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Full Day Trip to El-Fayoum Oasis & Wadi El-Hitan from Cairo
4.4
13 Ratings
Giza
Pick up at 7:30am. Private full day trip to Wadi Elhitan with our 4W Jeep safari. Visit lake Qaroon, valley of Rayyan, Mudawara mountain, we drive by the green fileds & the lake with stops to enjoy, capture, and watch bird life. Visit the valley of the whales at Wadi Elhitan, tour the fossils museum, and the fossils track.
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Valley of the Whales (Wadi Al-Hitan) - Wadi Al-Hitan, also known as “Whale Valley,” is a paleontological site located in Egypt’s Faiyum Governorate, approximately 150 km southwest of Cairo. In July 2005, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its extensive collection of fossils from some of the earliest whale species, the archaeoceti, which are now extinct. This site provides crucial evidence for understanding the evolution of whales from land-dwelling creatures to ocean-going mammals. No other location in the world offers such a high number, concentration, and quality of these fossils, all set within a protected and scenic landscape. This unique combination led to its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The fossils at Wadi Al-Hitan are not the oldest, but their abundance and exceptional preservation, including some intact stomach contents, make the site extraordinary. Fossils of other ancient animals like sharks, crocodiles, sawfish, turtles, and rays also found here help reconstruct the environmental and ecological conditions of the time, further justifying its Heritage status. The first whale fossil skeletons were discovered in the winter of 1902-3, but the site remained relatively obscure for the next 80 years due to its remote location. Interest in the site revived in the 1980s with the advent of four-wheel-drive vehicles, which made access easier. This renewed interest also attracted fossil collectors, leading to the removal of many bones and calls for conservation. The remains exhibit the streamlined body shape typical of modern whales but retain primitive features in the skull and teeth. The largest skeleton found measures up to 21 meters in length and features well-developed five-fingered flippers on the forelimbs, as well as hind legs, feet, and toes—an unexpected discovery in archaeoceti. These whales had a serpentine form and were carnivorous. While some skeletal remains are exposed, most are buried shallowly in sediments and are gradually uncovered by erosion. Wadi Al-Hitan offers a glimpse into millions of years of coastal marine life. - Wadi El-Rayan - Covering an area of 1,759 km², Wadi El-Rayan is located about 65 km southwest of Faiyum city and 80 km west of the Nile River. The valley features two man-made lakes created from agricultural drainage, with the upper lake covering 50.90 km² and the lower lake 62.00 km². These lakes are connected by Egypt’s largest waterfalls. The southern side of the lower lake has three sulfur springs and extensive mobile sand dunes. Gabal Manqueer Al Rayan, located to the south and southeast of the springs, is known for its marine fossils and archaeological remains. Near the lower lake, Gabal Madwera is famous for its extensive dune formations. In the northwest, Wadi El Hitan, a protected area, contains fossils of extinct whales. - Fayoum Oasis - The Faiyum Oasis is a depression or basin in the desert just west of the Nile, south of Cairo, Egypt. The basin covers an area estimated between 1,270 km² and 1,700 km². The basin floor consists of fields irrigated by the Bahr Yussef, a channel of the Nile that drains into a desert depression west of the Nile Valley. The Bahr Yussef flows west through a narrow land neck north of Ihnasya, between the archaeological sites of El Lahun and Gurob near Hawara, and then branches out, creating fertile agricultural land in the Faiyum basin before draining into the large saltwater Lake Moeris (Birket Qarun). Historically, the lake was freshwater but is now saltwater and provides tilapia and other fish for the local area. Unlike typical oases that rely on spring water, the Faiyum’s cultivated land is formed from Nile mud brought by the Bahr Yussef, which is 24 km long. From its start at El Lahun to its end at the city of Faiyum, several canals branch off to irrigate the Faiyum Governorate, with drainage water flowing into Lake Moeris.
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What's Included
- Private transportation
- All fees and taxes included
- Lunch provided
What's Not Included
- Gratuities (optional)
Location
Valley of the Whales (Wadi Al-Hitan)
Western Desert,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.4
(13 Ratings)
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1 star
Jacob_s
Apr 1, 2024
Tons of fun, good communication with tour operator, issues resolved quickly - Pickup was prompt, and the drivers texted on arrival. The hotel would not let them come through the gated entrance to the door, but they were very close and easy to find. There were some initial issues, in that we had to pay out of pocket for access fees to the protected area, entrance to Wadi el-Hitan, and lunch. When I contacted the tour operator, he was extremely quick to apologize and refund the expenses. In addition, our drivers were attentive and a lot of fun. Despite a language barrier (their English was limited), we were able to communicate effectively. I've also never seen someone have so much fun driving up and down sand dunes to get us to some truly spectacular views. They were good-natured, patient, and flexible. Finally, in addition to the listed activities, they took us sandboarding and to really impressive scenic lookouts! I would use this tour operator again in the future.
