Fayoum
Wadi El-Hitan (Valley of the Whales)
Eocene · c. 40 million years ago
- PeriodEocene · c. 40 million years ago
- LocationFayoum
- Opening HoursDaily 08:00 – 17:00
Wadi El-Hitan, the Valley of the Whales, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Western Desert south-west of Cairo. Its sandstone beds hold hundreds of fossilised skeletons of archaic whales, some with hind legs — evidence of the transition from land to sea.
Set in a striking landscape of dunes and rock formations, it also preserves fossils of sharks, rays, turtles and mangroves from a time when this desert lay under a shallow sea.
What you will see
- Fossil whale skeletons preserved in the rock.
- The “walking whale” skeletons with hind limbs.
- Desert scenery and the nearby Wadi El-Rayan waterfalls.
- The small on-site museum.
Practical tips
- It is a 4×4 or day-trip destination about two hours from Cairo.
- There is no shade and little mobile signal — go prepared.
- Combine with the Fayoum oasis and Wadi El-Rayan.
Opening Hours
- Sunday 08:00 – 17:00
- Monday 08:00 – 17:00
- Tuesday 08:00 – 17:00
- Wednesday 08:00 – 17:00
- Thursday 08:00 – 17:00
- Friday 08:00 – 17:00
- Saturday 08:00 – 17:00
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