National park · Egypt
Amarnael-Amarna
Give Amarna half a day from el-Till ferry: North Tombs 3–6, the Northern Palace and the Central City, with a Tourist Police escort; add the Royal Tomb only with a car, and skip the South Tombs unless you have a full day.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
60 km² (23 sq mi)23 sq mi (60 km²)
approximate
Established
1982
Best months
Oct–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 11Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Egypt ↗Check visa rules for your passport on the official Egypt e-visa portal before flying; visa on arrival availability depends on nationality and can change.
- Egypt ↗Drones need prior permission and are routinely confiscated on arrival; leave them at home.
- Egypt ↗Do not photograph military sites, police, bridges or government buildings; some museums and tombs charge for or ban photography.
- Egypt ↗During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight; hotels and tourist restaurants still serve.
- Middle Egypt ↗Some sites and roads in Minya and Assiut governorates sit in areas where police escorts or permits are requested; ask your hotel or operator the day before.
- Middle Egypt ↗Assume no usable public transport between sites: hire a car with a driver for the day.
- Middle Egypt ↗Carry cash in Egyptian pounds; card machines are rare outside city hotels.
At a glance
- Country
- Egypt
- Area
- 60 km² (23 sq mi)23 sq mi (60 km²)
- The archaeological zone runs roughly 15 km north–south along the desert edge; the figure here is an approximation of the mapped site area (check).
- Established
- 1982
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
Amarna is the desert site of Akhenaten's short-lived capital, spread along the east bank of the Nile in el-Minya province: rock-cut tombs, two Aten temples, a palace, a workmen's village and a royal tomb in a side wadi. There is no town, no hotel and no ticket office in the usual sense — you cross by ferry from the west bank, pick up a car and a Tourist Police escort at el-Till, and move between clusters of ruins on desert tracks. The northern half is the standard visit; the southern tombs and the Royal Tomb are longer, rougher excursions.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national siteAntiquities zone under Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; the site is on Egypt's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List (check).
Size and age
60 km² (23 sq mi)23 sq mi (60 km²) · national park since 1982
The archaeological zone runs roughly 15 km north–south along the desert edge; the figure here is an approximation of the mapped site area (check).
Why go
- The only Egyptian capital built from scratch and abandoned within a generation: Akhenaten's city, its temples, palaces and tombs all lie in one desert strip.
- Painted tomb chapels of the court officials, with scenes of the city, the royal family and daily life that exist nowhere else.
- A half-day route that works from the el-Till ferry: North Tombs 3–6, the Northern Palace and the Central City, all within about 3 km (1.9 mi) of the landing.A half-day route that works from the el-Till ferry: North Tombs 3–6, the Northern Palace and the Central City, all within about 1.9 mi (3 km) of the landing.
- The Royal Tomb and the Workmen's Village are a rough 11 km (6.8 mi) excursion up a side wadi, for travellers who want the whole site rather than the standard circuit.The Royal Tomb and the Workmen's Village are a rough 6.8 mi (11 km) excursion up a side wadi, for travellers who want the whole site rather than the standard circuit.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanCool, clear; long walking days are comfortable
- FebMild; occasional dust haze
- MarWarm; khamsin dust winds possible
- AprHot by midday; start at first ferry
- May35 °C (95 °F)+; little shade anywhere95 °F (35 °C)+; little shade anywhere
- JunExtreme heat; escorts and cars thin out
- JulHottest month; not a walking site now
- AugExtreme heat; tombs are the only shade
- SepStill hot; mornings only
- OctHeat breaks; best all-round month
- NovDry and mild; good light
- DecCool mornings; bring a layer
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert birds and lizards around the wadisOct–Apr · Nothing here is a wildlife destination; the site is archaeology first. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Khamsin dust stormsMar–May · Visibility drops and the escorts may cut the day short. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Mallawi
Taxi or car to the west-bank ferry landing, cross to el-Till, then hire a vehicle on the east bank with the escort.
45–60 min plus ferry
Open the page →
From Minya
Car or taxi south to the ferry landing, then the same crossing to el-Till.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Cairo
Train or bus south to Mallawi or Minya, then road and ferry as above.
4–6 h
Open the page →
From Luxor
Train north to Mallawi, then road and ferry; long day, better done as an overnight in Minya.
