Fayoum Oasis - 3 Days
From $1549 (Both Private Group Tours & Small Group Tours)
Overview
Fayoum Oasis is one of Egypt’s most remarkable destinations, where striking desert scenery meets a rich ancient heritage. It offers a rare blend of natural beauty, archaeology, and the enduring ingenuity of pharaonic civilization.
Located about 100 km southwest of Cairo, Fayoum was once a major center for the cult of Sobek and an important hub for farming and trade. Its oasis was shaped by the Bahr Yussef canal, an ancient engineering project that diverted Nile floodwater into the basin and helped transform the area into fertile land.
Inhabited since ancient times, Fayoum remains a vital agricultural region and one of Egypt’s cultural and archaeological treasures, known for its fertile landscape, historic sites, and distinctive local character.
Natural Attractions
- Lake Qarun – The oasis centers on Lake Qarun, the last remnant of a prehistoric lake recorded as early as 3000 BC.
- Wadi Rayyan – Home to Egypt’s largest waterfalls, it is also a popular spot for birdwatching.
- Wadi El Hitan – This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its remarkable fossilized whale remains.
- Amazing Vistas – The contrast between fertile greenery and surrounding desert creates some of Egypt’s most striking scenery.
A Treasure Trove of Egyptian History
- The area includes Sneferu’s early pyramid at Meidum, along with several other pyramids.
- Temples such as Qasr Qarun and Madinet Madi reflect Fayoum’s long religious significance.
Pyramids and Temples
- Unique Burial Practices – Fayoum is famous for its Roman-era Faiyum Portraits painted on wooden mummy panels.
- Ancient Religious Center – It was a major center for the worship of Sobek, the crocodile god.
- An Ancient Breadbasket – Fed by Nile canals, Fayoum was one of ancient Egypt’s key agricultural regions.
- Engineering Brilliance – Ancient irrigation and land-reclamation projects expanded its fertile farmland.
- Modern Significance – Fayoum remains an important agricultural region today.
- Tunis Village – Known for its peaceful setting and traditional pottery.
The Essential Aspects of this 5-Star Itinerary
Designed for discerning travellers, this journey pairs Egypt’s timeless wonders with the comfort, privacy, and seamless service expected of a truly high-end experience. Every detail has been considered to ensure your time is not only memorable, but effortless from beginning to end.
The Signature Touches of This 5-Star Journey
- Handpicked 5-star hotels in Cairo, chosen for their elegance, comfort, and exceptional service
- A luxury-class Nile cruise experience with refined accommodation and attentive onboard hospitality
VIP Concierge Service in Cairo
- Your personal concierge will welcome you on arrival, meeting you at the aircraft gate or in the customs hall for a seamless start to your journey.
- Enjoy priority passage through customs and immigration, allowing you to bypass the usual queues with ease.
- All transfers are accompanied by our staff and provided in air-conditioned comfort for a smooth, effortless experience throughout.
A Personal Travel App for Effortless Connection
- We can provide a personal travel app for your phone, laptop, or tablet, keeping you connected with loved ones while delivering real-time flight updates and itinerary changes—your discreet, always-on travel companion.
From the moment you arrive to your final farewell, every aspect of your stay is curated with care, discretion, and attention to detail—allowing you to immerse yourself in Egypt with complete peace of mind and in exceptional style.
Gallery
Itinerary
Historical Attractions
Lake Qarun
Nestled in the heart of Fayoum, Lake Qarun is one of Egypt’s oldest natural lakes. Surrounded by lush green landscapes and sandy hills, it is a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. You can enjoy a boat ride or simply relax by the shore, taking in the beauty of this picturesque spot.
Tunis Village
Tunis Village is a small village in Egypt’s Fayoum Oasis, known for its pottery, natural beauty, and peaceful atmosphere. It is situated on a hill overlooking the salt water Lake Qarun, offering views of the desert on the other side. The village became an art hub after a Swiss potter set up a pottery school there in the 1980s. Today it offers pottery workshops, art galleries, and a range of accommodations and restaurants.
Meidum Pyramid
Medium is south of the main Fayoum city area. Built by the Pharaoh Sneferu, this pyramid was his first of 3 pyramids he built.
