Top Things to Do in Fayoum: From Tunis Village to a Desert Safari
Just 2 hours from chaotic Cairo, is the most peaceful place you could ever imagine. That’s Fayoum! And now that you’ve thought about visiting, here are the top things to do in Fayoum.
Tunis Village is famous for its pottery; you’ll find shop after shop with beautiful ceramics. You can even make one from scratch and take it home with you. And from there, you can easily take day trips to see some highlights like the desert, the Wadi El Rayan Protected area, and Magic Lake.
It was such a nice break from the busy streets of Cairo, and it should definitely be on your Egypt bucket list.
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Where to Stay in Fayoum, Egypt
Dar Bul Bul (pictured above) is a peaceful boutique hotel in Tunis Village and is one of the best places to stay in Fayoum. It’s owned by a German and Egyptian couple, Fady and Sarah. They truly make you feel at home at this stay. There’s a pool, a hammock in every room, views of the countryside, and the most delicious Egyptian breakfast! Trust me, we LOVED the breakfast. If you’re looking for a relaxing stay away from all the busy streets of Cairo, then this is it!
There’s also plenty of other great stays in Fayoum including the beautiful Waterside Loft, Kom El Dikka, and Lazib Inn, which is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group.
How Long to Spend in Fayoum, Egypt
If you’d like to see the village of Tunis and go on a desert safari trip, I’d recommend spending 2 days in Fayoum. If you are seeking relaxation, you can spend longer here at a nice, peaceful stay. However, there’s not a ton more to do than described in this guide. I was able to comfortably visit over 2 nights.
You can even day trip from Cairo. This tour is perfect for that as it will take you to Tunis Village and the Desert in one day from Cairo.
How to Get to Fayoum
Fayoum is located roughly 95 km southwest of Cairo. It overlooks Lake Qarun, and you’ll find desert on one side and green farmland on the other. It’s best to get to Fayoum from Cairo, which is only a 2 hour drive away. You can take a private taxi there for a reasonable cost. I’d recommend booking the transfer through 12Go or GetYourGuide.
Is Fayoum Safe to Visit?
Yes, Fayoum is very safe to visit, and it’s one of the quietest, calmest places I experienced in Egypt.
If you’re traveling Egypt solo, I highly recommend carving it into your itinerary, especially if you’re craving something slower and more peaceful after the chaos of Cairo.
I spent time walking around Tunis Village completely on my own, popping into pottery studios and little cafés, and I genuinely felt at ease the entire time. Plus, no one haggled me, followed me, or made me uncomfortable. The environment is relaxed, creative, and welcoming. Come here if you want some time to unwind.
Top Things to Do in Fayoum, Egypt
1. Stroll through Tunis Village
The top thing to do in Fayoum is to stroll through Tunis Village. This village is a creative hub that came about in the 1960s and 1980s. It all started with the arrival of Swiss potter Evelyne Porret who helped establish a pottery school and stimulate the local craft industry.
The streets of Tunis Village are lined with pottery shop after pottery shop. And the street is named after Evelyne Porret, herself. It will take you about 20 minutes to walk the whole village from start to finish. I truly loved walking through it and seeing all the beautiful handmade pottery. I highly recommend taking some home with you. Not only is it an amazing souvenir, but the prices are also so affordable, as it’s straight from the source. One of the prettiest stores I came across was Skylark – it was super photogenic and had some beautiful pottery and artwork to choose from.
I didn’t find anyone haggling with me to buy like they tend to do in Cairo. I found the village very safe to walk around by myself as a solo traveler, too.
I noticed there were a few very nice places to have a coffee or a tea in a nice setting. One of which was just past Lazib Inn on the same side; sadly, I couldn’t take down the name. Here’s the Google Maps location roughly.
2. Make Pottery
The creative little village is best known for its pottery workshops. You’ll find clay, kilns, studios, and items for sale. The best part is you can even make your own pottery. Just know that it’s a 2-step process. First, you will mold the pottery, and the next day, you will paint it. I had shops quoting me between 300-500 Egyptian pounds for the workshop.
