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Voykit pocket guide · Egypt
El-Ashmunein
Half a day for the Hermopolis Magna ruins and the Tuna el-Gebel necropolis; combine with Minya or Mallawi as a day trip from Cairo or a stop on the Nile Valley route.
El-Ashmunein, the ancient Hermopolis Magna, was the cult centre of Thoth and the second city of Roman Egypt. Today only the portico of the great temple stands, with two baboon statues of Thoth in a small open-air museum. The real draw is the necropolis 12 km west at Tuna el-Gebel, with the tomb of Petosiris and the Amarna boundary stelae. Most travellers visit as a half-day detour from Minya or Mallawi, or as a stop between Cairo and Luxor.
- Country
- Egypt
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (extreme heat)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EGP
- Money
- Currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, also written LE or £E). Hotels, cruise boats and larger restaurants take cards; taxis, markets, small cafés, tips and toilet attendants are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget EGP 500–800 excl. bed · Mid EGP 800–1,500 excl. bed · High EGP 1,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) and WE sell tourist SIMs at Cairo airport with passport; about EGP 500–1,000 for 20–40 GB — check.
- Emergency
- Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Tourist police 126
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European round-pin sockets.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% even when service is added (it rarely reaches staff).; Guide, full day: US$10–20 per person.; Driver, full day: US$5–10.; Cruise crew: About US$5–10 per person per day in the envelope.; Toilet, porter, small help: EGP 10–30.
- Water
- Tap water is chlorinated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; do not drink Nile water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants; attendants at sites expect EGP 10–20. Carry tissue.
Get in
By air
- CAI · Cairo International
- About 3.5 h by car or train to Minya, then 44 km (27 mi) southAbout 3.5 h by car or train to Minya, then 27 mi (44 km) south
Typical fares
- Taxi Minya → El-Ashmunein return
- EGP 300–500 (check)
- Microbus Minya → El-Ashmunein
- EGP 10–20 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxi or microbus from Minya or Mallawi; the site is on the main road. A private driver from Minya costs about EGP 300–500 return (check).
See and do
Known for
- Hermopolis Magna archaeological site
- Tuna el-Gebel necropolis
- Temple of Thoth portico
- Amarna boundary stelae
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Minya | Taxi or microbus, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| Mallawi | Taxi or microbus, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Beni Hasan | From Minya, taxi about 30 min | About 1 h from Minya |
| Assiut | Train or taxi, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Minya
- 44 km (27 mi) north; the nearest city with hotels and restaurants.27 mi (44 km) north; the nearest city with hotels and restaurants.
- Mallawi
- 8 km (5 mi) south; basic accommodation, check.5 mi (8 km) south; basic accommodation, check.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | السلام عليكمas-salamu alaykum |
| Thank you | شكراًshukran |
| How much? | بكام؟bi-kam? |
| Where is the entrance? | المدخل فين؟al-madkhal fein? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Salam alaykum', handshake; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging strangers
- Eating: Right hand; accept tea; avoid: Refusing hospitality flatly
- Bargaining: Humour and patience; avoid: Anger
- Dress: Shoulders and knees covered in cities; avoid: Beachwear outside resorts
- Baksheesh: Keep small notes ready; avoid: Showing a thick wallet
- Photos: Ask; pay if agreed; avoid: Photographing police or military
Scams and watch-outs
- The site is exposed: bring water, a hat and sunscreen.
- Tuna el-Gebel is 12 km west of the main road; arrange transport in advance.
- The necropolis may have limited opening hours; check locally.
El-Ashmunein is a rural area with low crime; the main risks are heat, traffic on the main road and the lack of tourist infrastructure. Travel with a guide or driver from Minya.
One and two days
No timed day plan for El-Ashmunein yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hermopolis Magna archaeological site
- Tuna el-Gebel necropolis
- Temple of Thoth portico
- Amarna boundary stelae
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: El-Ashmunein, revision 4055048 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4055048
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/el-ashmunein). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.