Middle Egypt

Middle Egypt (Arabic: مصر الوسطى) is an extensive region of Egypt, extending through the Nile River valley, roughly between the cities of Beni Suef (120 km south of the Egyptian capital city Cairo) and Qus (30 km north of Luxor).

Cities

Middle Egypt includes a number of important urban centres, some of which make great bases for exploring the attractions of the region. Several cities feature attractions in their own right (from north to south):

• 1 Fayum is one of the most accessible desert oases, an easy drive from the Nile Valley.
• 2 Beni Suef
• 3 Minya
• 4 Mallawi
• 5 Asyut
• 6 Sohag

Other destinations

Several prime attractions for travellers lie outside the main population centres of the region and can be visited from one or more of them (from north to south):

• 1 Beni Hasan — the location of fascinating tombs of the Middle Kingdom period
• 2 Amarna — site of the short-lived capital of the "heretic pharaoh" Akhenaten, best known for its rock-cut tombs
• 3 Abydos — the site of magnificent Ramesside temples and Predynastic remains - accessed via the small town of al-Balyana
• 4 Dendera — location of one of the best-preserved ancient Egyptian temples
• 5 El-Ashmunein (Hermopolis Magna) — the main cult centre of Thoth, the Pharaonic god of magic, healing, and wisdom and the patron of scribes.