For the T-sites between Aswan and Luxor you may consider hiring a driver because apparently you need permits? Go to a local travel agency the day before to ask. Pretty much anywhere in Egypt they look at you funny for taking public transportation as a foreigner and want to arrange you a police escort.

Argh. It's 22nd February :(


Police escort... My usual mode of travel. :) You know what a driver costs? Was thinking about it anyhow for time management reasons. I like trains, but I like visiting sites better.

Yes great day trip!! Took me the full day by car. I see no other option to go there.


what permits? I actually plan to drive Luxor-Aswan-Abu all myself and visit all WHS but also (most or all) TWHS on the way.
I haven't read anything on permits?

Car + driver costs pretty much the same as fully insured renting, maybe $40 for a day? (if you keep the distances sane.) I am not sure what the permit is for but I think it's actually for the driver to drive you around, else s/he is in trouble at checkpoints. There is some chatter on tripadvisor and the travel agent mentioned it too because I asked quite late in the day and he had to make phone calls to check if it was still possible. Travel agencies are a dime a dozen in those cities and you can bargain. I did take a taxi from Cairo to Alexandria though, no permit on that route unless you want to visit the monasteries as they only accept non-Muslim drivers.

Insurance is on my AMEX card. I don't worry about that.
if it's just permit about the driver driver then I won't worry.
I don't know about these areas having any checkpoints.

Demolition of Historic Cairo Cemeteries Stirs Public Outcry in Egypt

A complex matter where the government demolishes cemeteries in Historic Cairo, which is a WHS, but the cemeteries themselves are not registered as heritage sites, so do not fall under the protection of the WHS.

Plenty of articles reporting that Egypt is developing nomination files for the first time in 20 years. Based on said reports, these are the 2 nominations on our radar. Could be as early as 2027 (though I see no confirmation of an official submission recently), therefore I suspect an Egyptian nomination will be prepared for 2028.

Tell el-Amarna Monuments Area of Minia

China-Egypt Hydrological Sites

Its worth noting that Egypt's tentative list is quite outdated with 29 of 34 sites lingering for 20 to 30 years! Though clearly its not because they lack quality sites to nominate!

That would be a shoe-in.