The Temple of Esna

Located just 53km south of Luxor, towards Aswan, on the west bank on the Nile, is the city, and Temple, of Esna. This Greco-Roman temple of Khnum was built in the second century BC by the Ptolemies over the ruins of earlier temples. The temple is dedicated to Khnum, the ram-headed god. The influence of the Greco-Roman period on the temple is more than obvious. It is located a few minutes away from Esna's main street. Opening hours are from 7am to 6pm daily. Entrance is around 4 LE (half for students). The best way to get to Esna is to take a day trip from Luxor, by taxi, bus or train. If you're on a Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan or visa versa, the boat is bound to stop at Esna. The cruisers also offer an excursion with a tour guide. There is not much to the city Esna other than the temple.

Nekheb and Nekhen

Also known as El Kab and Kom El Ahmar, the remains of these two ancient settlements are located half-way between Esna and Edfu. 25 km south of Esna to be precise. Nekheb lies on the east bank of the Nile, is around 6000 years old, and contains the remains of the temple of Nekhbet, a Roman temple, and a sacred lake. On the other side of the Nile, are the remains of ancient settlement of Nekhen, which is even older than Nekheb. Nearby are some tombs dating back to the middle kingdom. Nekheb and Nekhen are not an essential part of discovering Upper Egypt. Again you can go from Luxor, or if you're on a Nile Cruise then they might stop there.