Qasr Qarun Authentic desert adventure at the Western end of Lake Qarun and just East of the village of Qasr Qarun are the ruins of ancient Dionysias. This was the starting point for caravans to the Western Desert oasis of Bahariya. All that remains of the ancient settlement is a Ptolemaic temple known as Qasr Qarun. It was built in…
Medinet Madi Authentic desert adventure at Medinet Madi Archaeological site is on a small hill in a strategic position, guarding the South West entrance to the Fayoum about 35 km from Medinet El-Fayoum. The town was called DjA by the ancient Egyptians, during the Greek period it was identified as Narmouthis. A document found here from the ninth century AD mentions…
Coptic Monuments Discover authentic desert adventure at Deir Azab. El-Azab Monastery, also known as the monastery of the Virgin Mary, is 6 km south of Medinet El-Fayoum. It is considered one of the most important monasteries in Fayoum because it is the burial place of Anba Abraam, the favorite bishop of Fayoum and Giza from 1882 to 1914. This monastery…
The Petrified Forest of Fayoum Discover authentic desert adventure at the LARGEST PETRIFIED FOREST in the world which is located in the north of Lake Qaroun in Gabal Qatrani. It is a home of 40 meters high trees that have survived in fossified form for thousands of years. The Petrified Forest is the remnants of a forest that grew 35…
Hawara Authentic desert adventure at the HAWARA PYRAMIDS that was built by king Amenemhat III (1843-1797 BC) Although the Pyramid of Hawara was originally covered with white limestone casing, sadly only the mud-brick core remains today, and even the once-famous temple has been quarried, but still has an impressive presence. Herodotus described this temple more than 2000 years ago, when…
Pyramid of El Lahun Discover authentic desert adventure at about 10 km Southeast of Hawara are the ruins of this mud brick pyramid; which was built by Pharaoh Sesostris II (1880–1874 BC). Well it’s not worth a separate trip (but if you’re driving by); look out for its strangely lumpen shape, set on an existing rock outcropping for extra stature. …
Abu Leifa Monastery Fayoum- Cut into the mountain is Abu Leifa Monastery- discover authentic desert adventure with Real Fayoum. The inscriptions have revealed that it dates back to 686 AD and was probably founded by St. Panoukhius. The monastery was in use from the 7th through the 9th centuries. It served as a haven for Christians fleeing from persecution. Immediately…
Nazla Village The river clay is used to make local handmade pottery; it’s a POTTERY PARADISE. Discover authentic desert adventure located on a branch of Bahr el-Youssef and runs through a deep clay bed In the western part of Fayoum. Potters of Nazla use a very particular technique to make a spherical pot based on a combination of wheel-thrown and…
World’s Oldest Paved Road Discover authentic desert adventure from the route to the Qasr El Sagha temple all the way to the ancient basalt quarries of Widan El Faras passes by an ancient road that is reputedly the oldest paved road in the world. The road is dated along with quarry activity as Old Kingdom, with a possibility of it…
Widan El Faras Basalt quarry A large black basalt quarry exists at the northern edge of Gebel Qatrani, near the two prominent buttes called Widan el-Faras an authentic desert adventure. It was once an Old Kingdom quarry now known to be the source of basalt used for the Old Kingdom pyramid temples. The site stands about 340 meters…
