Discovery Tours Egypt
Day TourCairo

Fayoum Oasis, Wadi El Rayan and Tunis Village 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 pottery workshops of Tunis village, the Wadi El Rayan lakes and waterfalls and lunch. The Wadi El Rayan fee is paid at the gate.
  • New
  • Private

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Cairo · Fayoum · Lake Qarun · Tunis Village · Wadi El Rayan · Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls
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 for walking the village lanes and the lakeside. In summer, the early start helps with the heat.

  • 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 leaves Cairo at 07:00 and heads for the Fayoum oasis, about two hours away by road. Your driver and guide meet you at your Cairo or Giza hotel. At 09:15 you pause at a viewpoint over Lake Qarun. At 10:00 you walk through Tunis village on the south shore of the lake, where a pottery school and workshops line the lanes. Buying pottery is up to you. At 11:45 you reach the Wadi El Rayan protected area for its two lakes and the waterfalls between them. Lunch at a local restaurant follows at 13:45. You are back at your hotel by about 17:00. The vehicle is a road vehicle, with no 4x4, and the trip does not include the Valley of the Whales. You can book online at least 48 hours ahead.

Background

The facts

Tunis is a village on the south shore of Lake Qarun in the Fayoum oasis, about two hours south-west of Cairo. It is known for its pottery school and workshops, and lies not far from the Wadi El Rayan protected area.

Named in this entry

Cairo·Fayoum·Lake Qarun·Tunis Village·Wadi El Rayan·Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • Travelers in Cairo or Giza who enjoy crafts, village life and quiet scenery, and prefer a comfortable vehicle.

Maybe not, if

  • Not for anyone who wants a 4x4 ride, sandboarding or the Valley of the Whales, or who cannot sit through a long drive.

What lingers

  • 01A private vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide for your group only
  • 02A viewpoint over Lake Qarun
  • 03The pottery workshops and lanes of Tunis village
  • 04The two lakes of Wadi El Rayan and the waterfalls between them
  • 05Lunch at a local restaurant

Honest assessment

Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.

Highlights

  • A village visit with pottery workshops, as well as lakes and waterfalls
  • Private vehicle, driver and guide, with lunch included
  • A paved-road route in an ordinary vehicle

Things to Consider

  • The day is long, with about four hours of driving
  • The Wadi El Rayan fee and any pottery are extra

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
  • Pottery and other shopping in Tunis village
  • A 4x4, the Valley of the Whales and sandboarding (not part of this trip)

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

    Carry cash for the entry fee and for pottery, which is bought directly from the workshops

  2. 02

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

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 of driving, so it suits school-age children best. The workshops are calm and easy for children to watch, but keep young ones 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?
    You pay per person. The more people in your group, the lower the price per person, as the vehicle, driver and guide cost the same for any group. The price includes transfers, the guide and lunch. The Wadi El Rayan entry fee is extra. Your exact price shows before you pay.
  2. 02How do I book this trip?
    You book online. Choose your date and the number of travelers and give us your hotel name. We need your booking at least 48 hours before the day so we can plan the 07:00 pick-up.
  3. 03Do I have to buy pottery in Tunis village?
    No. Buying pottery is optional, and anything you buy is paid for by you. You can simply look at the workshops and enjoy the lanes above the lake. Bring some cash if you would like to take a piece home.
  4. 04Is the Wadi El Rayan fee included?
    No. The entry fee for the protected area is not part of your booking, and you pay it at the gate. Please keep cash for it. The rest of the day, including lunch, is covered.
  5. 05What is the cancellation policy?
    A cancellation up to three days before the trip is refunded in full. Between three days and one day before, you get half back. Within one day, or if you miss the pick-up, nothing is refunded.
  6. 06Is this trip private, or will others join us?
    It is private. You travel with your own party and your own guide, and nobody else joins. The group can be up to 12 people. You are free to ask for more time at the places you enjoy 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-645443

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