|
“What do you think about the Israeli / AUC controversy?” |
Egypt’s Famous Western Desert Oases
Fayoum Attractions
 |
| Asma Alsharif/CARAVAN STAFF WET WET WET: One of Fayoum’s main attractions is Wadi El Rayan waterfalls |
 |
| Kholoud Khalifa/CARAVAN STAFF ANCIENT WHALES: Whale fossils are displayed in the Valley of the Whales in Fayoum |
The Fayoum governorate, located 75 kilometers from the Pyramids,
is a short two-hour trip from Cairo by car. The Fayoum has always been
an attraction to many Egyptians, as well as foreigners seeking a place
for relaxation.
Known for its natural sights, the protected area of Wadi El Rayan, or
the Valley of El Rayan, is Fayoum’s most popular destination and
Egypt’s only waterfall, connecting two large lakes. One could ride
a boat in Wadi El Rayan lake, but it’s not recommended for swimming
because of it’s exceptionally salty water.
Thirty kilometers from the Rayan falls, the protected area of the Valley
of the Whales is becoming Fayoum’s ecotourism destination, with
40 million-year-old fossils of ancient whales from the earliest and now
extinct Archaeceti whales. The place has a restaurant and an information
center as well as signs explaining the seven different sites of the whale
fossils.
If you are looking for a good place to camp and have a four-wheel-drive
vehicle, you can take the road along to Gabal Meadwar or Round Mountain.
Located in between the falls and the Valley of the Whales, it is two buttes
with space in between, which would be a good place to camp. It is special
for having one of Fayoum’s most amazing views, looking at Wadi El
Rayan lake from the top of the hill.
“Fayoum is special for the reflection of nature on the desert and
in the shaping of the mountains, its beautiful sights and different shades
of the mountains, but at night you are easily bitten by mosquitoes, “
says Mostafa Hassan, a frequent visitor to Fayoum’s desert and natural
sights. More information on Fayoum can be found at http://touregypt.net/fayoum.htm
