Tour to Whales Valley and Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls in El Fayoum from Cairo

I'm not usually one for guided tours, but this day trip to Fayoum was a pleasant surprise. The early 7 AM start was tough, but it was worth it to beat the heat and crowds. The switch to a 4x4 was where the fun really began. Our driver navigated the off-road terrain like a pro, giving us a taste of adventure right from the start. Tunis Village was charming, with its hillside views and local pottery workshops. It felt worlds away from Cairo's bustle. Qarun Lake was vast, but I wish we'd had more time to explore its shores. Wadi El Rayan's waterfalls were a highlight - who knew Egypt had waterfalls? They're not Niagara Falls, but in the middle of the desert, they're pretty impressive. Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) was mind-blowing. Seeing whale fossils in the desert really drives home how much the Earth has changed over millions of years. Our guide's explanations added a lot to the experience. Sandboarding was a blast, though harder than it looks! Plenty of laughs as we all took our tumbles. The Magic Lake was beautiful, but it was too cold for swimming when we visited in November. The optional camel ride at Wadi El Rayan Lake was touristy, but fun. It gave my legs a break after all the walking. A few downsides: the long drive can be tiring, and some areas felt a bit rushed. The lunch provided was okay, but nothing special. Overall, this tour offers a great mix of nature, adventure, and history. It's a side of Egypt many tourists miss, and I'm glad I didn't. If you're up for a long day and want to see beyond the typical pharaonic sites, give this tour a shot. Just bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a sense of adventure.

Konnichiwa! We, Akira and Yumi, had amazing day in Egyptian desert. Very different from Japan! Early start, 7:00 AM. Long drive, but worth it. Changed to big 4x4 car - very exciting! Tunis Village very pretty. Reminded us of paintings. Salt lake and desert view - sugoi! Qarun Lake very old and big. We took many photos. Wadi El Rayan waterfalls surprised us. Desert has water? Incredible! Whale Valley most interesting. Old whale bones in desert - unbelievable! We learned much. Sandboarding was fun! Akira fell many times, but we laughed a lot. Magic Lake very beautiful. Not like anything in Japan. At end, we saw another waterfall. Yumi tried camel ride - scary but fun! Very long day, but we saw so many amazing things. Egypt nature is beautiful and surprising. Tour guide explained everything well. We understood even with our limited English. Only problem - very hot and dusty. Bring water and hat! We recommend this tour to all Japanese friends who visit Egypt. Very different from city tour. Shows another side of Egypt. Arigato for wonderful experience!