6–8 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| North Tombs | Rock-cut tombs of Akhenaten's officials, several with painted scenes of the city and the royal family. | Ticket; escort; 3.2 km (2 mi) from el-Till ferry.Ticket; escort; 2 mi (3.2 km) from el-Till ferry. |
| Northern Palace and North Riverside Palace area | Palace foundations and mud-brick walls on the desert edge. | Ticket; 2 km (1.2 mi) from el-Till ferry.Ticket; 1.2 mi (2 km) from el-Till ferry. |
| Central City | The Great Aten Temple, the Small Aten Temple and the remains of the city's main quarters. | Ticket; about 2 km (1.2 mi) from el-Till ferry.Ticket; about 1.2 mi (2 km) from el-Till ferry. |
| South Tombs | The southern group of elite tombs, along the desert edge above the cultivation. | Separate ticket; 5.6 km (3.5 mi) from the North Tombs; usually reached by road from Deir Mawas side.Separate ticket; 3.5 mi (5.6 km) from the North Tombs; usually reached by road from Deir Mawas side. |
| Royal Tomb and Workmen's Village | Akhenaten's tomb in a side wadi, and the village that housed the craftsmen. | Ticket or supplement; 11 km (6.8 mi) from el-Till ferry by asphalt road.Ticket or supplement; 6.8 mi (11 km) from el-Till ferry by asphalt road. |
Sketch map
- 1el-Till ferry landing · Gate≈27.660, 30.896Usual entry point for the northern and central site; Tourist Police are based here.Map ↗
- 2North Tombs · Cave≈27.662, 30.927Map ↗
- 3Northern Palace · Trail≈27.670, 30.903Map ↗
- 4Great Aten Temple · Trail≈27.649, 30.898Map ↗
- 5Small Aten Temple · Trail≈27.645, 30.895Map ↗
- 6South Tombs · Cave≈27.646, 30.938Map ↗
- 7Royal Tomb of Akhenaten · Cave≈27.626, 30.985Map ↗
- 8Mallawi · Town≈27.731, 30.842Nearest railway station and the usual start for the ferry.Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Positions are approximate, taken from the mapped archaeological clusters and the el-Till landing; use them for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarna site ticket (northern zone: North Tombs, Northern Palace, Central City) | EGP 120–200 | person | 2026 estimate; Egyptian antiquities tickets are tiered for foreign visitors and have risen several times — confirm at the ticket point (check). |
| Royal Tomb supplement | EGP 60–100 | person | 2026 estimate; sometimes sold as a separate ticket at the tomb (check). |
| South Tombs | EGP 60–120 | person | 2026 estimate; separate cluster, separate ticket (check). |
| Tourist ferry, west bank to el-Till | EGP 20–50 | person | 2026 estimate, one way; price varies with the boat and the group (check). |
| Car and driver for the day from Mallawi or Minya | EGP 800–1,500 | car | 2026 estimate; the site is too spread out to walk between clusters. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Site ticket permit or guide
Tourist Police escort permit or guide
Royal Tomb access permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- EGP 120–200
- EGP 60–100
- EGP 60–120
- EGP 20–50
- EGP 800–1,500
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities before you go.
Park rules
- Escort
- Foreign visitors move around Amarna with Tourist Police from the el-Till ferry. Do not use the el-Hagg Qandil ferry for the South Tombs; you may be sent back to el-Till or to Mallawi.
- Photography in tombs
- Flash and tripods are usually refused inside painted tombs; ask the guard, and expect a small baksheesh to be expected for photography (check).
- Touching and climbing
- Do not touch painted plaster or climb on mud-brick walls; much of the site is unrestored and crumbles.
- Litter and fires
- No fires and no litter; there are no bins and no facilities on site.
- Drones
- Not allowed over an antiquities zone without permission from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (check).check
Where to stay
Near the park
Minya
The widest choice of hotels and the usual base for Amarna; about 1.5–2 h to the ferry landing.
Near the park
Mallawi
Closer to the ferry and on the railway, but few good hotels; useful for an early start.
Near the park
Deir Mawas
Local town on the west bank opposite the South Tombs; very basic, no tourist accommodation to rely on (check).
Safety
Heat and no shade high
Rough ground and unlit tombs medium
Escort and access changes medium
Isolation low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Central City and the area around el-Till are flat and can be seen from a car with short walks.
- The North Tombs, South Tombs and Royal Tomb involve steps, sand and uneven rock; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Hire one car for the group rather than several; the site roads are unsurfaced and dust is a real problem for the villages.
- Do not buy antiquities or 'genuine' finds from anyone at the site or the ferry.
- Tip the guards and the escort directly rather than through an intermediary.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Amarna?
Expect roughly EGP 120–200 for the northern site ticket (North Tombs, Northern Palace, Central City), plus a separate EGP 60–100 or so for the Royal Tomb and EGP 60–120 for the South Tombs — 2026 estimates, and Egyptian antiquities prices change often, so confirm at the ticket point. Add the ferry (EGP 20–50) and a car and driver for the day (EGP 800–1,500).
What are the best hikes in Amarna?
There are no marked hiking trails; the walking is between ruins. The standard half-day route is el-Till ferry to North Tombs 3–6, back via the Northern Palace, with the Central City as a detour. The longer walks are the Royal Tomb, 11 km from the ferry up a side wadi, and the South Tombs, 5.6 km from the North Tombs along the road beside the cultivation — allow most of a day for that one.
When is the best time to visit Amarna?
October to March. December to February is coolest and best for a full day on foot; June to August is too hot for a site with almost no shade, and March to May can bring khamsin dust that cuts visibility.
Do I need a guide or escort at Amarna?
Foreign visitors are accompanied by Tourist Police based at the el-Till ferry, and you need a car and driver because the clusters are 2–11 km apart. A licensed Egyptologist guide is optional but useful for the tomb paintings; arrange one in Minya or Mallawi.
Can I visit Amarna as a day trip from Cairo or Luxor?
It is possible by train to Mallawi or Minya plus road and ferry, but it makes a very long day. Staying one night in Minya and starting on the first ferry is the practical option.
Is there anywhere to stay or eat at Amarna?
No. There is no accommodation and no reliable food or water at the site. Sleep in Minya or Mallawi and bring your own water and lunch.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go