Four nights in Cairo with a full 4x4 day into the Fayoum — the Wadi El Rayan waterfalls, sandboarding on the dunes and Lake Qaroun — alongside Giza and an evening on the Nile.
The route2 cities.
Loading map…
5 days, 4 nightsDuration
2 citiesWhere you sleep
Breakfast includedMeals
Twin share · land only, flights extra
Why this journey
The Fayoum is ninety minutes from Cairo and almost nobody on a short Egypt trip goes. That is the argument for this itinerary. It is a depression in the Western Desert fed by a channel off the Nile, and it holds two things that do not look Egyptian at all: a set of waterfalls, and a lake that is the surviving remnant of ancient Lake Moeris.
The day runs by 4x4 because the ground demands it. Wadi El Rayan covers 1,759 square kilometres, of which 113 are water — man-made lakes formed from agricultural drainage that have since become a genuine reserve. In between there is sandboarding on the dunes, which needs no experience at all: the slopes are gentle and you can ride standing, sitting or flat on your stomach.
Lake Qaroun closes the day. It was declared protected in 1989 for its biological, archaeological and geological range, and it is rich in fish, birds and reptiles. The rest of the trip is Cairo — Giza with an Egyptologist, and a night sailing the Nile.
Trip highlights
01A full 4x4 day into the Fayoum depression
02The Wadi El Rayan waterfalls and lakes
03Sandboarding on the dunes, no experience needed
04Lake Qaroun, what remains of ancient Lake Moeris
05Giza and the Sphinx with an Egyptologist
Day-by-day itinerary
What's included
Included in your trip7 items covered in this fare
Hotels1
Accommodation as named in the itinerary
Transport3
All transfers as named in the itinerary
All tours and transfers by private vehicle
4x4 vehicle for the Fayoum day
Entrance Fees1
Tours and entrance fees as named in the itinerary
Guide1
An English-speaking Egyptologist guide
Meals1
One bottle of water per person during the tours
Plan and pay separately8 items not covered by this fare
Not included8
International flights
Domestic flights
Egyptian entry visa
All tipping for guides, drivers, representatives, restaurants and cruise staff (the supplier suggests about USD 7 per person per day)
Beverages of any kind
Personal items such as laundry, telephone calls and drinks
Bank transmitting fees
Anything not listed under the inclusions
Your hotels
Hotels are named on your confirmation — all are of the stated category.
Attractions we visit
3 go inside0 walk through0 exterior only
On the route3 places
CairoEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
GizaEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
FayoumEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
When to Go
Egypt
IdealGoodFairAvoid
OctGood
Oct–Apr is the best time — comfortable temperatures for sightseeing. Avoid summer heat exceeding 40°C.
Cairo
Average High
30°C
Rainfall
0mm
Luxor
Average High
34°C
Rainfall
0mm
Hurghada
Average High
30°C
Rainfall
0mm
Sharm el-Sheikh
Average High
30°C
Rainfall
0mm
Before you go
Everything is private
All transfers throughout the trip are private, in air-conditioned deluxe vehicles.
All sightseeing is on a private basis and includes the entrance fees named in the itinerary.
Guiding is by a qualified English-speaking Egyptologist.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Egypt and is not included in the package.
The supplier suggests budgeting around USD 7 per person per day to cover guides, drivers, representatives, restaurants and cruise staff.
What you give is at your discretion.
Documents and flights
International and domestic flights are not included unless stated otherwise on the tour.
The Egyptian entry visa is not included and is arranged by the traveller.
Carry a passport valid for the whole of your stay.
Meals on board
International menus are served on the Nile cruises and in the hotels.
Meals outside those named in the day-by-day plan are not included.
Drinks of any kind are not included, on board or ashore.
Common questions
Do I need experience to sandboard?
None. The dunes used are gentle and the board moves more slowly than on snow. You can go down standing, sitting or on your stomach, whichever you prefer.
Why a 4x4 rather than a normal car?
Parts of the Fayoum day are off-road across sand, which an ordinary vehicle cannot cross. The 4x4 is included in the rate.
How far is the Fayoum from Cairo?
About ninety minutes each way. It is a full day out but a far shorter drive than Alexandria or the oases further west.
Is lunch included on the Fayoum day?
No, breakfast at the hotel only. There are places to eat by the lake, paid locally.
Are the waterfalls large?
Not by international standards — they are a modest drop between the two lakes. What makes them notable is that they exist at all in the Western Desert, and the setting around them.
Policies & booking terms
Booking terms
Full payment must be completed 30 days prior to departure, unless otherwise specified.
All bookings are subject to availability at the time of confirmation.
Travel insurance is mandatory and must be purchased prior to departure.
Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, taxes, or supplier costs.
Guests are responsible for obtaining valid passports, visas, and any required vaccinations.
Cancellations or amendments are subject to the applicable cancellation policy outlined in the package.
The company is not liable for delays, cancellations, or changes due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, strikes, or other force majeure events.
All travelers must adhere to the local laws and customs of the destinations visited.
No refunds will be issued for unused services, including but not limited to meals, accommodations, or activities.
The company reserves the right to modify the itinerary or substitute hotels of similar standards if necessary.
All special requests (e.g., room preferences, dietary requirements) are subject to availability and not guaranteed.
Guests are responsible for any additional costs incurred due to personal expenses, such as phone calls, laundry, or minibar charges.
Check-in and check-out times are subject to hotel policies and may vary by property.
✦AI trip designer
Want this trip a little different?
Tell Tulli what you'd change — hotels, dates, an extra city — and she'll price it with our team and come back to you.