2 Day Trip to Fayoum Oasis and Wadi el Hitan from Cairo

At 07:00, you will be picked up from your hotel in Cairo or Giza by a private air-conditioned vehicle for the journey to Fayoum Oasis, located about 112 km southwest of Cairo, with a driving time of approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Your first stop will be the Museum of Kom Aushim, originally established in 1974. The museum is an excellent introduction to Fayoum, showcasing artifacts from prehistoric through Roman times, including the famous Fayoum Portraits.

Continue to Karanis, known as “The Lord’s Town,” one of the largest Greco-Roman cities in Fayoum. Founded in the 3rd century BC and originally inhabited by mercenaries of Ptolemy II’s army, the site features the remains of two ancient temples. At 11:00, proceed to the Hawara Pyramid, also called Arsinoiton Polis, built by King Amenemhat III during the 12th Dynasty.

Although much of its casing stones were removed in Roman times, Hawara remains one of Egypt’s most important archaeological sites. The mortuary temple of Hawara was described as the legendary labyrinth, famously documented by Herodotus and later by Strabo and Diodorus, who claimed it contained over 3,000 rooms.

The site is also where 146 of the celebrated Fayoum Portraits were discovered, some of which are now displayed at the Kom Aushim Museum and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. At 13:00, enjoy lunch overlooking Qarun Lake, named after the legendary King Qarun.

Afterward, transfer to Tunis Village in Fayoum for your overnight stay.

After breakfast at 07:00, begin your desert adventure in a 4x4 jeep from Tunis Village. The journey takes you through the landscapes around Qarun Lake and into the heart of the Western Desert, where you will reach Wadi El Hitan (Whale Valley), a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. This extraordinary open-air museum contains fossils dating back 45 million years, including primitive whale skeletons, shark teeth, petrified mangrove roots, and seashells preserved in soft rock.

Everywhere you walk, you will encounter remnants of the prehistoric sea that once covered the region. At 10:00, visit the Fossil & Climate Change Museum, which features an outdoor display of large whale skeletons as well as indoor exhibits of fossils, mangroves, and seashells preserved in glass cases.

Enjoy lunch in this unique desert setting before continuing your exploration to Qusur El Arab, followed by the Magic Lake and Gebel Al-Mudawara. The Magic Lake, located in Wadi El Rayan, is renowned for its changing colors, which vary with the time of day and season, depending on the sunlight. Surrounded by golden dunes, it is a perfect spot for sandboarding, hiking, swimming, or simply admiring the breathtaking scenery. Its mineral-rich waters are also believed to help relieve rheumatism.

Nearby, Gebel Al-Mudawara, about seven kilometers south of the waterfalls, is a picturesque lookout area with three striking mountains along the lakeshore, making it a popular picnic spot. After enjoying the desert landscapes, drive back through Fayoum Oasis and stop to see the Pyramids of Fayoum before continuing your return journey to Cairo, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.