Wadi El Hitan

Whale fossil in the "Valley of the Whales", Wadi El Hitan, Western Desert, Egypt, about 150 km southwest of Cairo. The fossils here are one of the earliest forms of whales, the link between the previous land based mammal and the ocean mammal of today. There is a small delightful museum and several fossils were left in situ in the desert that you can hike to see. It was worth the drive from Cairo for me.
Whale fossil in the "Valley of the Whales", Wadi El Hitan, Western Desert, Egypt, about 150 km southwest of Cairo. The fossils here are one of the earliest forms of whales, the link between the previous land based mammal and the ocean mammal of today. There is a small delightful museum and several fossils were left in situ in the desert that you can hike to see. It was worth the drive from Cairo for me.
The #history: The Valley of Whales was once submerged beneath the Terhys Sea. It is now home to an obscure museum which was built around the fossils of the prehistoric whale, Basilosaurus Isis. These fossils show the archaic species to have small hind legs; which supports the evolutionary notion that whales evolved from land based animals to sea dwelling creatures. What you see in this photo: Most of the museum is open air but the rest of it is in these structures, designed to mimic their surrounding landscape. You can also see the beauty of the petrified coral on the ambient rock formations. Travel tips: You can take a 4x4 tour to this National Park, the ride itself is part of the fun! At the museum make sure you explore the trail and then relax and have tea and snacks in their cafe. Afterwards, have a BBQ with the locals, go sand surfing, see the Magic Lake and go horse riding as the sun sets! It is a very doable day trip from Cairo, and an unforgettable one for sure.
Price found within the past 48 hours. Click for updated prices.
King Cheops Inn

King Cheops Inn

5 out of 5
Al Haram
Price was €727, price is now €495 per person
€495
per person
23 Mar - 29 Mar
found 4 hours ago
Return direct flight included
Riga (RIX) to Cairo (CAI)
8.8/10 Excellent! (31 reviews)
Staff was very helpful and friendly, they were ready to help and they replied to messages super quick. They also helped us with a full day tour

Reviewed on 6 Jan 2026

Pyramisa Suites Hotel Cairo

Pyramisa Suites Hotel Cairo

5 out of 5
Al Duqqi
Price was €1,453, price is now €872 per person
€872
per person
23 Mar - 29 Mar
found 4 hours ago
Return direct flight included
Riga (RIX) to Cairo (CAI)
6.2/10 (437 reviews)
Room was large and in general clean, but walking in the room in bare feet, my feet were so dirty from the floor

Reviewed on 29 Dec 2025

The View Delta Hotel

The View Delta Hotel

3.5 out of 5
Al Haram
Price was €821, price is now €557 per person
€557
per person
23 Mar - 29 Mar
found 4 hours ago
Return direct flight included
Riga (RIX) to Cairo (CAI)
8.4/10 Very Good! (24 reviews)
The hotel was in a hidden spot in between shops on the block. Very hard to find if you weren’t looking. Hotel is on the 6th floor. Rooms were ok. Good enough for sleep and hot shower. The rooftop view was awesome. New Year’s party was fun for an extra fee. Breakfast was ok. Staff was friendly.

Reviewed on 8 Jan 2026

Popular places to visit

People riding horse by the Great Pyramids, Giza, Egypt

Pyramids of El Fayoum

Enjoy an outing to Pyramids of El Fayoum during your stay in El Faiyum. Discover the area's waterfalls and temples.

Pyramids of El Fayoum

Medinet Madi

Learn about the local history of Itsa when you spend time at Medinet Madi. While you're in the area, wander around the parks.

Medinet Madi

Qasr Qarun Temple

You can learn about the history of Yusuf as-Sidiq with a stop at Qasr Qarun Temple.

Qasr Qarun Temple

Water Wheels Park

You can find out about the history of El Faiyum when you stop by Water Wheels Park. Stroll along the lakeside or discover the area's waterfalls.

Water Wheels Park

Governorate Building

You can browse the exhibits at Governorate Building, a museum with a storied past, during your trip to El Faiyum. Discover the area's museums and temples.

Governorate Building

Hawara Pyramid

You can learn about the history of El Faiyum when you stop by Hawara Pyramid. Stroll along the lakeside or discover the area's waterfalls.

Hawara Pyramid

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Zad Elmosafer Guest House

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2.5 out of 5
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Faiyum Governorate
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Tunis castle

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2.5 out of 5
Qaroun, 12 Yusuf as-Sidiq Faiyum
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Tunis Pyramids Hotel

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2 out of 5
Tunis Village Yusuf as-Sidiq Faiyum Governorate
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venecia resort fayoum

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3 out of 5
Youssef Al Seddik Yusuf as-Sidiq Faiyum Governorate
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See all 54 properties in Wadi El Hitan
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.