Discovery Tours Egypt
Day TourCairo

Fayoum Oasis and Wadi El Rayan Day Trip from Cairo

10 hours by road, private vehicle and guide, lunch included, pick-up at 07:00 from your Cairo or Giza hotel.

At a glance

Departs
Daily

The short answer

A 10-hour private day trip by road from Cairo to the Fayoum oasis with a driver and an English-speaking guide: Lake Qarun viewpoint, the Wadi El Rayan lakes and waterfalls, lunch and the Fayoum waterwheels. The Wadi El Rayan entry fee is paid at the gate.
  • New
  • Private

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Cairo · Fayoum · Lake Qarun · Wadi El Rayan · Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls · Fayoum City
Includes
Private pick-up and drop-off at Cairo or Giza hotels · Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver · Private English-speaking guide · Lunch at a local restaurant
Guide languages
English

Best time to go

October to April is cooler and more comfortable for walking by the water. In summer, start early and expect strong sun.

  • Arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, an Egyptian tour operator working since 1988 with offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh

02Overview

A first look

This private day trip takes you from Cairo to the Fayoum oasis and back, about 10 hours in all. Your driver and guide collect you at 07:00 from your hotel in Cairo or Giza. The drive south-west takes about two hours. At 09:15 you stop at a viewpoint over Lake Qarun. At 10:15 you reach the Wadi El Rayan protected area, where two lakes are joined by waterfalls. After lunch at a local restaurant, you visit the old wooden waterwheels of Fayoum city. You are back at your hotel by about 17:15. The trip stays on the paved road in an ordinary vehicle. It does not use a 4x4 and does not go to the Valley of the Whales. You can book online at least 48 hours ahead.

Background

The facts

The Fayoum oasis lies south-west of Cairo, about two hours by road. Lake Qarun, the Wadi El Rayan lakes and waterfalls and the waterwheels of Fayoum city can be seen in one long day.

Named in this entry

Cairo·Fayoum·Lake Qarun·Wadi El Rayan·Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls·Fayoum City

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • Travelers based in Cairo or Giza who want a nature day trip in a comfortable vehicle.

Maybe not, if

  • Not for anyone who wants a 4x4 drive, sandboarding or the Valley of the Whales, or who dislikes long drives.

What lingers

  • 01A private air-conditioned vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide
  • 02A viewpoint over Lake Qarun
  • 03The two lakes of Wadi El Rayan and the waterfalls between them
  • 04The old wooden waterwheels of Fayoum city
  • 05Lunch at a local restaurant

Honest assessment

Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.

Highlights

  • A change from the city, with lakes and waterfalls in the desert
  • Private vehicle, driver and guide with lunch included
  • A paved-road route that suits most travelers

Things to Consider

  • The day is long, with about four hours of driving
  • The Wadi El Rayan entry fee is extra and paid at the gate

Stop by stop

Detailed itinerary

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The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Included

  • Private pick-up and drop-off at Cairo or Giza hotels
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver
  • Private English-speaking guide
  • Lunch at a local restaurant

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Entry fee for the Wadi El Rayan protected area, paid at the gate
  • Drinks with lunch
  • Personal expenses
  • A 4x4, the Valley of the Whales and sandboarding (not part of this trip)

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

    Ask your hotel for a breakfast box the evening before the 07:00 start

  2. 02

    Keep cash for the entry fee, because it is paid at the gate

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

Children's prices depend on the ages you give when you book. The day is long, with about four hours in the car, so it suits school-age children best. Bring snacks and something to do for the drive, and keep young children close near the water.

Indicative rates only – pricing and departure fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01How is this private trip priced?
    The price is per person, and it goes down as the group grows, because the vehicle, driver and guide are shared. It covers the transfers, the guide and lunch. The entry fee for Wadi El Rayan is not in the price. You see the exact amount for your group size before you pay.
  2. 02How do I book this trip?
    You can book online. Pick your date, set the number of travelers and add your hotel. Please book at least 48 hours ahead so we can arrange the driver and guide for the 07:00 start.
  3. 03Do we need to pay anything at Wadi El Rayan?
    Yes. The entry fee for the protected area is not included in the booking. You pay it at the gate, so keep some cash with you. Your guide helps with the ticket.
  4. 04Does this trip go off-road or to the Valley of the Whales?
    No. The vehicle is an ordinary road vehicle, not a 4x4, so the trip stays on the paved road. It does not go to the Valley of the Whales and does not include sandboarding. We run a separate trip for the 4x4 and the Valley of the Whales.
  5. 05What is the cancellation policy?
    You get a full refund if you cancel up to three days before the trip. If you cancel less than three days but at least one day before, half is refunded. After that, there is no refund.
  6. 06Is this trip private, or will others join us?
    It is private. Only your own party travels in the vehicle, with your own guide. The largest group is 12 people, and you can ask the guide to spend more time at the stops you like most.

If plans change

Plans change? We make it easy.

  • More than 72 hours before your tour: keep the full amount as credit toward future travel with us, or take a refund.
  • Between 72 and 24 hours: keep the full amount as credit, or take a partial refund.
  • Within 24 hours of the tour, or if you don't show up, we're unable to offer a refund or credit.
  • If we ever have to cancel, for weather or anything beyond our control, you lose nothing.

Credit is valid for 12 months from your original travel date and can be used on any tour, cruise or stay with us.Read our full cancellation and refund policy

Continue reading

From the archives

Product ID: EXC-CAI-321724

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