Excursion to the Fayoum Oasis

Having picked you up at your hotel, we'll head southwards to see the fertile landscape of the Fayoum Oasis. No, it's no mirage, but a real and present experience! The oasis takes up a vast swathe of land close to the canals of the river Nile. Ancient Egyptians were fully aware in fact of the relevance of this place, evidence for which is provided by the Meidum Pyramid, one of the oldest pharaonic pyramids, dating from around 2,600 BC. Then we'll pass through the city of Fayoum, eventually reaching Lake Qarun, one of the most important areas of the Oasis. Its salty waters are found below sea level, and it boasts an enormous surface of several hundred square kilometres. On its banks, we'll visit the Kas Karun archaeological site, an old settlement where temples and fortresses from different historical periods can still be found. Then we'll fuel up with lunch on the banks of Lake Qarun: here we can appreciate the rich local fauna, especially famous for its large number of birds. Then in the evening, we'll begin our return journey, back to the hotels of Cairo.