If you want to take the product home, unfortunately, the process takes one month! Many of the shops will offer to ship it to a Cairo address for an additional 300 Egyptian pounds, but obviously, most tourists will not be around that long. It’s worth asking if they will ship internationally, however.
My hotel that I stayed at recommended the pottery workshops at Youssef Workshop or Ibrabem Samer Pottery.
3. Ride a Felucca at Lake Qarun
One of the most exciting things to do in Tunis Village is taking a felucca ride on Lake Qaran. Feluccas are traditional wooden sailboats, and riding in one across the calm waters is so peaceful.
To book a ride, you can either visit the local dock near the lake where many operators offer tours or ask your hotel to guide you. The lake is just near Ibis Restaurant.
4. Stay in a peaceful villa
As mentioned earlier, I spent 2 nights in Tunis Village at a peaceful stay called Dar Bul Bul. I loved the views of the Egyptian countryside and the aesthetics of this beautiful stay. Plus, I felt just at home and absolutely loved the Egyptian breakfast. It was the best I’ve had in Egypt!
Other stays I’d recommend include Waterside Loft, Kom El Dikka, and Lazib Inn.
5. Have a traditional dinner
There are two restaurants I tried and could recommend in the area. The first is Ibis Restaurant. They have a cooking school where you can learn to cook as well. And the second is at Kom El Dikka, where I had an amazing meal including Fareek (roasted green wheat), Messa’a (roasted cold eggplant), and Macarona Bechamel. These are two of my favorite Egyptian dishes.
6. Take a Desert Safari
One of the best things to do in Fayoum is take a desert safari tour. You can book this one that leaves from Cairo. The safari tour will take you to some of the unique attractions I’ve mentioned below. As well as sand-boarding, lunch in the desert, driving around sand dunes, and more!
Valley of the Whales
Valley of the Whales (also known as Wadi Al-Hitan) was once a sea. Its ancient waters dried up, leaving behind fossils of whales that once swam there. You can walk around and see them in this open-air museum. It’s really outstanding to see these fossils from 40 million years ago.
You can explore the outdoor trails where fossilized whale skeletons, vertebrae, and even shark teeth are displayed in the desert sand. The site also features a visitor center and museum with interactive exhibits about evolution, marine life, and geology. The surrounding landscape includes soft sand dunes and eroded rock formations.
Magic Lake
Magic Lake was truly impressive. Also called Lake al-Mo’ejza, it is one of the most beautiful natural spots in Egypt’s Fayoum Oasis. It’s not far from Wadi El Rayan and Wadi Al-Hitan.
It’s called “magic” because the color of the water changes throughout the day from turquoise to deep blue or even pinkish gold. The color depends on the sunlight, time of day, and mineral content of the water.
Riding the jeep up here was fine for me, but I went with my elderly parents, and they were a bit scared of how steep the landscape was. Our jeep went up steep surfaces to reach some of the beautiful views we saw.
Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls
Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls is one of Egypt’s only waterfalls. This is just a really quick stop at the end of your desert tour on the way back to Cairo or to Tunis Village, where you stay. You will find it a bit chaotic as you walk her,e as it’s not really in the midst of peaceful nature, I found. I walked past a few cafes with so many locals everywhere, I saw sea views and camels and even pigeon houses on the way.
7. Catch the Sunset Over the Desert
There’s nothing quite like watching the sun set over Fayoum’s golden desert. So if you have the chance to stay there overnight, do it! You can watch the stars at night straight from an Eco-Lodge. Remal el Rayan is one of the most unique places you can stay in Fayoum. You can stay in a bubble tent, and the top will be clear so you can lie in bed to watch the stars.
8. Go Horseback Riding
Exploring Fayoum on horseback is one of the most magical ways to experience its beautiful landscapes. Local stables around Tunis Village and Wadi El Rayan offer guided rides through palm groves, desert trails, and along the shores of Lake Qarun.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, you’ll enjoy the experience.
9. Take nature walks and go birdwatching
Fayoum is perfect for nature lovers, especially those who enjoy peaceful walks and spotting wildlife. The wetlands around Lake Qarun and Wadi El Rayan are home to hundreds of bird species, including flamingos, herons, and desert owls. Early morning or late afternoon is the best time to explore when the birds are most active.
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