Egypt is known for its unique oases, fertile areas in the middle of the desert where bodies of water and stunning landscapes can be found. Fayoum is no different, it’s one of the country’s most beautiful governorates – coming in second after our favorite oasis which is in Siwa. Fayoum lies in the Western Desert, just 90 km from Cairo. It’s a great place for a weekend escape from Cairo’s usual chaos. It offers vast and diverse sceneries, from lush greenery, significant lakes, cascading sand dunes with a side of abundance history and whale fossils. This guide will cover the best things to do in Fayoum in a weekend.
Since this area is quite large, we highly recommend traveling by car or with a travel guide to conquer all the things to do in Fayoum. Reach out to us and we’ll connect you with a trusted driver who can escort you on your next weekend getaway.
Where to Stay in Fayoum
There are plenty of accommodation options in Fayoum from beautiful boutique hotels in Tunis Village to serene glamping sites or camping in humble clay huts in the desert. We’ve tried them all out for you!
In Tunis Village, the best accommodations are either Lazib Inn & Resort or Kom El Dikka Lodge. Lazib Inn is so picturesque that we can dedicate an entire post for the architecture and views alone. We’ll let the pictures below speak for themselves. Families or friend groups should consider booking the Barefoot Holiday Home!
If you’re a follower of our content, you must know that we are fans of overnight stays in ecolodges or camping in the desert. Fayoum is yet another destination where visitors can enjoy unique lodging experiences in the desert. Check out the new Remal ElRayan Glamping Site or Zowara Ecolodge.
What to do in Fayoum
Wadi El Rayan
The valley of Wadi El-Rayan is a protectorate area of 1800 square meters and is comprised of several lakes, Egypt’s only waterfall, Gabal El Medawara, and Wadi El Hitan, among other natural sites. The area is massive and is best explored with a guide.
Don’t miss out on hiking up Gabal El Medawara which boasts an impressive landscape overlooking Fayoum’s Magic Lake. Beautiful sand dunes surround the lake, making it the perfect location for sandboarding, or even swimming if you wish. Consider signing up for this one day safari tour if you’re aiming to explore just the desert space.
Wadi El Hitan
The Fayoum area is most famous for its UNESCO world heritage site, Wadi El Hitan or Valley of the Whales – which is within Wadi El Rayan. The protected area contains invaluable fossil remains of Whales and other sea creatures, some of which date back about 40 million years. Within the valley, you can visit the Fossil and Climate Change Museum to get a closer look at a collection of complete whale skeletons.
The Waterfall
The waterfall in Wadi El Rayan is quite small but important in that it connects two man-made lakes. We wouldn’t put this stop very high on our list. We suggest making your way to Lake Qarun instead, the third largest lake in Egypt, and the epicenter of Fayoum.
Tunis Village
Tunis Village is a quaint town on the outskirts of Fayoum and the perfect base for your weekend plans. The Village has become a tourist attraction due to its high-grade pottery productions – and of course the beauty of the village itself.
The locality took off in the late eighties when an artisan by the name of Evelyne established a ceramics training center for children, many of whom grew up to later have their own workshops and commercial shops. Visitors today can take pottery classes for a minimal fee and a one-of-a-kind experience in the heart of Fayoum.
Aside from pottery classes, and as always, we’re going to recommend that you wander the narrow alleys and streets of Tunis village. Take in the abundance of beautiful murals and artisanal displays everywhere.
Both the Fayoum Art Center and the Caricature Museum are in Tunis Village. If you’re an art admirer, consider checking both spaces out.
Kom Aushim Museum
If you’re a history buff, then definitely check out the Kom Aushim Museum. It houses hundreds of artifacts from different historical eras, spanning back to the pre-historic era and passing through the Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Islamic and Coptic eras. The museum has several intricate mummy caskets that worth the quick stop.
Karanis Open Air Museum
Karanis is yet another stop for history lovers. This time enjoy an open-air display of Fayoum’s archeological artifacts, including historical dwellings and two temples that date back to the Greco-Roman era. The temples are incredibly interesting as they were built for the sacred God Sobek, the god of crocodiles, who was associated with the fertility of the people and crops.
El-Nazla Pottery Village
One of the more unique things to do in Fayoum is visiting yet another village dedicated to pottery and all things related to Fayoum’s authentic artisanal productions. El Nazla is not known to many but is an incredible small area where potters produce pottery from Niile silt using Ancient Egyptian techniques. There you can visit a tiny museum dedicated to the history of pottery and a more in-depth look at the ancient techniques used to this day. Our visit was fascinating and we encourage all to add this stop to your Fayoum itinerary.
A little fun fact: El Nazla was the location of many scenes in popular Egyptian movies and video clips; most recently it was the main backdrop of the pop singer Asala’s song ‘Bint El Akaber.”
Where to Eat
Egypt’s rural cities and towns are known for the country’s best baked goods and pastries. No matter what you eat in Fayoum, be sure to grad traditional ‘feteer’ or crispy layered pastry dough. The best food we had in Fayoum was in Tunis Village, specifically at Kom El Dikka Restaurant, IBIS restaurant, and Lazib Inn.
If you’re looking for an experienced local guide to help you better explore the ins and outs of Fayoum, reach out to Mahmoud the Fayoumer here and tell him we sent ya!
