very interesting as you walk about the park you come across them embedded in the bedrock. The museum is small but very interesting. After that is another drive to the magic lake through an enchanting desert scape then on to the water falls before lunch. The food was good and the staff friendly and entertaining. Having a good guide with you makes this trip a lot more informative and enjoyable. Luckily we had just that. Thank you Hamad for the extra help with things. Highly recommended.
A full and worthwhile day out
A long but worthwhile day. Or guide Hamad Abo Rakika picked us up on time and we set off on a two hour drive to the desert. On arrival we had a short break then into a jeep for the cross desert stage of about 45 minutes. That part is quite exciting and the younger clients will really enjoy it. The valley of the whales is very interesting with exposed fossilised skeletons visible from 35 million years ago. After the whales you head up to the magic lake then along to the waterfalls and back to the camp for lunch. The entire area is quite beautiful with plenty of time for photos and walking about. Lunch was excellent even if we did feel a bit guilty as it was Ramadan. An excellent and full day out, well worth the effort. Thank you Hamad for the extra help.