El Kab

We move inland from the river to the tombs of El Kab. Walks like this give you a sense of how important the Nile is to Egypt, as you experience where agriculture stops and desert begins. The small village where our dahabiya moors is an opportunity to provide positive benefits to a local community. Visitors may wish to buy baskets handmade from recycled materials by the girls of this village. This encourages recycling in addition to giving you a handmade reminder of your visit. Your guide will assist with any purchasing to ensure the benefits are spread throughout the families of the village.

The village boys can provide donkeys for you to ride to the necropolis. Our dahabiya tours took the initiative to ensure that the young villagers provide good service.Your guide will organise the rides and make clear the payment if you would like to ride instead of walk. 
Riding a motorised tricycle or tuk tuk is an alternative to riding a donkey or walking for our less mobile guests or those who prefer not to ride an animal.

This is the location of the ancient town of Nekheb. Remains of ancient settlements here date from about 3,000 BC until Ptolemaic rule. There are indications that the history of the site begins several thousand years earlier, including signs of pre-paleolithic industry and an important cemetery dating from the time of Nagada III, around 3,300 BC. There is also prehistoric graffiti on the walls of the wadis. 

Although the site has not been extensively excavated, it is one of the most unique in Egypt because  ancient villages and cities are rarely found. It is an illustration of daily life and extends our understanding of life across Egyptian history.

The remains include the impressive mud brick wall attributed to Nectanebo II of the 30th Dynasty (the 5th Dynasty of the Late Period, 360–343 BC). The wall encircles an area of about 30,000 square meters (32,808 yards) and forms a rectangle of 520 x 590 meters (1,706 x 1,936 feet). Its thickness varies from 12 to 16 meters (39 to 52.5 feet). The long valley is lined with tombs and shrines. The site includes temples dedicated to Nekhbet and Thoth.

The New Kingdom necropolis is the focus of our visit. Nekheb was an important centre during the early dynasties and for some time during the New Kingdom. We reach an elevated place and enter the tombs of New Kingdom officials from the area. The artwork, naturally, has similarities to that in the tombs of the nobles in Luxor.

For detailed descriptions of the sites and their significance across the centuries, see https://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/el_kab/el_kab_site/e_el_kab.htm.