Discovery Tours Egypt
Day TourCairo

Fayoum Day Trip from Cairo – Private 4x4, Wadi El Rayan & Valley of the Whales

11 hours, private 4x4 and guide, entrance fees and lunch included, pick-up at 07:00 from your Cairo or Giza hotel.

At a glance

Departs
Daily

The short answer

An 11-hour private day trip by 4x4 from Cairo to the Fayoum oasis, Wadi El Rayan and Wadi El Hitan, a UNESCO World Heritage site with fossil whale skeletons, with a guide, entrance fees and lunch.
  • New
  • Private

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Cairo · Fayoum · Lake Qarun · Wadi El Rayan · Wadi El Hitan
Includes
Private pick-up and drop-off at Cairo or Giza hotels · Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver · 4x4 vehicle inside the protected area · Private English-speaking guide · Entrance fees for Wadi El Rayan and Wadi El Hitan
Guide languages
English

Best time to go

October to April has the best temperatures. In summer the early start helps, but the desert is very hot by midday.

  • Arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, an Egyptian tour operator working since 1988 with six offices
  • Travel licence ETAA 718 (Category A); IATA accredited agent

02Overview

A first look

This is a private 11-hour day from Cairo into the Fayoum oasis and the desert beyond it. A driver collects you at 07:00 from your Cairo or Giza hotel, and the drive south-west takes about two hours. You stop at a viewpoint over Lake Qarun, then change to a 4x4 and enter the Wadi El Rayan protected area, where you see the lakes and the waterfalls. After that you reach Wadi El Hitan, the Valley of the Whales, a UNESCO World Heritage site where fossil whale skeletons lie along an open-air trail. Lunch is a simple Bedouin-style meal. You are back in Cairo between about 17:30 and 20:00. It is a long day with a rough desert track, so it suits guests who like open country more than city sights. You can book it online and get instant confirmation.

Background

The facts

The Fayoum oasis lies about two hours south-west of Cairo by road. Wadi El Rayan and Wadi El Hitan are in the desert beyond it and are reached by 4x4.

Named in this entry

Cairo·Fayoum·Lake Qarun·Wadi El Rayan·Wadi El Hitan·Valley of the Whales

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • Travelers staying in Cairo or Giza who want a day in the desert and the lakes of Fayoum instead of the usual city sights.

Maybe not, if

  • Not for anyone who dislikes long days, heat or bumpy tracks, or who has back problems.

What lingers

  • 01A private vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide for your party only
  • 02A 4x4 ride into the Wadi El Rayan protected area, with its lakes and waterfalls
  • 03Wadi El Hitan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with fossil whale skeletons on an open-air trail
  • 04A viewpoint over Lake Qarun on the way in
  • 05A simple Bedouin-style lunch in the desert

Honest assessment

Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.

Highlights

  • Your own guide, driver and 4x4, with a flexible pace
  • Lakes, waterfalls and fossil whales in one day
  • Entrance fees and lunch included

Things to Consider

  • A long day with about four hours on the road
  • A rough track inside the protected area

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
  • 4x4 vehicle inside the protected area
  • Private English-speaking guide
  • Entrance fees for Wadi El Rayan and Wadi El Hitan
  • Lunch
  • Bottled water

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Drinks with lunch
  • Personal expenses
  • Sandboarding or other optional activities

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

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

  2. 02

    Bring a hat and plenty of sunscreen, because there is little shade at Wadi El Hitan

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

Children's prices are set from the ages you give when you book, and there is no minimum age. The day lasts about 11 hours with a rough desert track, so we suggest it mainly for school-age children who are comfortable on long drives. Tell us if you need a child seat.

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 falls as the group grows, because the vehicle, driver and guide are shared among more people. It covers the transfers, the 4x4, the guide, the entrance fees and lunch. You see the exact price for your group size when you choose your date.
  2. 02How do I book this trip?
    You can book it online and get instant confirmation. Choose your date and group size, add your hotel name, and pay at checkout. You then receive your confirmation and the pick-up time.
  3. 03Is the ride rough?
    Yes, in places. The tracks inside the protected area are uneven, and the 4x4 bounces on sand and stones. The day is also about 11 hours, with roughly four hours on the road to and from Cairo. Tell us if anyone has back or neck problems before you book.
  4. 04What will I see at Wadi El Hitan?
    Wadi El Hitan is a UNESCO World Heritage site. A marked trail in the open air passes fossil skeletons of early whales lying in the desert, and a small museum nearby explains them. Your guide walks the trail with you and answers questions.
  5. 05What is the cancellation policy?
    If you cancel three days or more before the trip, you get a full refund. If you cancel less than three days but more than 24 hours before, half is refunded. After that, or if you miss the pick-up, there is no refund.
  6. 06Is this trip private, or will others join us?
    It is private. Only your own party rides in the vehicle, and the guide is with you alone. The maximum party is 8 people, and you can ask the guide to spend longer 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-894931

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