Egypt holidays are often based in the north of the country, around the urban bustle of Cairo and of course the plateau of Giza where the pyramids have stood for thousands of years. If not, tourists often head east to the Red Sea resorts around Sharm-el-Sheikh, and overlook altogether the majestic beauty that is to be found in the south of the country.
Further away from the Mediterranean, the Nile runs through a dryer, harsher land. The cities are smaller and calmer, and the fields surrounding the Nile are populated by workers from palm strewn villages. It is a completely different country, and the rest of the world feels hundreds of miles away.
That sentiment is only enhanced by the ruins that lie along the edge of the river, ranging from Ancient Egyptian to Greaco-Roman in the form of temples at Esna and Edfu, there’s a little bit of everything, and the juxtaposition between the awe-inspiring beauty of the temples and the humble surroundings of the village is unforgettable.
Of course, the only way to get out and see some of the best sights is by taking a boat. The Nile is a busy waterway, but at certain times of day it’s remarkably peaceful, and gliding through the water in a traditional Egyptian boat is a great way to spend a couple of hours.
The most famous city in the far south of Egypt is Aswan, mostly known for the High Dam. Aswan is the administrative capital, and in some ways feels quite modern, but it has retained a lot of its old Nubian culture, particularly in the vibrant souks, that rival anything else to be found in the Middle East. Aswan has a wonderful museum of Nubian culture that has to be visited, not to mention the beautiful public gardens that dot the city centre.
The lake created by the Aswan Dam would have destroyed hundreds of famous sites. The most famous, and most striking of all is Abu Simbel, the Great Temple of Ramesses II that was relocated in its entirety in 1968 to protect it from the waters of the lake. The statues of Ramesses presence in Abu Simbel is inescapable, four twenty metre tall statues dominate the entire site, and as well as stunning visitors for thousands of years have inspired some legendary works of literature. Less well known than the pyramids, it really is the jewel in the crown of Egypt’s amazing historical collection.
If there is one drawback to the south of Egypt, it’s that it’s more difficult to reach than the more well known and well trodden sites to the north. But if you make the effort of the journey, you’re sure to see things that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
