The Nile Valley

01

About the region

South of Cairo, Egypt narrows to a green strip either side of the Nile, and this is where most of the great pharaonic monuments stand. Luxor, ancient Thebes, has the temples of Karnak and Luxor on the East Bank and the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir El Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank, all part of the Ancient Thebes World Heritage Site. Aswan is slower and greener, with Nubian villages, granite islands, Philae Temple and the High Dam, and it is the base for Abu Simbel, Ramses II’s rock-cut temples near the Sudanese border.

A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, usually three or four nights, stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo; dahabiya sailing boats are a quieter alternative. Between Cairo and Luxor, Middle and Upper Egypt see far fewer visitors: Beni Hasan’s rock tombs and Tell El Amarna near Minya, the temples of Abydos (Sohag) and Dendera (Qena), and monasteries on the Holy Family route around Asyut.

Faiyum, about two hours south-west of Cairo, adds lakes, waterwheels and the fossil whales of Wadi Al-Hitan.

02

Highlights

• Karnak and Luxor temples on Luxor's East Bank
• Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple
• Philae Temple and a felucca around Aswan's islands
• Abu Simbel's temples of Ramses II and Nefertari
• A Nile cruise via Edfu and Kom Ombo
• The temples of Abydos and Dendera
• Wadi Al-Hitan fossil whales and Lake Qarun, Faiyum

03

Plan your visit

Best time: October to April is best; Luxor and Aswan often reach 40°C or more between May and September, when sightseeing is only practical early and late in the day.

Getting there: Luxor and Aswan have international airports with frequent flights from Cairo (about an hour), Abu Simbel has a small airport, and Sohag and Asyut also have airports. Overnight sleeper trains run from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan (roughly 10 and 12–13 hours), and day trains serve Beni Suef, Minya, Asyut, Sohag and Qena. Faiyum is about 2 hours from Cairo by road.

Trip ideas:

• 3 days: Luxor's East and West Banks
• 4 nights: Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, plus Abu Simbel
• 2 days: Abydos and Dendera from Luxor