IBSHEWAYLandmark
Wadi al-Hitan (Valley of the Whales)
29.4170, 30.7120
In the Fayoum desert, Wadi al-Hitan, the Valley of the Whales, is Egypt's only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most important fossil sites on Earth. Here, in what was once a warm shallow sea, lie the skeletons of primitive whales that still had tiny hind legs, capturing the moment 40 million years ago when these creatures moved from land into the ocean.
A marked open-air trail winds between fossils left where they were found, whale vertebrae, ribs and skulls half-emerging from the sand, alongside sharks' teeth and shells, set against sculpted desert cliffs. A small museum shelters the star specimen, a complete Basilosaurus. It is a quietly awe-inspiring place where deep time feels genuinely close.
Know before you go
You need a 4x4 for the final sandy stretch, so come on an organised Fayoum tour; go early and bring water, as there is no shade on the trail.