• 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.

• Private transportation
• All fees and taxes included
• Lunch provided

• Gratuities (optional)

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