Egypt Short Break: Cairo to Fayoum

Marhaba! Welcome to Egypt. Your adventure begins bright and early today at 7.45 am. Meet your local guide and driver at the hotel, then drive directly to Fayoum, where you’ll hop into a 4WD vehicle for an unforgettable safari in the Western Desert and protected Wadi El Rayan area. Stop at Egypt’s largest waterfalls and snap some incredible photos in the sand dunes, which are known for their changing colours. Enjoy a freshly prepared desert picnic before continuing to Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley). Within this open-air UNESCO World Heritage site, you’ll have the rare opportunity to see 40-million-year-old whale fossils as you walk through ancient seabeds. Get a glimpse into the whale’s fascinating evolutionary journey as you see fossils representing their transition from land to fully sea-based mammals (even some fossils that still have hind legs!). Sip traditional Bedouin tea next to the lake and watch the spectacular desert sunset before dinner.

After breakfast, set off for Tunis Village – a charming artistic village overlooking Lake Qaran that was transformed in the 1960s from a fishing outpost into a cultural art centre. In the 1980s, a Swiss woman founded a now-famous pottery school that, along with the Fayom Art Centre, continues to give young artists a bright future. Visit the school and try your hand at some pottery, then you’ll have some free time to explore the workshops and studios – maybe pick up some handmade ceramics to take home. Head back to Cairo in the afternoon, where you’ll share a local meal with a family in their home. Chat about their life in the Middle East and maybe pick up some cooking tips to take home.

Today you’ll stand before the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza. After marvelling at this 4th-dynasty pharaonic tomb, visit its neighbours, the Pyramids of Khafren and Menkaure. Then, drive up to the panoramic viewpoint to get a wide-angle photo of all three. Continue to the Valley Temple of Khafre and come face to face with the Great Sphinx. Built over 4500 years ago, these monuments reflect the engineering precision and spiritual beliefs of ancient Egypt, and still shape how we understand history, power and the afterlife. Around midday, head inside for a guided tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum – the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to one civilisation. Explore vast modern galleries, including the colossal statue of Ramses II and the treasures of King Tutankhamun. After, your adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.