Valley of Whales and Wadi El Rayan Water Falls Day Tour from Cairo
Description
Step out from the hustle and bustle of Cairo and step into an adventure of stunning natural beauty with our Valley of Whales and Wadi El Rayan Water Falls tour. Experience a part of Egyptian history and nature that is often overlooked. Our day trip commences from Cairo and brings you face-to-face with the enigmatic desert whales in the Valley of Whales (Wadi Al-Hitan). It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that houses fossil remains of the last known kind of Archaeoceti, an ancient sub-order of whales. Post this, we head to the Wadi El Rayan Water Falls- the only waterfall in Egypt. See the cascading water and take in the raw beauty of this spectacle. It is a sight of surging waters in the middle of a desert landscape that you don’t want to miss. Join us for this unique excursion that blends history, nature, and culture in a tapestry of unforgettable sights and experiences.
Tour Options
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.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
At 8 am our tour guide will be waiting inside the lobby of your hotel and he will be holding a sign showing our company name Emo Tours
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Entrance fees
- Jeep Safari included
Reviews(94)
Super cool and interesting trip! We do not think the lack of seat belts in the car is ok.
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.
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
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 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.
We had an absolutely amazing experience with our guide Youssef in Egypt! The tour was truly fantastic, extremely well planned, and perfectly organized from start to finish. Everything ran smoothly, and we always felt taken care of. Youssef is incredibly knowledgeable and made every stop very interesting and engaging. He is also very polite, friendly, and warm-hearted, which made the experience even better. Our whole family had an amazing time and enjoyed every single moment. This tour was definitely a highlight of our trip! We would highly recommend Youssef to anyone visiting Egypt and would happily choose him again without hesitation.
Our trip to the Fayoum, which included a visit to the Valley of the Whales, was truly memorable. The tour guide - Haitham - stood out for his knowledge of the history behind the sites we visited. He explained the artefacts with such enthusiasm and friendliness that it made the experience both educational and engaging. The desert drive was another highlight. Ibrahim’s skill and energy turned the journey into an adventure, taking us off-road and through the sand in a way that was thrilling yet safe. It added a real sense of fun to the day. Overall, the combination of historical insight, warm hospitality, and adventurous driving made this a fantastic trip. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore the Fayoum in an exciting yet informative way.
My wife and I signed up for this trip on a free day at the end of a very structured Nile cruise. We were a little uneasy when a guy in a hoodie picked us up in our hotel in an unmarked Nissan Sunny, but Hamada turned out to be a very friendly, charming guy. He mentioned that most tourists taking this trip don't actually know what they're going to see - the whale fossils in Wadi el Hitan, so heads up that that's what you're going to see (to temper expectations, I had incorrectly assumed that these were in situ fossils. They are actually part of an open-air museum and have been staged). The real unexpected highlights for me were the Landcruiser ride through the desert, as well as the two hour drive from Cairo to the desert jump-off point, which takes you through some of the more agricultural communities such as Faiyum, which many tourists might not see.
This was our favorite day of the entire trip! Absolutely awe-inspiring from start to finish. The Bedouin camp was incredibly cool, and the traditional food was delicious. The 4x4 ride through the sand was an absolute blast, and Magic Lake was unbelievably beautiful. Visiting Valley of the Whales felt like stepping into the world of an archaeologist discovering ancient dinosaurs — truly surreal. Our guides were on time, knowledgeable, friendly, and so much fun to spend the day with. Ask for Fares — he is the BEST! Highly recommend this tour — it was unforgettable.
A good day trip. Would highly recommend!! See a lot outside of Cairo. Breakfast was excellent. Our guide, driver, and driver in wadi El rayan were all very nice and knowledgeable.
