A good day trip. Would...
A good day trip. Would highly recommend!! See a lot outside of Cairo. Breakfast was excellent. Our guide, driver, and driver in wadi El rayan were all very nice and knowledgeable.
Sharman_H · Nov 2025 · via Viator
Things to do in Cairo
Valley of Whales and Wadi El Rayan Water Falls Day Tour from Cairo
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Overview
Step out from the hustle and bustle of Cairo and step into an adventure of stunning natural beauty with our Valley of Whales and Wadi El Rayan Water Falls tour. Experience a part of Egyptian history and nature that is often overlooked. Our day trip commences from Cairo and brings you face-to-face with the enigmatic desert whales in the Valley of Whales (Wadi Al-Hitan). It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that houses fossil remains of the last known kind of Archaeoceti, an ancient sub-order of whales. Post this, we head to the Wadi El Rayan Water Falls- the only waterfall in Egypt. See the cascading water and take in the raw beauty of this spectacle. It is a sight of surging waters in the middle of a desert landscape that you don’t want to miss. Join us for this unique excursion that blends history, nature, and culture in a tapestry of unforgettable sights and experiences.
What you'll see
- Cairo2 hours
Day Tour to El Fayoum Visiting starting with pickup from your Hotel at 07:00 AM, Drive from Cairo to El Fayoum around 1 hour, and start the tour by visitng the Tunis Village in Fayoum, The small village of Tunis (‘izbat Tunis) is located in the oasis of Fayoum, on the way to Wadi Rayan. Located on a hill facing a large salt water lake, the village overlooks a stunning view of the edge of the desert on the other side of the lake. It is one of the most beautiful places in Egypt.
- 3 hours
The valley of Wadi El-Rayan is an area of 1759 km2, 113 km2 of which are the dominating water body of the Wadi El Rayan lakes. It is located about 65 km southwest of Faiyum city and 80 km west of the Nile River. The Wadi has been used for man-made lakes from agricultural drainage which has made a reserve of the two separate Wadi El Rayan Lakes. The reserve is composed of a 50.90 km2 upper lake and a 62.00 km2 lower lake, with waterfalls between the two. Among the springs, there are three sulphur springs at the southern side of the lower lake, with extensive mobile sand dunes. Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls are considered to be the largest waterfalls in Egypt. At the south and southeast of the springs is Gabal Manqueer Al Rayan, where marine fossils and archeological remains are found. Gabal Madwera, near the lower lake, is known for its extensive dune formations.
- 1 hour
Lake Qarun or Qarun Pool is a lake in the city of Fayoum in Upper Egypt. It is located northwest of the city of Beni Suef, west of the Nile River, about 50 kilometers away from it. Lake Qarun is located in Fayoum Governorate and is one of the largest natural lakes in Egypt.
- Valley of the Whales (Wadi Al-Hitan)3 hours
Wādī al-Ḥītān ( lit. 'Wadi of the Whales' Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [ˈwa.diː elˈħit.æːn] is a paleontological site in the Faiyum Governorate of Egypt, some 150 kilometres (93 mi) south-west of Cairo. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005 for its hundreds of fossils of some of the earliest forms of whale, the archaeoceti (a now extinct sub-order of whales). The site reveals evidence for the explanation of one of the greatest mysteries of the evolution of whales: the emergence of the whale as an ocean-going mammal from a previous life as a land-based animal. No other place in the world yields the number, concentration and quality of such fossils, nor their accessibility and setting in an attractive and protected landscape. The valley was therefore inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005. Archaeoceti. enjoy Sand boarding, Enjoy the Sand Dunes and Magic Lake in one of the best destinations in Egypt Then drive back to your hotel in Cairo.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- driver who is happy to take photos using your phone
- Lunch
- enter fees
- Tour representative
- Jeep Safari included
Not included
- Tipping
Good to know
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Entrance fees
- Jeep Safari included
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveller reviews
4.8★95 reviews
Exceptional tour with history, views, culture and so much laughter
We had such a fun day! I'd definitely recommend this tour. My best friend and I went together and it was surprisingly a private tour - we thought that it would be a group tour for this price. Our guide was Mahmoud Sabra and he's such a fun, bubbly, likeable guy who is great at English and happily answered all of our questions. The car that picked us up was clean and comfortable. We drove past many beautiful places that our guide explained well and we stopped in Tunis to grab some breakfast and drinks that we had at a Bedouin camp inside the Wadi Rayan protected area. The camp is beautiful and has clean, modern toilets and some very cute cats. We changed vehicles here and got to do some dune exploration in a 4x4, much to my delight and my best friend's screams (she loved it really!). When we reached Wadi al Hitan (Whale Valley), Sabra actually came into the museum with us and talked us through things which is rare for a guide - they often just usher you in and wait outside. He clearly was passionate about the area and the fossils which was so great to see. The site itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's just fascinating, beautiful and really something to marvel at. On the way back, we got to climb up to a viewpoint in the 4x4 where we could see the "magic lake" and basically a stunning panorama in general. We had a dance up there, a lot of laughs and photographs and then scared my friend some more with the descent in the offroader. The only waterfalls in Egypt are in this area so we stopped to visit those. Swimming is not allowed on this trip but once you smell the irrigation water that is actually at those waterfalls, you wouldn't want to anyway! We had lunch back at the Bedouin camp and got to soak in the view some more before getting back in the car for the journey back to Giza. At no time did we feel rushed on this trip and our lovely guide made us feel safe (well, I can't speak for my friend when we were in the 4x4!) and welcome. We started at 7am and it was nearly 4pm by the time we got back. Such an awesome day to a very underrated region.
