Fayoum
Egypt · Faiyum · 22 m
Description
Fayoum (الفيوم) is a fertile oasis southwest of Cairo and an important center of agriculture, nature, and history. The region has been inhabited since antiquity and owes its fertility to the Bahr Yusuf, a branch of the Nile that irrigates the oasis through an extensive canal system. Fayoum combines rural life with a rich cultural heritage and remarkable landscapes. Lake Qarun, a remnant of a once much larger lake system, shapes the surrounding region alongside fishing and diverse birdlife. In the desert lies Wadi al-Hitan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving exceptional fossils of early whales from around 40 million years ago.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: November – February
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Wadi Al-Hitan (Valley of the Whales) (UNESCO)
- Wadi El Rayan Protected Area & Waterfalls
- Magic Lake & Desert Dunes
- Lake Qarun
- Tunis Village & Pottery Workshops
- Medinet Madi Archaeological Site
- Karanis (Kom Aushim)
- Qasr Qarun Temple
- Hawara Pyramid
- Gebel Al-Medawara
- Wadi El Rayan Desert Safari
- Sandboarding in Wadi El Rayan
- Wadi El Rayan Birdwatching
- Wadi El Rayan Lakes
- Desert Dunes around Magic Lake
- Fayoum Water Wheels
- Fayoum Oasis Farmland & Palm Groves
- Qarun Palace
- Wadi Al-Hitan Fossil Museum
- Wadi El-Hitan Desert Landscape
- Petrified Forest of Fayoum
- Dime es-Siba Archaeological Site
Getting there
- Train stations:
- Amereyat Fayoum