El Fayoum Oasis Day Tour
Lake Qarun · Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls · Desert Oasis
About this tour
Private guided trip to El Fayoum oasis, the ancient Lake Qarun, and the famous Wadi El Rayan — Egypt's only natural waterfalls.
What you'll see in El Fayoum
El Fayoum is a broad, fertile depression in the Western Desert, watered by a canal from the Nile known as the Bahr Yussef. In ancient times the crocodile god Sobek was worshipped here, and the regional capital was known to the Greeks as Crocodilopolis. Lake Qarun, the ancient Lake Moeris, is a large saltwater lake lying below sea level, and its shores attract migrating birds in the cooler months. In the Wadi El Rayan Protected Area to the southwest, two lakes are linked by a series of small waterfalls, surrounded by sand dunes and desert cliffs. It is a different side of Egypt from the Nile Valley monuments.
How the day runs
Your guide and driver collect you from your Cairo or Giza hotel in the morning. Fayoum lies roughly 100 kilometers southwest of Cairo, about a two-hour drive depending on traffic. The day usually starts at Lake Qarun for views across the water, then continues through farmland and desert to Wadi El Rayan to see the lakes and waterfalls, with time to walk around and take photos. You can stop for a meal along the way at your own cost. The return drive brings you back to your hotel in the evening, about ten hours after pickup.
Good to know
Entry tickets, meals and drinks are not included, so bring cash for the protected area fee and lunch. The desert sections are sunny and exposed: wear a hat, sunglasses and sturdy shoes for walking on sand and rocks, and carry water. The waterfalls are modest in height, so expect a peaceful oasis landscape rather than dramatic cascades. Spring, autumn and winter are the most comfortable seasons, and winter is best for birdwatching. Carry your passport for road checkpoints. The trip suits nature lovers, photographers and anyone wanting a break from city sightseeing.
Fayoum through the ages
Fayoum has been farmed for thousands of years. Middle Kingdom pharaohs, including Amenemhat III in the nineteenth century BC, invested heavily in the region, expanding irrigation and building pyramids at its edges. Under Greek and Roman rule it became densely settled with farming towns. Some of the best-known artworks from that era are the Fayoum mummy portraits, realistic painted faces placed over the wrapped bodies of the dead, now displayed in museums around the world. Today Fayoum remains an agricultural province of fields, palm groves and canals, and the drive through it is part of the day's interest.
What's Included
- Private air-conditioned transport
- English-speaking guide
Not Included
- Entry tickets
- Meals & drinks
Pricing
- 1 Person: USD 120 total
- 2 Persons: USD 160 total
- 3+ Persons: USD 210 total
Prices marked per person are per person; all others are the total for that group size.
Entry tickets not included
Frequently Asked Questions
Are entry tickets and lunch included?
No. Entry tickets, meals and drinks are excluded. The price covers private air-conditioned transport and an English-speaking guide. Your guide can recommend a local restaurant for lunch, which you pay for directly. Protected area fees change from time to time, so we confirm them when you book.
How long is the drive to Fayoum?
About two hours each way from central Cairo, depending on traffic. Fayoum is roughly 100 kilometers southwest of the city, and the full trip, including time at Lake Qarun and Wadi El Rayan, takes around ten hours.
How much does the tour cost?
The price is a group total: $120 for one traveler, $160 for two, and $210 for a group of three or more. Entry tickets, meals and drinks are not included.
Is this tour good for families?
Yes, for families who enjoy the outdoors. There is some walking on sand and uneven ground at Wadi El Rayan, but nothing technical. The day involves around four hours of driving in total, so bring snacks and something to keep children occupied in the car.
Other Day Tours
- Giza Pyramids, from USD 70
- Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshour, from USD 70
- Cairo City Tour, from USD 70
- Bike Tour to the Pyramids, from USD 30 per person