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Ancient Egyptian civilization began and ended in the Nile Valley and Delta, a region known as "black earth" due to the color of the rich deposits from the river. Downstream from the river lay the "red earth," or desert, which had a practical and mystical significance. Explore all the country's phenomenal history on an ancient Egypt oases tour from Inside Egypt.
Land east of the Nile contained a wealth of minerals, with routes leading to the coast of the Red Sea. To the west of the river lay the kingdom of Osiris, lord of the dead. The dead were said to "go west" to meet him.
Once it became known that there were human settlements, the Egyptian rulers had to recognize the oases of the Western Desert as a source of exotic goods and potential locations for invaders. Although oases in the Egypt desert have been associated with the Nile Valley civilization since antiquity, they have always each offered something very diverse. This is still the case today.
Currently, only one of our Egypt group tours includes a day trip to Fayoum oasis. This is our Around in Egypt in 14 Days (14-day Egypt tour). Why do we only organize a group trip to al Fayoum oasis Egypt? The reason is that this is the closest oasis to Cairo, Egypt (115 km from Cairo = 2 hours by coach) and it offers an interesting place to visit while in Egypt. Fayoum oasis in Egypt is famous for the Wadi Al Hitan National Park - Whale Valley. This oasis is the gateway to the Western Sahara. The desert dunes surrounding the Fayoum oasis allow you to imagine this amazing desert. You'll see monuments from the times of the pharaohs near the al Fayoum oasis Egypt.
On our other group tours: Exploring Egypt (a 10-day tour of Egypt) and Golden Highlights of Egypt (an 8-day Egypt tour); our clients can also visit this oasis and its main attractions as we offer a Fayoum oasis tour in the form of a 1-day add-on for standard arrival day.
The other oases in Egyptian desert are also interesting places to visit. Unfortunately they are located at a great distance from the big Egyptian cities and standard tourist routes. However, you can still visit these oases as part of our private Egypt tours, which we can organize on request, or join our new 15-day Egypt tour including the Siwa Oasis.
Fayoum Oasis is one of six Egypt desert oases that enjoys mild year-round weather. It is also located a short distance from Cairo and you can get there in less than two hours by coach.
You’ll see several attractions from various eras at the Fayoum Oasis: Pharaohs (the pyramids in Hawara, Lahun, Maidum, Medinat Madi - archeological site), Greco-Roman (ruins of temples in Qarun, Karanis), Coptic and Islamic. In the Fayoum oasis vicinity, you can find cetacean skeletons along with thousands of shells and corals. The Wadi Al Hitan - the cetacean valley has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2005. It is the best paleontological site in Africa. You will also find the excellent Wadi Al Hitan Fossil and Climate Change Museum there.
Al Fayoum oasis in Egypt is famous for its shifting dunes, palm groves, lakes, waterfalls and valleys. Wild animals and rare species of birds also live there.
Truly unspoiled nature and deep history mean Fayoum Oasis is an absolute must-see when traveling to Egypt. Here at Inside Egypt we believe that the Fayoum oasis is the best oasis to visit in Egypt.
An amazing oasis tour awaits you with great views and the possibility to take awesome photos. Take advantage of this Egypt oasis tour!
You can visit the famous Fayoum Oasis, located in a hot desert climate, as part of our Egypt tours. At the Fayoum Oasis in Egypt, the summers are long, hot, dry, and cloudless. The winters here are short, cool, dry and almost cloudless. Throughout the year, the temperature ranges from 48.2 °F (9° C) to 95 °F (35° C) and rarely drops below 42.8 °F (6° C) or exceeds 102.2 °F (39° C). The hot season lasts almost five months, from the beginning of May to the beginning of October, and the average daily maximum temperature then exceeds 89.6 °F (32° C). The hottest month of the year in al Fayoum Oasis Egypt is August, when the average maximum temperature is 95 °F (35° C) and the minimum temperature is 75.2 °F (24° C).
The cold season lasts for three months, from the beginning of December to the beginning of March, and the average daily maximum temperature is below 71.6 °F (22° C). The coldest month of the year in al Fayoum Oasis, Egypt is January, when the average minimum temperature is 48.2 °F (9° C) and the maximum is 66.2 °F (19° C). Rain may also occur during this month.
The best time to join this Fayoum Oasis tour is on a day without rainfall, which has a perceived temperature between 64.4 °F (18° C) and 80.6 °F (27° C). To take advantage of the outdoor attractions in the area, we suggest visiting Fayoum Oasis in Egypt from late February to late April and from mid-October to early December.
The best time of year to take a Fayoum, Egypt, oases tour is in November.
Fayoum Oasis, a highlight of our Egypt historical tours, is the best oasis to visit in Egypt; as there are three pyramids near al Fayoum Oasis Egypt: Hawara, Lahun, and Medium. The pyramid built in the times of Pharaoh Sneferu in Medium is the pyramid that remains in the best condition.
