Le EgyptThings to do in Upper Egypt
The 10 best places to visit in Upper Egypt, Egypt: landmarks, hidden gems, food, parks and more, with tips, hours and tickets.
🏛️ Historical Sites
Esna Temple
A temple sunk below the modern town whose ceilings were recently cleaned to reveal astonishingly bright original colours.
A temple sunk below the modern town whose ceilings were recently cleaned to reveal astonishingly bright original colours.
Edfu Temple
The most complete temple in Egypt, dedicated to Horus, with its roof and towering pylon still intact.
The most complete temple in Egypt, dedicated to Horus, with its roof and towering pylon still intact.
Dendera Temple of Hathor
Famous for its restored blue ceilings and astronomical carvings, a day trip north of Luxor.
Famous for its restored blue ceilings and astronomical carvings, a day trip north of Luxor.
Temple of Seti I, Abydos
Home to some of the finest reliefs in Egypt and the Abydos King List.
Home to some of the finest reliefs in Egypt and the Abydos King List.
Red & White Monasteries, Sohag
Two early Christian monasteries; the Red Monastery's painted church is one of the most beautiful in the world after its restoration.
Two early Christian monasteries; the Red Monastery's painted church is one of the most beautiful in the world after its restoration.
El Kab
Rarely visited tombs and mud-brick town walls between Esna and Edfu.
Rarely visited tombs and mud-brick town walls between Esna and Edfu.
Akhmim Statue of Meritamen
The tallest standing statue of an ancient queen, rising from an open-air site in the middle of town.
The tallest standing statue of an ancient queen, rising from an open-air site in the middle of town.
⛵ The Nile
Dahabiya Cruise from Esna
Small traditional sailing houseboats with a handful of cabins, mooring at quiet islands and village stops between Esna and Aswan.
Small traditional sailing houseboats with a handful of cabins, mooring at quiet islands and village stops between Esna and Aswan.
💎 Hidden Gems
Gebel el-Silsila
Ancient sandstone quarries and riverside shrines between Edfu and Kom Ombo, usually only reached by dahabiya.
Ancient sandstone quarries and riverside shrines between Edfu and Kom Ombo, usually only reached by dahabiya.
Athribis (Sheikh Hamad)
A Ptolemaic temple near Sohag where recent excavations revealed colourful reliefs and an ancient zodiac.
A Ptolemaic temple near Sohag where recent excavations revealed colourful reliefs and an ancient zodiac.