Building three pyramids during his life (the 4th Dynasty 2,600 BC) would place him on a scale of achievement that few have ever attained. The pyramids that he created, at Meidum and Dahshur which ultimately led to the construction of the Giza pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure resulted in a legacy lasting 4,500 years.
Petrified Forest
The Petrified Forest in Fayoum, Egypt, is a protected open-air museum in Gabal Qatrani, north of Lake Qarun, where ancient, fossilized tree trunks lie scattered across the desert. This site contains millions of years of geological history, with fossilized trees up to 40 meters high, as well as other fossils of ancient creatures. It offers a unique experience for nature lovers and geology enthusiasts to walk among these formations and see remnants of a prehistoric forest and its inhabitants.
Its the first of 2 nights at Tunis and a place of great restaurants and relaxation.
Accommodation: Lazib Inn Resort and Spa (5 Star)
B L Included – Dinner at own expense
Qarun Lake
Porret Pottery School In Tunis
Meidum Pyramid
A Stunning Oasis
Desert & Natural Wonders
Wadi El-Rayan
Wadi El-Rayan is a protected area that includes the Magic Lake, the Wadi El-Rayan Falls, and the Valley of the Whales (Wadi El-Hitan).
Magic Lake
The Magic Lake is named for its changing colours throughout the day and is a popular spot for activities like swimming, sandboarding, and relaxing.
Wadi El-Rayan
Wadi El-Rayan is also home to Egypt’s only waterfalls and fossils of ancient whales, making it a destination for both natural beauty and history.
Wadi Hitan (Valley of the Whales)
Wadi Hitan in Egypt is a globally significant UNESCO World Heritage site. It features a high concentration of fossilized whale skeletons demonstrating the evolution of whales from land-based animals to ocean-dwellers.
The site contains hundreds of complete and partial fossils, which show the whales in the process of losing their hind limbs. It is an “open-air museum.”
Accommodation: Lazib Inn Resort and Spa (5 Star)
B L Included – Dinner at own expense
Magic Lake
Wadi El Rayyan
Wadi El Haitan
Excellent Accommodaion
Ancient Ruins
Amazing Vistas
Some of the amazing vistas of the Fayoum you will never forget.
Gebel el-Mudawara
This distinctive mountain is a great spot for sunset views over the desert landscape.
It is known for its stunning panoramic views of the “Magic Lake,” white sand dunes, and unique, eroded rock formations, making it a popular spot for stargazing
Ancient Temples
We visit 2 ancient temples that characterise the archaeological heritage of the Fayoum Oasis
Qasr Qarun Temple
Qasr Qarun Temple is an ancient Ptolemaic temple in Egypt, located in the Fayoum Oasis.
The temple, also called the “Palace of Qarun,” is dedicated to the crocodile-headed god Sobek, and is notable for its intricate interior maze of chambers, tunnels, and staircases, despite the exterior appearing relatively simple.
Madinet Madi Temple
Medinet Madi is an ancient Egyptian temple complex \lly built in the 12th Dynasty by Kings Amenemhat III and IV and later expanded during the Greco-Roman period. It is dedicated to the serpent goddess Renenutet and the crocodile god Sobek. The site is known for its preservation, with parts of the original Middle Kingdom temple and later Greco-Roman additions, including a processional way with sphinxes and lions.
Cairo. Drop off at your hotel – end of tour
B L Included – Dinner at own expense
Stunning Landscapes Lake Fayoum
A Nature Trail Through The Desert
Gebel El Mudawara
Inclusions
- Pick up and return from your hotel in your private vehicle
- 2 nights accommodation at 5 star hotel
- Bottled Water
- Breakfast and lunch each day
- All entrance fees, service charge, current taxes, and vat.
- Services of an English-speaking guide
Exclusions
- Personal expenditure of any kind
- Dinners at own expense Days 1 and 2
- Tips
- Alcoholic drinks and extra meals
Video
Fayoum Oasis
Physically, the Oasis corresponds to a depression dug in the limestone rock with a surface area of about 17.000 km², whose bottom lies 45 m below sea level and the surrounding relief rises 350 metres above sea level. To the north, a lake called Lake Qaran, spreads over 40 km in length and is 4 km wide at some points, thus covering about 200 km². That is all that is left of the “inland sea” which, during the upper Pharaonic period, still inundated most of the Fayoum lands so that the latter was known as the “Country of the Lake”.
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