Lianne_M · Oct 2025 · via Viator
Just when you thought you knew Egypt!
After a speedy exit from the mayhem of Cairo’s traffic you will be transferred at White Desert Camp into a rugged but comfortable 4x4 for an exhilarating 35 km off road to Wadi al Hitan. In this unique valley more than 300 whale fossils have been uncovered. Take your time to walk around the site feeling the enormous age of the place, then visit the museum housing the largest specimens. From there the trip continues mostly off road to Magic (colour-changing) Lake and then to a popular waterfall. You return to Camp, where a generous homemade lunch is served in a beautiful tent before the trip back to Cairo. It is all amazing and a real antidote to the big city and pharaonic history of Egypt. Highly recommended.
Tim_R · Oct 2025 · via Viator
Great tour to see the desert from Cairo
Perfect experience with our guide Hamada and driver Mustafa: very kind and available. The tour was great and we stayed in the locations the time we wanted. Everything perfect and chill. Totally recommend.
silviaeugeniab2018 · Sep 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing experience!
From the beginning to the end of the tour it was a great experience. Both Guide H and Driver Mustafa were super attentive to us, always with a smile and good face. What I enjoyed most was the desert tour in the 4×4, there was just us, not leaving aside the whale fossils, the waterfall and the delicious food. I recommend 100% this excursion if you want to get out of the hustle and bustle of Cairo and have a nice and alone time with your partner.
beatrizbL4273PL · Aug 2025 · via Tripadvisor · Translated
grandiose conclusion
after we had been to the Red Sea with Emo Tours and our great guide Mansour before, we have now taken this tour. It was great!!! Our last day in Cairo crowned with this conclusion. briefly described...from the hotel with driver and mansour to Fayum, purchased traditional breakfast on the way and to the Bedouin camp. Then change to the SUV and off into the desert. Viewed in Wadi Al- Hitan fossils and Museeum that let sand formations work on us and then go swimming to the salt lake - Magic Lake. Back to the camp and ate there very delicious lunch. Many details are still missing...but basically we can only recommend Emo Tours. Thanks again to Mansour - it was a great time!
björn h · Jul 2025 · via Tripadvisor · Translated
Desert adventure with a magical oasis
Tour for adventurers who want to explore beyond the common sights. Our guide Omar and the driver were very friendly and attentive (I was unwell and adapted the trip) I recommend checking the journey with the agency before leaving. There are several route options and the tourist may not feel safe crossing Fayun and its villages. Communication was very good with Emo tours. Very good experience!
Eugenia O · Jun 2025 · via Tripadvisor · Translated
Touring
Our tour guide musa was amazing – super friendly, funny, and really good at what he does. He made the whole experience fun and easy, explained things clearly, and let us go at our own pace. We had a great time and learned a lot
Barwaqo L · Jun 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Valley of the Whales tour
Hamada was excellent ! Made sure you didn’t feel rushed during activities and spoke very clearly. I was a solo traveller and so he made me feel very welcomed.
Blake S · Jun 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Who wouldn't want to see whale fossils in the dessert?!!! Great action packed tour.
We loved this tour, so many interesting things packed into one day. The kids loved the sand boarding and 4x4 driving over sand dunes. Whale valley is fascinating, and we also got to drive in the 4x4 up a mountain to a beautiful view over the whole area including magic lake. Also lots of fossils to look at. The lunch at the camp is delicious. Our guide Hakiem was friendly and helpful, and even bought us falafels on our way to try local Fayoum falafel. Definitely recommend
Kellie H · Jun 2025 · via Tripadvisor