Major city · 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.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EGP
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- avoid Jun–Aug (extreme heat)
- Airport
- CAI
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 8Nine 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.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for El-Ashmunein122 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about El-Ashmunein, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, also written LE or £E).Egypt-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckVodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) and WE sell tourist SIMs at Cairo airport with passport; about EGP 500–1,000 for 20–40 GB — check.Egypt-wide
- Tap waterTap water is chlorinated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; do not drink Nile water.Egypt-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 10% even when service is added (it rarely reaches staff).Egypt-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Egypt-wide
- SafetyEl-Ashmunein is a rural area with low crime; the main risks are heat, traffic on the main road and the lack of tourist infrastructure.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels and restaurants; attendants at sites expect EGP 10–20.Egypt-wide
- Emergency numbers122 police · 123 ambulance · 126 tourist police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysFriday is the weekend day (with Saturday for offices); sites open daily, some close earlier in Ramadan.Egypt-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCAI Cairo International (About 3.5 h by car or train to Minya, then 44 km (27 mi) south).CAI Cairo International (About 3.5 h by car or train to Minya, then 27 mi (44 km) south).
- Getting aroundTaxi or microbus from Minya or Mallawi; the site is on the main road.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CAI Cairo International (About 3.5 h by car or train to Minya, then 44 km (27 mi) south)CAI Cairo International (About 3.5 h by car or train to Minya, then 27 mi (44 km) south)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Feb
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Mar
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Apr
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
May
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Jun
Avoid
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
Jul
Avoid
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Aug
Avoid
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Sep
not flagged
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Oct
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Dec
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Best: Oct–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)), coolest Jan (8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C) low). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
El-Ashmunein: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
0 rd
Feb
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0 rd
Mar
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
0 rd
Apr
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
0 rd
May
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
Jun
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
0 rd
Jul
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Aug
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Sep
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
0 rd
Nov
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
0 rd
Dec
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting 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).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Minya
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Taxi or microbus, about 45 min
Base for El-Ashmunein; also has the Beni Hasan tombs.
Mallawi
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Taxi or microbus, about 15 min
Nearest town; limited services.
Beni Hasan
goDoor to door: About 1 h from Minya
From Minya, taxi about 30 min
Combine with El-Ashmunein in a day.
Assiut
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Train or taxi, about 1.5 h
Larger city but fewer tourist sights.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
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.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- EGP 500–800 excl. bed
- Mid
- EGP 800–1,500 excl. bed
- High
- EGP 1,500+ excl. bed
Watch out
Safety
- The site is exposed: bring water, a hat and sunscreen.
- Tuna el-Gebel is 12 km (7.5 mi) west of the main road; arrange transport in advance.Tuna el-Gebel is 7.5 mi (12 km) west of the main road; arrange transport in advance.
- The necropolis may have limited opening hours; check locally.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 122
- Ambulance
- 123
- Tourist police
- 126
- Fire
- 180
Pocket card
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El-AshmuneinEl-Ashmunein
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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إلى الأشمونين، من فضلكTo El-Ashmunein, please
Emergency
- Police122
- Ambulance123
- Tourist police126
Embassy
The nearest embassy is in Cairo; check your country's consular services.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi Minya → El-Ashmunein return: EGP 300–500 (check)
- Microbus Minya → El-Ashmunein: EGP 10–20 (check)
Say or show
- السلام عليكم — Hello (as-salamu alaykum)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- بكام؟ — How much? (bi-kam?)
- المدخل فين؟ — Where is the entrance? (al-madkhal fein?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for El-Ashmunein. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Apr · avoid Jun–Aug (extreme heat) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about El-Ashmunein
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