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Faiyum · Egypt
The oasis beside the Nile, about 100 km from Cairo: Lake Qarun, the waterfalls of Wadi el-Rayan, the whale fossils of Wadi Al-Hitan, the pottery village of Tunis and the Hawara Pyramid.
In the photo: Lake and palm groves in the Faiyum landscape.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Faiyum is a large depression of the Western Desert, about 100 km southwest of Cairo, below sea level. Since ancient Egypt, a canal, the Bahr Yusuf, has brought Nile water to irrigate fields, orchards and palm groves, which contrast with the surrounding desert. The city of Faiyum, the provincial capital, sits in the centre of the oasis, with wooden waterwheels that have become a symbol of the region.
In the northern part of the depression, Lake Qarun is a salt lake of about 200 km², bordered by cliffs and desert, with waterfowl in winter. On the southern shore, the village of Tunis has painted pottery workshops and mud-brick houses. To the southwest, the protected area of Wadi el-Rayan includes two lakes joined by waterfalls and surrounded by dunes.
Further into the desert, Wadi Al-Hitan, the Valley of the Whales, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: amid the sand are skeletons of ancient whales from when the desert was a seabed.
Faiyum also preserves sites from various periods: the Hawara Pyramid of Pharaoh Amenemhat III, near where many of the Faiyum portraits were found; and Karanis, a Greco-Roman town with temples and a museum at the entrance to the oasis on the road from Cairo.
This destination brings together 1 city: Faiyum.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Dados cartográficos: © OpenStreetMap contributors, via Wambacher / geoBoundaries (ODbL 1.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ Cairo International Airport (CAI), in Cairo · 120 km to Faiyum
The arrival city is Faiyum, about 100 km from Cairo along the desert road, roughly a one-and-a-half to two-hour drive. There are buses and minibuses from Cairo and trains from Giza. Cairo International Airport (CAI) is about 120 km away.
The local experience
A protected area in the desert southwest of Faiyum, with two large lakes linked by waterfalls and surrounded by dunes. It is a weekend outing destination for families from Cairo.
The Valley of the Whales, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Faiyum desert: whale skeletons with hind limbs from the Eocene, displayed outdoors along a trail, and a museum.
A saline lake of about 200 km² in the northern part of the Faiyum depression, more than 40 meters below sea level, surrounded by desert and cliffs. It is a protected area, with waterbirds in winter.
A village on the southern shore of Lake Qarun known for its painted pottery workshops, with mud-brick houses, gardens and lake views. It has guesthouses and a pottery market.
A mud-brick pyramid of Pharaoh Amenemhat III, at the entrance of the Faiyum depression, next to the ruins of the temple the Greeks called the Labyrinth and a necropolis where Fayum portraits were found.
Ruins of a Greco-Roman agricultural town at the entrance to Fayum, on the Cairo road, with two stone temples dedicated to crocodile gods, mudbrick houses, and an on-site museum.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
The cool months, from October to April, are best for the deserts of Wadi el-Rayan and Wadi Al-Hitan, and waterfowl usually winter on Lake Qarun. From May to September the desert heat is intense. On Fridays and public holidays, Faiyum receives many visitors from Cairo.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
One day with a driver from Cairo for Lake Qarun, Tunis and Wadi el-Rayan; two days, staying in Tunis or by the lake, to include Wadi Al-Hitan, Hawara and Karanis.
The village of Tunis, on the southern shore of Lake Qarun, has mud- and stone guesthouses amid the pottery workshops, in a peaceful setting. The lakeshore has hotels and campsites with views of the water. The city of Faiyum is more convenient for those arriving by train or bus. In Wadi Al-Hitan there is a camping area.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Yes. In a day with a driver you can see Lake Qarun, the village of Tunis and the waterfalls of Wadi el-Rayan. For Wadi Al-Hitan, Hawara and Karanis, it’s worth staying overnight in Faiyum.
Yes. The sites are spread across the oasis and the desert, and the most practical option is to go with a driver or an organized tour. For Wadi Al-Hitan a 4x4 vehicle is required.
One day for Lake Qarun, Tunis and Wadi el-Rayan; two days to add Wadi Al-Hitan, Hawara and Karanis.
From October to April, when days are mild for the desert. In summer, the heat in Wadi el-Rayan and Wadi Al-Hitan is intense.
