2 Best Sights in Cairo, Egypt

There are no grandiose temples or legends of conquests here. Instead, you stand in the desert expanse alongside 40-million-year-old whale skeletons. Wadi al-Hitan, or Valley of the Whales, is home to the earliest prehistoric fossils ever discovered. It provides a glimpse of the land before Egypt ever was. The desert sand is littered with invaluable fossils that tell an evolutionary story.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site located 24 miles (40 km) into the Fayyum desert is best accessed in a private four-wheel-drive vehicle and with a guide who knows the terrain. The on-site Wadi Hitan Fossil & Climate Change Museum explains the geological and paleontological significance of this protected area through a display of fossils and a short documentary. Although named after the whale remains on the site, Wadi al-Hitan is also flush with the remains of other ancient sea creatures including sharks, crocodiles, and turtles. As it's far from the lights of the city, this protected area is sometimes used as a camping site for stargazing trips.

Surprisingly, Egypt’s largest waterfalls stand in the middle of the desert about 65 km (40 mile) southwest of the city of Fayyum. Embodying the region's natural beauty, this national park consists of seven main regions: El Rayan Falls, El-Modawara Mountain, the upper lake, the lower lake, El Rayyan Springs, El Rayyan Mountain, and Wadi al-Hitan. There’s a lot to see, so hiring a local guide is encouraged.

Silky sand dunes surround tranquil blue water that is itself framed by flora. El-Modawara Mountain provides breathtaking panoramas. The area's rich wildlife includes Egyptian gazelles and different kinds of foxes. With more than 169 species of birds—some migrants, some local—it’s also a bird-watcher’s paradise.