Minya Uncovered — 2 Days Through Egypt's Forgotten Kingdoms

Alexandria · 2 days · 1 night · shared departure for 4–8 travelers · from €297 per person

The Egypt Between the Pyramids and Luxor

Most visitors travel between Cairo and Luxor without stopping. Yet between these two famous destinations lies one of Egypt's richest archaeological regions — Minya, where ancient cities, painted tombs and forgotten temples tell stories covering more than three thousand years.

This two-day journey follows the Nile through Middle Egypt, exploring remarkable monuments that rarely feature on conventional tourist itineraries.

At Beni Hassan, walk along a limestone cliff to tombs decorated with extraordinary scenes of everyday life four thousand years ago. Discover the Fraser Tombs, an ancient burial ground associated with the priests of Hathor, and explore Zawyet Sultan, where the remains of an early step pyramid survive.

Further south, enter the world of Akhenaten and Nefertiti at Tell el-Amarna, the short-lived capital of a pharaoh who challenged Egypt's religious traditions.

At Hermopolis, discover the remains of a city devoted to Thoth, the god of wisdom and writing. Nearby, Tuna el-Gebel preserves the fascinating tombs and sacred animal burial galleries of the Greco-Roman period.

Rather than compressing these extraordinary places into one exhausting day trip, you'll spend a night in Minya, allowing more time for exploration and a comfortable evening beside the Nile.

Your journey includes an overnight hotel stay, breakfast and dinner at the hotel, and lunch at a local restaurant on both sightseeing days.

Sawa means "together." Travel with a small group of fellow explorers, accompanied by a licensed Egyptologist, and discover a part of Egypt that deserves far more attention.

Day 1 — Ancient Tombs and Forgotten Pyramids

The Shape of the Day

06:00 AM — Gather in Cairo

Meet your Egyptologist and fellow travellers at the designated meeting point in Cairo. Settle into your air-conditioned vehicle and begin the journey south along the Nile Valley.

06:00 AM – 09:30 AM — The Road to Minya

Travel through the agricultural heartland of Middle Egypt, passing fields, villages and stretches of desert that have shaped life along the Nile for thousands of years.

A short comfort stop is planned along the way.

09:30 AM – 10:30 AM — Fraser Tombs (Tihna el-Gebel)

Begin your archaeological exploration at the Fraser Tombs, a group of rock-cut burial chambers dating to Egypt's Old Kingdom.

These tombs belonged to important figures associated with the ancient settlement of Tihna el-Gebel, including priests of Hathor.

Explore the carved inscriptions and surviving architectural features while your Egyptologist explains how these monuments offer a glimpse into provincial life more than four thousand years ago.

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM — Journey to Zawyet Sultan

Continue south towards Zawyet Sultan, near the modern city of Minya.

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM — Zawyet Sultan (Zawyet el-Maiyitin)

Visit one of Middle Egypt's lesser-known archaeological landscapes.

Here, the remains of an early step pyramid stand alongside ancient tombs and traces of settlements that developed over different periods of Egyptian history.

Discover the archaeological significance of ancient Hebenu, an important provincial centre, and learn how its monuments connect with the wider history of the Nile Valley.

12:30 PM – 01:30 PM — Lunch at a Local Restaurant

Enjoy an included lunch at a restaurant in the Minya area, with the opportunity to sample traditional Egyptian dishes.

Your Egyptologist can answer questions about the sites explored during the morning before the afternoon's main visit.

01:30 PM – 02:15 PM — Journey to Beni Hassan

Travel south along the eastern side of the Nile, approaching the limestone cliffs that contain one of Egypt's most celebrated collections of Middle Kingdom tombs.

02:15 PM – 03:45 PM — Beni Hassan Tombs

Explore the remarkable rock-cut tombs of Beni Hassan, built for regional governors and officials during Egypt's Middle Kingdom.

A climb up the hillside brings you to tomb chapels decorated with scenes that are unusually detailed and full of life.

Discover painted wrestlers, agricultural workers, musicians, craftsmen and hunters, as well as the famous representation of a group of foreign visitors arriving in Egypt.

These scenes offer invaluable evidence of how people lived, worked and interacted nearly four thousand years ago.

Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

03:45 PM – 05:00 PM — Transfer to Minya & Hotel Check-in

Return to Minya city and check into your hotel.

Enjoy some free time to relax after the day's exploration.

07:00 PM – 08:00 PM — Dinner at the Hotel

Enjoy your included dinner at the hotel.

