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Province · Upper Egypt
Sohag
Sohag, in Upper Egypt: the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, with the King List, the White and Red monasteries, and the colossal statue of Meritamon at Akhmim.
In the photo: The pillared façade of the Temple of Seti I at Abydos.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The province
Get to know Sohag
Sohag is in Upper Egypt on the Nile, between Assiut and Qena. The capital, Sohag, is a trading town on the west bank, and the governorate extends across both banks, alternating irrigated fields and desert cliffs.
At Abydos, about 50 km south of the city, is one of ancient Egypt’s sacred sites, associated with the cult of Osiris. The Temple of Seti I has finely detailed painted reliefs and the Abydos King List, recording the names of the pharaohs who preceded him. Behind the temple, the Osireion is a stone structure partially filled with water.
Near the town of Sohag, on the desert edge, are the White Monastery and the Red Monastery, founded by Coptic monks between the 4th and 5th centuries, with stone and brick churches and restored paintings in the Red Monastery.
On the east bank, at Akhmim, a colossal statue of Meritamon, a daughter of Ramses II, was found at the site of a temple and can be seen in a small open-air site. Akhmim also has a weaving tradition.
When to go
From October to April the days are mild for visiting Abydos and the monasteries. From May to September daytime highs often exceed 40 °C; visit early in the day.
Getting there
Sohag has an airport (HMB), with flights from Cairo. Cairo–Luxor–Aswan trains stop at Sohag. Abydos is about 50 km south of the city and about 170 km north of Luxor; many visitors go by car from Luxor, often combined with Dendera.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Sohag
How to get from Luxor to Abydos?
By car with a driver: it’s about 170 km, roughly a three-hour drive. A day trip often combines Abydos with the Temple of Dendera in Qena governorate.
What is the Abydos King List?
It’s a relief in the Temple of Seti I at Abydos showing the names of dozens of pharaohs who ruled before him, in order. It is one of the sources used for the chronology of ancient Egypt’s kings.
What are the White Monastery and the Red Monastery?
They are Coptic monasteries founded between the 4th and 5th centuries near Sohag. The Red Monastery has restored mural paintings. Both welcome visitors; wear clothing that covers shoulders and legs.
Where is the statue of Meritamon located?
At Akhmim, on the east bank of the Nile opposite the town of Sohag, in a small open-air site at the location of an ancient temple.