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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What to do and see in Nile River Valley, Nile River Valley: The Best Things to do Good for Big Groups
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. 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!
6. 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.
7. Elephantine Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 448 reviews
This island is the oldest inhabited part of Aswan and served as the cult center of the ram headed god Khnum in ancient times.
Reviewed By JosephSpendlove - Derby, United Kingdom
Most people visiting Aswân are looking for the real Nubian experience and you can’t get more real than on Elephant Island. A real Nubian village where many people have opened there homes to visitors and made some great value got money bed and breakfast guest houses. Dusty small streets and friendly faces are your first impression, then when you sit down you soon realise the noise and rush of the city is not on the island and you feel relaxed and at peace. If you are a sun worshipper it’s important to get a East bank facing (sun) hotel. If you are not bothered then the cheaper West Bank ones are quieter and great value. The young and hip people seem to all stay at the bob Marley hotel which has a lovely roof top terrace and the adorable Ali manager. Highly recommend a visit.
8. Luxor Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,520 reviews
A museum featuring items found beneath the Luxor Temple, and from the tomb of King Tut. Also on exhibit is a re-assembled wall from the Temple of Aten.
Reviewed By 994linday - Frisco, United States
The Luxor Museum prides itself on the quality, not the quantity, of its artifacts. The collection is beautifully curated among two floors, displayed in an uncluttered manner with each piece clearly labeled. Quite a contrast to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo, where I was totally overwhelmed by the experience. Luxor has two royal mummies on display, so if you’ve never seen a mummy, here’s your chance! I admit it’s creepy, but the Egyptians were masters of mummification and it was normal to them.
9. Lake Nasser
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 131 reviews
This artificial lake, which was created after the construction of the Aswan Dam, is more than 500 kilometers long of which 150 belong to the Sudan.
Reviewed By shapgo - Hartsdale, United States
We traveled on the Movenpick MS Prince Abbas with our Odyssey tour group. We had a wonderful tour director who led us through remarkable sites and Nubian temples. The Temples of Philae was our first visit in Aswan. The next day we visited the Kalabasha Temple which was moved and reconstructed on higher ground and impressive. We also saw the Dakka Tample, the Temple of Amada, the settlement of Karr Ibrim, other sites and the most spectacular, the Abu Simbel Temple Complex. Great Trip!
10. Tomb of Ramses III
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 422 reviews
Located in the Valley of the Kings, this well-preserved tomb is known as the “Tomb of the Harpists” due to the bas-relief of two blind musicians located in one of the side chambers.
Reviewed By mariom274 - Quebec City, Canada
Valley of the Kings | West Bank, Louxor, Égypt. The Tomb of Ramses III is one of the nicest tomb in this valley. The colors of the walls, yes the color!!! the hieroglyphs, are absolutely fantastic. it looks like they were painted just a few years ago. Simply majestic. Another beautiful tomb to visit!!!