In the Fayoum Oasis you can find the ruins of one of the most important cities of the Greek-Roman period - Karnaris. Many papyri have been found here, explaining the life of ordinary people, their worries, desires and plans. Visitors to this place are attracted to the ruins of two stone temples that were built in the 1st century AD. The most noteworthy is the larger temple dedicated to the god Sobek, the most important god worshiped in the famous oasis in Egypt. The building consists of three rooms, preceded by a columned courtyard. The interior is austere and devoid of decorations. The smaller temple is located in the northern part of the ruins and is dedicated to Sobek and the divine triad: Isis, Serapis and Harpocrates. There is also a small museum in Karnaris and the relics collected here show the history of the Fayoum oasis from predynastic times, to the Roman period.
In the oasis of Fayoum; near the village of Qarun you'll find ruins of the ancient city of Dionysias, founded in the 3rd century BC. The city was an important transportation hub as it was at the beginning of the caravan route leading to the Bahariyah Oasis. The remains of Roman baths and villas have survived here to this day. The biggest attraction of Dionysias is the Qasr Qarun temple, dedicated to the syncretic god Sobek - Ra. The temple, built of blocks of yellow limestone, remains in very good condition. The exterior walls are devoid of decorations, but the temple's interior is very interesting. You can visit this temple during our Oasis tour.
In a secluded area of the oasis of Fayoum, in a desert basin, there is Narmouthis (Medinat Madi). These are the ruins of a city founded by Pharaoh Amenhotep III in the 19th century BC. We find here ruins of mud brick buildings, statues and sphinxes emerging from the sands of the beautiful oasis desert. The greatest treasure of Narmutis is the Renenutet temple from the times of the Middle Kingdom, which is preserved in almost perfect condition. The temple is built of dark sandstone and is still fully covered. In 1995, archaeologists found dozens of petrified crocodile eggs north of the temple courtyard in varying degrees of development.
During our Oasis in Egypt tour, you can take a walk on the shores of the lake and climb the desert dunes, where a longer lunch stop is planned. You will also be able to ride a horse or camel.
Sandboarding can be a very interesting sport, especially for snowboarding fans, anyone who enjoys physical activity, and adventurous people. You can try it in al Fayoum Oasis Egypt! Sandboarding involves sliding down a steep sand dune slope on a wooden board. The dunes and deserts are the ideal environments for people who enjoy sandboarding. In the Fayoum Oasis by the Magic Lake, the conditions for sandboarding are perfect.
Sandboarding is a perfect summer alternative to winter sports. A large dose of adrenaline, and lots of sand and sun - are the main advantages of this unique sport.
Would you dare to stand atop the dune, fasten your gear and go....?
From your hotel in Cairo to the al Fayoum oasis in Egypt we will travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach.The journey takes less than two hours. The village of Tunis, famous for its Fayoum Pottery School and original pottery is located in the oasis of Fayoum. We will have a short stop here, where our guests switch from coach transportation to 4WD Jeeps. We then travel by jeep to the Ptolemaic temple Qasr Qarun, located just east of the village of Qasr Qarun. After our stop here, we go to Wadi El Hitan – the Valley of the Whales. Once we’re finished exploring the Valley of the Whales, our Fayoum Oasis tour takes us to Magic Lake. Here we will have an extended stop for lunch. You can take part in a lakeside walk, lake swimming or sandboarding while you here.
At the end of the day on our Fayoum, Egypt Oases tour, we return to the village of Tunis, where you will transfer to the coach for your journey back to the hotel in Cairo.
As with all of our Egypt tours, your exploration of every part, including the oasis of Egypt, is done with our professional Egypt guide - an excellent travel companion who speaks fluent English. Your guide knows the area of each Egypt desert oasis, its history, and the customs and culture of its inhabitants. On our Egypt oases tour, you will learn about the oasis' past and present, see its highlights, and learn amazing stories. You will also get some local food, drinks, and souvenirs tips from your knowledgeable guide.
We know the best oases to visit in Egypt, and you can explore the Fayoum oasis with our knowledgeable guide during our luxury Egypt tours. We can also arrange a private guided tour to another oasis in the Egypt desert that interests you.
If you want to visit Fayoum Oasis on an Egypt Oases tour, you will need to book onto our Around Egypt in 14 days tour (a 14-day tour of Egypt). This tour includes a one-day trip to al Fayoum Oasis, Egypt in its itinerary. You can easily book this trip using the booking form for the Around Egypt in 14 days tour. The booking form will open once you click the BOOK NOW button next to the date of the tour you are interested in.
This Fayoum Oasis tour can also be purchased as a 1-day add-on for the standard arrival day (day 1) to our two other luxury Egypt tours: Exploring Egypt (a 10-day tour of Egypt) and the Golden Highlights of Egypt (an 8-day tour of Egypt). When booking your trip to Egypt, mark EXTENSIONS, PRE TOUR: FAYOUM: 1-DAY ADD-ON. Please note that you must remember to book an additional night at a hotel in Cairo before starting your tour of Egypt. You can also do this using our booking form on those tours. Please mark ACCOMMODATION, AN EXTRA NIGHT BEFORE YOUR TOUR.
If you are interested in a private Fayoum Oasis tour or other Oasis Egypt tours, please contact us to inquire further. We will gladly provide more details of a suitable Egypt oases tour. Email us at: contact@inside-egypt.com or call us at: + 1 (929) 224-5100.