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Desert safari

3 Days Fayoum Tour from Cairo

From $225 per person
Duration
3 Days
Runs
Every Day
Type
Private, just your group
Booking
Confirmed within 24 hours
Places
Cairo, Fayoum

Overview

A 3-day 4x4 expedition from Cairo combines two nights of desert camping at Magic Lake and North Lake Qaroun with exploration of Wadi Al-Hitan, Wadi El-Rayan, and Qasr El-Sagha.

Day 1: Lakes, Mudawara Hike & Magic Lake Desert Camp

  • 07:30 AM – Departure from Cairo: Board your private 4x4 Land Cruiser and drive southwest across the desert highway toward Fayoum.
  • 09:30 AM – Gebel El-Mudawara: Climb the iconic sandstone peak of Mudawara Mountain for panoramic views over the surrounding lakes and high dune fields.
  • 11:00 AM – Wadi El-Rayan Waterfalls: Visit Egypt's only natural waterfalls, created where the upper lake spills into the lower desert lake.
  • 01:00 PM – Magic Lake 4x4 Dune Safari: Drive off-road deep into the high sand dunes encircling the Magic Lake. Enjoy thrill-riding across the ridge tops and sandboarding down the slopes.
  • 04:30 PM – Sunset & Bedouin Camp Setup (Magic Lake): Set up your private desert campsite nestled in the quiet sand dunes overlooking the Magic Lake.
  • Evening (Desert Night 1): Enjoy a traditional Bedouin dinner cooked over an open campfire, warm tea, stargazing, and overnight in desert tents.

Day 2: UNESCO Fossil Valley & Northern Lakeshore Desert Camp

  • 08:00 AM – Desert Sunrise & Camp Breakfast: Fresh breakfast at your dune camp before breaking down the tents.
  • 09:30 AM – Wadi Al-Hitan (Valley of the Whales - UNESCO Site): Drive across open desert tracks to the ancient ocean bed. Walk among 40-million-year-old fossilized skeletons of prehistoric whales (Basilosaurus and Dorudon) embedded in wind-carved rock formations. Visit the Climate Change and Fossils Museum.
  • 01:00 PM – Bedouin Desert Lunch: Fresh grilled lunch served in the desert shade.
  • 02:30 PM – Wadi El-Bateekh (Watermelon Valley): Drive through this geologic valley filled with natural, spherical limestone boulders that resemble giant petrified watermelons.
  • 05:00 PM – Sunset & Bedouin Camp Setup (North of Lake Qaroun): Head north across the lake basin into the rugged wilderness plateau behind Lake Qaroun to pitch camp under the desert sky.
  • Evening (Desert Night 2): Campfire dinner, Bedouin music/stories under the clear night sky, and overnight in desert tents.

Day 3: Ancient Geologic Marvels, Ancient Ruins & Return to Cairo

  • 08:00 AM – Camp Breakfast: Enjoy coffee and breakfast with sweeping views across the northern desert cliffside.
  • 09:00 AM – Qasr El-Sagha (Temple of the Goldsmiths): Explore the isolated, un-inscribed Middle Kingdom temple crafted from massive sandstone blocks at the foot of Gebel Qatrani.
  • 10:30 AM – The Buried City (Medinet Dimai / Dimeh El-Seba): Hike through the evocative mudbrick ruins of the Ptolemaic/Roman desert trading city overlooking the ancient northern shores of Lake Qaroun.
  • 12:00 PM – The World's Oldest Paved Road & Petrified Forest: Walk along the 4,500-year-old basalt-paved road used by ancient quarrymen, and explore the vast open-air petrified forest containing massive fossilized tree trunks.
  • 01:30 PM – Gebel Qatrani, Wadan El-Faras & Colored Mountain: Marvel at the dark basalt volcanic ridges of Gebel Qatrani, the twin peaks of Wadan El-Faras, and the colorful sandstone layers of the surrounding cliffs.
  • 03:00 PM – Late Late Lunch: Enjoy a final desert lunch before hitting the asphalt highway.
  • 06:00 PM – Return to Cairo: Direct highway transfer back to your hotel in Cairo.
  • Whale fossils at Wadi El Hitan (UNESCO)
  • Wadi El Rayan lakes and waterfalls
  • Sandboarding on the dunes
  • 4×4 desert drive
  • Tunis Village
  • Mudawara Mountain
  • Magic Lake
  • Wadi El-Bateekh (Watermelon Valley)
  • Qasr El-Sagha (Temple of the Goldsmiths)
  • The Buried City (Medinet Dimai / Dimeh El-Seba)
  • The World's Oldest Paved Road & Petrified Forest
  • Gebel Qatrani, Wadan El-Faras & Colored Mountain

Where and when

Location: Fayoum

Sessions: 07:00

What's included

Included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo or Giza
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle and 4×4 in the desert
  • Guide
  • Entrance fees for the listed sites
  • Lunch and bottled water
  • Sandboards
  • eco-lodge or desert camp for 2 overnights

Not included

  • Tips
  • Personal expenses
  • Anything not listed as included

Photos

Your route

  1. Cairo & GizaPyramids · then by private car
  2. Fayoum
  • Stop
  • By road
  • Famous sight

Good to know

When is the best time to visit Egypt?

October to April is the most comfortable time, with warm days and cool evenings, so it is also the busiest and highest-priced season. May to September is hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan, but sights are quieter and prices are lower. We plan summer days around early starts and a long midday break. Christmas and New Year sell out early.

What is included in the price?

Each trip lists exactly what is included and what is not. In general our prices include private transport, a private Egyptologist guide, entrance fees for the listed sites, hotels or cruise as described, and the meals shown. International flights, visas, tips, drinks and optional extras are not included.

Are your trips private or in a group?

All our trips are private: just you and the people you travel with, your own guide and your own driver. You never share a vehicle or a guide with strangers. Nile cruise ships are shared with other guests, but your sightseeing on shore is private.

Is Egypt a good trip for children?

Yes. Children love the pyramids, felucca sails and the Red Sea. Children aged 2 to 11 pay 50% of the adult price on most trips, and under-2s travel free. Tell us their ages and we will plan shorter visits, pool time and family rooms.

Can you plan a slower pace or help with limited mobility?

Yes. Because every trip is private, we can plan shorter days, more rest and fewer stairs. Some ancient sites have uneven ground and steps, so please tell us about any mobility needs when you ask for a quote and we will be honest about what is practical.

How does tipping work in Egypt?

Tipping is part of daily life in Egypt and is not included in our prices. Small tips for drivers, guides, cruise crews and hotel staff are customary; your planner will send you a simple guide with typical amounts before you travel, so you are never left guessing.

Can I reach you on WhatsApp during my trip?

Yes. Once you book, you get a WhatsApp number for your planner and a local contact on the ground. Message us any time during your trip if something needs changing.

Hi, I'm Tarek. I'll plan your trip with you.We are available 24/7

From / person

$225

Before you go