Evening — Minya at Your Own Pace

The remainder of the evening is free. Depending on your hotel's location, you may wish to enjoy the Nile views or take a short walk along the Corniche.

Overnight: Hotel in Minya.

Meals included: Lunch and dinner.

Day 2 — Akhenaten's Lost Capital and the City of Thoth

The Shape of the Day

06:30 AM – 07:30 AM — Breakfast at the Hotel

Enjoy your included hotel breakfast before checking out.

Your luggage remains stored securely in the vehicle during the day's sightseeing.

07:30 AM – 09:00 AM — Journey to Tell el-Amarna

Travel south towards the archaeological landscape of Tell el-Amarna, on the eastern side of the Nile.

09:00 AM – 11:00 AM — Tell el-Amarna

Explore the remains of Akhetaten, the remarkable capital founded by Pharaoh Akhenaten in the fourteenth century BC.

Here, Akhenaten attempted to reshape Egypt's religious traditions around the worship of the Aten, represented by the sun disk.

Discover the surviving traces of the ancient city and visit accessible decorated tombs belonging to its senior officials.

Your Egyptologist explains the revolutionary artistic style of the Amarna period, the role of Queen Nefertiti and the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the city after Akhenaten's reign.

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM — Journey to Hermopolis

Travel towards the western bank of the Nile and the ancient city of Hermopolis Magna, near modern el-Ashmunein.

12:15 PM – 01:00 PM — Hermopolis Magna (El-Ashmunein)

Visit the archaeological remains of Hermopolis, one of ancient Egypt's major religious and intellectual centres.

Known as Khmunu in ancient Egyptian, the city was associated with Thoth, the god of wisdom, writing and knowledge.

Explore the surviving architectural remains, including the famous large baboon statues associated with the god.

Your guide will explain the city's importance through the Pharaonic, Greek and Roman periods.

01:00 PM – 02:00 PM — Lunch at a Local Restaurant

Enjoy an included lunch in the Mallawi area before continuing towards Tuna el-Gebel.

02:00 PM – 02:30 PM — Journey to Tuna el-Gebel

Continue west towards the extensive desert necropolis of ancient Hermopolis.

02:30 PM – 03:45 PM — Tuna el-Gebel

Explore one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in Middle Egypt.

Visit the beautifully decorated Tomb of Petosiris, where traditional Egyptian religious imagery combines with elements of Greek art.

Continue to the Tomb of Isadora, associated with the story of a young woman who died during the Roman period.

Discover the significance of the site's underground animal burial galleries, where sacred ibises and baboons were mummified in honour of Thoth. Access to specific galleries is subject to their opening status.

03:45 PM – 08:00 PM — Return to Cairo

Begin the return journey to Cairo, travelling north through Middle Egypt.

Arrival is expected in the evening, depending on road conditions, traffic and security checkpoints.

Returning to Cairo

Two days in Minya reveal a side of ancient Egypt that is often overlooked.

From the colourful tomb paintings of Beni Hassan to the revolutionary capital of Akhenaten, and from the earliest provincial pyramids to the remarkable Greco-Roman necropolis of Tuna el-Gebel, this journey connects several distinct chapters of Egyptian history.

You return to Cairo having explored six remarkable archaeological sites, many of which receive only a fraction of the visitors who travel to Egypt's better-known monuments.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

Upcoming departures

No public dates are forming right now — you can start your own date on this page: pick the day that suits you, our team reviews it, and nothing is charged unless it reaches GoAhead.

Every date needs 4 travelers to be confirmed (the GoAhead). Hold a seat free — a deposit is only charged once the date confirms. Don't see your day? Start your own date on this page; our team reviews it before it opens.

Included

• One night of hotel accommodation in Minya.
• Breakfast at the hotel on Day 2.
• Dinner at the hotel on Day 1.
• Lunch at a local restaurant on Day 1 and Day 2.
• Licensed Egyptologist guide throughout scheduled sightseeing.
• Air-conditioned transportation from Cairo to Minya and return.
• All transportation between the six scheduled archaeological sites.
• Entrance tickets to the included archaeological sites.
• Hotel check-in and departure assistance.

Not included

• Breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on Day 2.
• Beverages during meals unless specified.
• Personal expenses.
• Gratuities for guide, driver and hotel staff.
• Optional activities outside the scheduled itinerary.
• Single-room supplement, where applicable.

Operated by Capital Travel Service, an Egyptian travel company licensed by the Ministry of Tourism and registered with ETAA. Licensed since 2011. Verified by Sawa.