Upper Egypt refers to the southern half of the country, containing the upper reaches of the river Nile. Today, as in history, the towns and sights are largely confined to the narrow strip of cultivated land either side of the river. The area is home to one of the greatest concentrations of historical monuments anywhere and although it is the landmarks of ancient civilisations that dominate and draw visitors, the modern world has also left its legacy with the Aswan High Dam and its offspring, Lake Nasser. Both the Nile and the lake are popularly explored by cruise, although the sights of the Nile Valley can equally be visited from the delightful hotels of Luxor and Aswan.
In this region
The most famous of the rescued temples of Lake Nasser are those at Abu Simbel, although they are the least Nubian in influence. They were built by Ramses the Great on the...
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Aswan is easily the prettiest town in Egypt, and our recommendation for the perfect place to unwind at the end of your trip. Although not as rich in sights as Luxor, it...
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Formed behind the massive High Dam at Aswan, Lake Nasser is the world’s largest reservoir and stretches nearly five hundred kilometres to the south, beyond the Sudanese...
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Luxor, the hub of Ancient Egyptian monuments and a busy town, has developed to cater to the thousands of tourists who pass through. On the east bank of the river, the...
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