Things to do in New Valley Governorate

Best attractions to visit in New Valley Governorate

1. Deir al-Bahari - New Valley Governorate

Deir el-Bahari is the Egyptian word that roughly translates to “The Northern Monastery.” It refers to a complex of mortuary tombs and temples that spread across the west bank of the Nile River, opposite the ancient city of Luxor in Egypt. The first of these monuments was the mortuary temple of ruler Mentuhotep II of the Eleventh Dynasty. It was constructed at some point during the 15th Century BC. Egyptologists believe that it was Amenhotep I and Hatshepsut who built an extensive network of temples around the region. Djeser-Djesuru is the most prominent of all the temples at Deir el-Bahari. It refers to the “Holy of Holiest” and is thought to be the final resting place of Hatshepsut. A secret passageway was discovered in 1907 that led to the tombs of over 40 ruling elites of ancient Egypt. Deir el-Bahari is situated near the holy city of Thebes. It lies towards the west of the Valley of the Kings and is also a few kilometers away from mainland Cairo. Most of the temples were designed by ancient Egyptians. However, the Roman Empire played a significant role in the restoration of the area - where some ancient Roman buildings are located as well. A 1969 Egyptian movie titled Night of Counting the Years depicts the earliest excavations in the area and the discovery of a nearby necropolis.

Deir el-Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once home to the artisans that worked on the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. According to instructions found at the site, the ancient settlement's name was Set Maat that literally translates into the 'Place of the Truth'. The workmen that resided in the place were known as 'Servants in the Place of Truth'. Christian missionaries had later changed the name of the place to Deir el-Medina, which is the Arabic word for Monastery of the Town. The site provides one of the most thoroughly documented accounts of village life during the New Kingdom period (1550–1080 BC) in Egypt. The settlement is well laid out in the form of a natural amphitheatre and is situated within walking distance from the Valley of the Kings that is located towards the north. The village was built in a secluded area to preserve the secrecy of the work carried out in the tombs. There is no other comparable site in Egypt that provides such insights into the social and work life of the community. Visitors can easily access the site as it is located next to the west bank of the River Nile near the modern city of Luxor.

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In the southwestern part of Egypt between the Nile, northern Sudan and southeaster Libya lies one of the governorates of Egypt, the New Valley Governorate. It is one of the biggest governorates of the African continent with many attractive places to visit for tourists. From exploring, the historical ruins to experiencing desert safari don’t miss out on the fun here!

New Valley Governorate Egypt

There are so many things to do in New Valley Governorate. You can start by visiting Al Bagawat, painting a picture of the early era of Christianity. There are well preserved mud brick tombs in this place that stand out in the white desert. The chalk rock formations here are like no other. There are tons of things to do in New Valley Governorate and most of these all make up unique experiences. It is a great place for stargazing, camping, and sand surfing, especially if you have never tried it before. All of the things to do in New Valley Governorate aim to have travelers absorbed into the beauty of the place. The entire area takes up one third of Egypt; New Valley is the nation’s largest governorate and also the biggest on the entire African continent. Kharga Oasis is the capital of New Valley. Amongst things to do in New Valley Governorate, do not forget to visit Dakhla Oasis that is located between Kharga and Farafra. The best thing about traveling to this place is that it introduces you to an entirely new culture and community; far apart from what you have been seeing around your travels in Egypt. Here you may have to take care that you don’t sway from their traditions while you eat, visit the hot springs, and indulge in so many other routine activities. Rock art is one of the most interesting things to do in New Valley Governorate. In the oasis, you may come across unusual rock formations, former caravan routes crossroads, and plenty of different carvings on the rocks about animals like camels and giraffes.

Places to visit in New Valley Governorate

One of the things that the place has always enjoyed is curative tourism mixed with a pollution free weather. Make sure that you take your time visiting different attractions and trying out things to do in New Valley Governorate. Do not foregt checking out the UNESCO World Heritage status site that is Deir el Medina. The place was once home to artisans who worked in the tombs. What they left behind can still be explored in the form of things to do in New Valley Governorate. Historically the original name of Deir el Medina was Set Maat, which means Place of Truth. If you are interested in the history of the place you will find everything you want to know documented here, so make a quick stop here on your venture of ticking off all things to do in New Valley Governorate. Today it serves as a natural amphitheatre only a brief walking distance away from the valley. It takes on to be at the place to realize all the things to do in New Valley Governorate for them. The reason behind the village being built in a secluded place is so that the work that was being done in the tombs remains a secret. Take a break from the iconic landmarks and head over to Badr’s museum where you can purchase pieces of art at affordable prices. Let this be souvenirs for your memorable experience trying all the things to do in New Valley Governorate.