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
Top 10 Things to do in Nile River Valley, Nile River Valley
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. 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.
3. 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!
4. Nubian Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 681 reviews
This museum traces the history from the earliest settlements to present day of Nubia, the region defined as the area between Aswan in Egypt and Khartoum in the Sudan.
Reviewed By DEK_29 - Brisbane, Australia
The Nubian Museum is situated across the road from the Basma Hotel and the Cataract Hotel. Once past the security checkpoint, the entrance to the museum and the surrounds are a lovely peaceful garden. One of the features of the gardens is a winding water course which appears to be unfinished. Numerous stelae and bits of ancient walls can be found in the gardens along with some lovely trees and shrubbery from the area. The entrance features a small alter that has baboons symbolizing Thoth the god of wisdom and writing. The pictorial history of the expedition to save Nubian monuments is one of the highlights of this museum. The museum features large dioramas that depict Nubian life through the ages, Nubian and Egyptian statuary detailing comparisons, mummies and some fine examples of Christian and early Islamic handicrafts. This was my second visit to this museum (first time in 2010) and there were more people visiting which did make it difficult at times to view some of the exhibits. The museum itself is a modern, well air-conditioned building with many interesting exhibits. A highlight of this visit was that I got into a conversation with a Coptic priest while viewing the Christian artworks. He even asked me about the bush fires occurring in Australia after he asked where I was from.
5. Tomb of King Tutankhamun (Tut)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,307 reviews
The tomb of King Tut was discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1922 by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon.
Reviewed By 742wayned - Key West, United States
Yeah, go to it, but get ready to be underwhelmed. First, the build up. So, you paid for the whole trip just to get to the Valley of the Kings. Then you bought a ticket to the Valley of the Kings (good for only 3 tombs, but not King Tut’s). Then you bought another ticket just to be able to take pictures in the tombs (but not in King Tut’s). Then you bought a third ticket to go into King Tut’s tomb. Oh, and you have to buy the tickets at the entrance before you go in. So, you walk to the tomb, conveniently close to the valley entrance, and find a spot where you have to show your ticket and hand over your camera (no pictures in the tomb). Walk down some stairs and you are in an “L” shaped room, coming in from the back of the L. The ceiling and most of the walls are unfinished. To your right is a glass case with King Tut’s mummy. Ok, that is cool. Then to your right is the bottom of the “L.” The floor there is a bit lower and there is a railing to keep you back. On the floor is one of King Tut’s sarcophagi. On the wall to your left are painted baboons. On the wall in front of you are painted big people. On the wall to the right are painted little people. That’s it. That is all there is to see. Three painted walls, sarcophagus, mummy. And you paid extra for this. All the really cool stuff they moved to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and you will have to pay more to see and not take pictures of that too. Please, if you are in the area, go into King Tut’s tomb. If for bragging rights only. But don’t plan to spend too much time there. The tombs Of Merenptah and Rameses III are much more impressive.
6. Aswan
This large temple complex, relocated to the island of Agilika with the building of the High Dam in Aswan, features the magnificent Temple of Isis that was built in the late Ptolemaic and early Roman periods.
Reviewed By VirginiaCW - Mount Pleasant, United States
The temple complex at Philae was dedicated primarily to the goddess Isis, but also the gods Horus and Osiris. It is believed to have been the burial site for Osiris and so highly regarded by both the local Nubian population and Egyptologists, too, and, as was often the case, these ancient temples were converted to churches during more modern times. This island, near the original Aswan low dam flooded site and first cataract has the full temple complex reconstructed in situ very close to its original site (which you can see outlined by coffer dam remains in the lake adjacent to the complex). As with the other antiquities, it was raised by a coordinated effort between Egypt and UNESCO and other partners in antiquity. The details of reliefs and decorative work are in incredible condition. We went late in the afternoon and there were only a handful of other people there. It is never very crowded because you can only access it by boat, generally accessible by hire from the nearby colorful Nubian village. Best seen and accessed with an Egyptologist who can interpret the history (from construction during the Ptolemaic times). If you are allergic to, or averse to cats, this might not be the place for you to visit. Cats are highly revered by locals believed to be living examples of gods, and on this island they are cared for and protected.
7. Luxor Temple
A temple built for the ritual practices exercised at the most important Ancient Egyptian festival, The Festival of Opet.
Reviewed By WImom - Fond du Lac, United States
Luxor Temple is a must see in Luxor. It is best to go early in the morning as the crowds are less and the temperature is not so hot. Best to have a guide to explain things. Spent about 1.5 hours here which was the right amount of time. It is also recommended to view the temple at night from across the street when the temple lights are lit in the evening. Mostly built by the New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III (1390-1352 BC) and Ramses II (1279-12-13 BC), it is an ancient monument surrounded by a modern town. Note that in ancient times there were two majestic obelisks standing in front of the temple. Only one remains today while the other is on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Be aware of scammers outside the temple in the area that pretend to work at one of the cruise ships. They pretend that they are doing an errand for the ship and ask if you want to walk along. Soon, you are riding with them on a horse-drawn carriage (which you are expected to pay later) as well as stopping by several vendors (spice, Papyrus) where they pressure you to buy. They are very smooth operators which can con even the most sophisticated traveler.
8. Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari
A mortuary temple dedicated to the longest ruling female of Ancient Egypt, Queen Hatshepsut. The temple is decorated with statues, sphinxes, and reliefs, which have been meticulously restored over time.
Reviewed By MagpieDR - Luperon, Caribbean
A must see both for its location and size, the guides and locals all laugh about calling it hot chicken soup For me the trick to any temple is avoiding crowds so go early or late in the day.
9. Temple of Karnak
Reviewed By BegoniaPR - Germany, null
I just stayed in this ocean of immense massive huge columns for 1.5 hours, the energy of this place is amazing, it is the temple of temples, the history behind it left a beautiful energy, of celebrations of gratitude to the Gods and to the Universe. Bring water, sunscreen a hut and walk around.
10. Valley of the Kings
This desert valley contains the ancient burial ground of many Egyptian pharaohs. Among over 60 royal tombs is the famous Tomb of Tutankhamen that was found in pristine condition.
Reviewed By 490dhanraja
This place is amazing.. To see all the tombs discovered is unbelievable... At the entrance is, a model depicting how many tons were discovered.. It's size and shape..but when yo go inside and discover the beauty that still remains after thousands of years is just indescribable.. Truly stunning colours still remain.. Lovely little train ride to the top of the mountain...of course there's King Tut tomb as well.. Our ticket allowed us to visit 3 tombs and they were great.. King Tut was seperate.. Have to pay extra if you want to take pictures inside... Most definately recommend
