Top Things to do in Nile River Valley
Top Hotels in Nile River Valley
- 1. Kato Dool Nubian House
- 2. Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan
- 3. Movenpick Resort Aswan
- 4. Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Hotel
- 5. Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa
- 6. Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor
- 7. Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor
- 8. Nefertiti Hotel
- 9. Steigenberger Resort Achti
- 10. Jolie Ville Hotel & Spa - Kings Island, Luxor
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Things to do in Nile River Valley, Nile River Valley: The Best Ancient Ruins
The mighty Nile has been providing Egypt with water for millennia. Deserving of its reputation as the world's largest open-air museum, the Nile River Valley contains thousands of monuments at sites such as Luxor and Aswan. Don't miss the city of temples ar Karnak, the dozens of tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the massive rock temples of Abu Simbel or vast and powerful Luxor Temple. Visitors can float by these astounding sites on a felucca boat or cruise ship or catch a train from Cairo.
Restaurants in Nile River Valley
1. Abu Simbel Temple Complex
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,454 reviews
Reviewed By Traveller314 - Edmonton, Canada
The two temples at Abu Simbel are just so spectacular enough on their own, both inside and out, that it's easy to overlook the incredible engineering achievement that it took to save them from being destroyed by the rising waters of Lake Nasser. This place was one of the highlights of our two-week tour across Egypt and worth the 3 hour drive from Aswan. Highly recommended.
2. Thebes
3. Tomb of Ramses VI
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 504 reviews
The key feature of this tomb, which was originally built for Ramses V and expanded by Ramses VI during the 20th Dynasty, is its vaulted astronomical ceiling with a double image of the Goddess Nut swallowing the sun.
Reviewed By KarenAzinger
In my opinion, this is one of the top tombs in the Valley of the Kings. The color on the walls is amazing and the star chart aching across the burial chamber is a true wonder! Don't miss this tomb! Your ticket to the Valley of the Kings will allow you entrance into 3 tombs. I recommend Ramses III, Ramses V & VI (one tomb where they buried two pharaohs), and Ramses IV. All of these tombs have incredible color and stunning art work. Recommend that you also pay extra for Sety I, the largest and most beautiful tomb in the Valley. The rules have changed so you can use your cellphone to take photos, so you don't need to buy a photographic pass. If you tour Egypt, you must see the Valley of the Kings, truly a wonder of the ancient world!
4. Temple of Medinat Habu
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,169 reviews
This ancient complex is dominated by the massive memorial temple of Ramses III, similar to the mortuary temple of Ramses II at Ramesseum.
Reviewed By 780kicks
One of the Best Preserved Temples on the Westbank, Luxor Dedicated to Rameses III, Funeral Temple and Palace. 20th Dynasty ca.1260 BC.
5. Dendera Temple Complex
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 326 reviews
Built in the 1st century BC by Ptolemy 8th and Queen Cleopatra 2nd, this ancient temple is one of the most intact in Egypt.
Reviewed By ElizabethO1995 - Moscow, Russia
Dendera is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, dedicated to the goddess Hathor. Since it is usually visited first on the excursion to Luxor, it is somehow is associated with early morning and the rise of civilization (though it has been actually built quite late, mainly in Greco-Roman times). One of the main features of the temple is the Dendera zodiac, the round calendar on the ceiling which is often represented in albums and postcards. Come and see it with your own eyes!
6. The Red Monastery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By T5964ISmarkm
The plain exterior of this ancient monastery is in sharp contrast to the splendor of the artwork inside: the interior doorway is ornately carved, and the frescoes around the main altar are simply breathtaking. All artwork has been carefully restored, is well lit and accessible.
7. Abydos
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 179 reviews
Reviewed By 117jakek - Vancouver, Canada
A trip to Egypt and its ancient sites, should not be complete without a visit to Abydos. While no one with even the most remote interest in Egyptian antiquities would ever consider missing GIZA or Luxor, most tourists completely overlook Abydos and Dendera temples. Due largely to its remote location, this absolute gem continues to quietly exist in the shadows of its famous cousin temple sites to the universal joy of those who love the path less traveled. We engaged the services of Reflections travel, locally. A new SUV, with a driver and Roshdie our guide picked us up from our hotel in Luxor. The 3 hour drive through desert and many police check points seem to be the only obstacles keeping the masses of tourists away from this magical site. One of the oldest settlements in the history of ancient Egypt, predating possibly the Great Pyramid, it is one of the best preserved and least visited sites. While It is called the Temple of Seti I, many rulers could lay claim to its origins and it may have been a project predating the earliest of Egypts rulers. It became the cult center of Osiris and is the home of the famous Abydos King List or Abydos Table, the oldest and most complete list of Egypt's rulers. The site continues to be a source of controversy amongst scholars due to many different unexplained so far elements. There are clear signs that the site was built to be easily accessible by water - The Nile is 10km away presently - The inner sanctum or the burial site of Osiris continues to retain water and is a marvel as well as an explained technological puzzle. The engravings are some of the most amazing in all of Egypt, especially the ceiling in the main hall, still in full colour and spectacular detail, seem to have been retouched recently, they are so vivid. The temple features the so called Helicopter of Abydos hieroglyph, which adds a whole new conspiracy level to the enigma of who the ancient builders might have actually been. The site is thought to be around 5-8 square kms and largely unexplored, leaving to your imagination what could still be asleep under the sands. There remain many more questions then answers. Run don't walk before the crowds discover it!
8. Tomb of Queen Nefertari
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 333 reviews
Reviewed By Busy_chap - Sydney, Australia
Simply the most beautiful place I have ever been. This tomb has been wonderfully conserved, so the wall paintings are bright and vivid. Its absolutely worth the price of the special ticket to see this wonderful tomb, and the extra trip around to the Valley of the Queens. Photography is strictly forbidden, although one guardian did try to solicit a tip for a sly photo, but it was really worth just focussing on the experience of this wonderful space. A must for any visit to Egypt.
9. Temple of Wadi El-Sebua
10. Bent Pyramid
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By iTravel_experiences
Bent Pyramid, built around 2600 B.C. by Pharaoh Sneferu (Khufu's father) is the “Whoops! We messed up” pyramid as the bottom (still has some smooth limestone casing) is at a steep 54° angle before they realized it was structurally unstable, so the top part was adjusted to a shallower 43°. There was no other tourists out here in the isolated desert as we climbed up to the raised entrance, politely tried to feign ignorance as the “guard” greets us (and I am sure wanted to be tipped/bribed) and then clamber down a narrow 260 feet tunnel to reach deep inside this hopefully stable structure. It was pretty cool to see and to learn about.
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