Review provided by Viator
Chaniel
Dec 18, 2023
To discover with wonder - EXTRAORDINARY. Magnificent day in 4/4. Experienced driver. PLACES of incredible beauty. You have to take the time of 1 or 2 days to come to the oasis of EL FAYOUM
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emmanuel210
Feb 27, 2023
Most exciting part of our Egyptian Tour - What a ride this was. We had 2 great guides/drivers Ahmed and Ahmed. Ahmed got us to Tunis, then Ahmed drove us out to the Whales and other sites. We had some car issues, but they were quickly remedied with a tow and new vehicle and added to the excitement of the trip. Despite our vehicle issues, we had a blast off roading on the dunes, visiting all the cool oasis sites and had a great evening in Tunis afterwards. A+++
Review provided by Tripadvisor
_bratanya
May 21, 2022
Highly recommended - Great experience! You are able to see absolutely unique places, where no many companies can take you. I'd like to thank our guide and driver Mohammed for the great day.
P.S. take clothes with long sleeves or repellent with you: I was eaten by mosquitos in Wadi el Hitan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F6015jkalexanderm
Apr 28, 2022
"Awesome Desert Adventure!" - We had a great adventure! One of the best trips of my life! Our guide Mohammed showed us this treasure in the desert. Stunning landscape with whale fossils... a very unique place on earth.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elena_s
Nov 4, 2021
Amazing trip to the beautiful Egyptian desert - It was an amazing trip! Wadi al-Hitan is a must-see place, with a nice little museum and ancient whale skeletons amid beautiful rocky/desert landscapes. We also visited artificial waterfalls at Wadi al-Rayan and a few scenic spots (including Magic Lake). Our guide Raafat was super helpful and pleasant and gave us plenty of time to explore all the places at our own pace. Would recommend this trip to others who want to see beautiful desert landscapes and are interested in natural history.
Review provided by Viator
239spencerm
Oct 3, 2021
Amazing must not miss adventure - This trip was a must for any one that wants a real adventure. Our host Reefet was amazing, he was waiting outside at 7:30 and the adventure began. The description of this trip does not do it justice, you are hiking around prehistoric whales one moment and sandboarding down a dune next to a real life oasis the next. The food was also fantastic, home cooked made by Reefet himself. This adventure is for someone that wants to do something different then the normal pyramid/ museum tour and really experience the Sahara.
This is a MUST for adventure seekers.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christine_a
Apr 26, 2022
Our tour guide Mohamed... - Our tour guide Mohamed was knowledgeable and efficient, and very friendly. Our time at the Valley of the Wales was excellent, in particular. The lunch provided was fresh and delicious!
Review provided by Viator
George_k
Nov 19, 2023
Unacceptable! - It was a great place, but the experience with "Egypt Tours World" was terrible. We pay 400€ for a full-day tour to visit El-Fayoum Oasis and Wadi El-Hitan.
In the morning, the driver arrived to pick us up, and to our surprise, the guy didn't speak English! He was a great driver, but the company was supposed to send us an English-speaking driver. The same issue happens in El-Fayoum, where we meet our 4x4 driver, but no word in English...So, we get two drivers for a full-day tour without being able to ask any questions or have a simple conversation. Both guys were excellent drivers, and the whole experience was fine, but the entire organization from "Egypt Tours World" was unacceptable.
Review provided by Viator
Sarah_c
Mar 23, 2024
Dangerous Tour Operator - Give your money to another tour operator. Valley of the Whales was an interesting place to visit, however Egypt World Tours gave us an unsafe experience and refused to take us home when we had had enough. We were forced to finish the unsafe tour with no refund.
-We were picked up in a car with no functioning seatbelts in the back seat and a door that could only be opened from the outside.
-The driver picked up a stranger and they drove with us for a while. Neither spoke English so we have no clue who this person was.
-I contacted the tour operator while the stranger was in the car and demanded to be taken home and given a refund. The operator refused to return us home and said we could “talk about a discount” at the end of the tour. They also said they would switch out the car for us.
-An hour after that conversation we were put in a 4x4 vehicle with a driver who spoke English. This part of the tour went smoothly.
-After the 4x4 was done, we were returned to the same car that we were told would be changed. We almost rear ended other cars twice on the highway at 140kmh, with no seatbelt on.
-the tour operator has not been in contact and did not give the refund as promised.
Review provided by Viator
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