February 15, 2025 10:26 pm

The Qasr El Sagha Temple is located north of Lake Qarun, 101 kilometers from Cairo. The name Qasr El Sagha translates as “Goldsmiths’ Palace.” The temple was lost years ago and was found by the archaeologist Schweinfurth in 1884, hiding in the desert to the north of Lake Qaroun and blending into the hills behind it. The rectangular temple is made of massive stones of local sandstone that are uneven in size and fit together obliquely.

The southern entrance, crowned by a huge lintel, leads into a spacious hallway that leads to seven roofed shrines in the northern wall. A little hallway off the central passage to the east leads to a chamber the width of the temple, while two small connected chambers lie on the western side. On the east side, there is a short tunnel in the southern wall that is accessed through the façade. Caton – Thompson, an archaeologist, discovered a primarily middle kingdom graveyard and a small settlement of stone tools, indicating that the temple was established during the middle kingdom.

The Quay

A huge amount of rock may be found around 700 meters/0.4 mile to the southeast of Qasr el Sagha. Gertrude Caton-Thompson suspected that this was a dump for the rock mined at Widan al- Faras, which was either being transported to the Nile Valley or being used to create a monument on the site. We now assume it was an old pier used to transport basalt slabs mined at Widan al-Faras across the lake.

Georg Schweinfurth discovered the location in 1884, and it is frequently called Schweinfurth’s Temple. Sir Flinders Petrie, Hanbury Brown, and Gertrude Caton-Thompson also researched it. The distance from the main road to Qasr al-Sagha is 24.6 kilometers (15 miles). A contentious new paved road is being planned. The trek takes around one hour and necessitates the use of a four-wheel-drive vehicle. The trail to Qasr el-Sagha and Dimeh begins on the left, or north, side of the Cairo-Fayoum road, 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) past the Kom Aushim Museum, immediately beyond a small bridge. Follow the trail for 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) until a fork, then bear right. You’ve arrived in Qasr el-Sagha via the graded road. It travels through quarries and eventually deserts. It’s rough and unpleasant. The destinations are seen about 20 to 21 kilometers (12.5 miles) from the start of the trip.

Dimeh, ahead, rises from the desert bottom like Stonehenge’s monoliths. The temple of Qasr al Sagha lies a bit to the right, halfway up a flat-topped scarp mountain. The remnants of the monastery may be seen to the right, just below the crest of Gebel Deir Abu Lifa. Continuing on, there is a sign for qasr al sagha at 22.5 km (14 miles), and the road bears right at 24.6 (15.2). The route climbs the scarp to Qasr al sagha, where there is a parking area just in front of the monument.

Deir Abu Lifa

The remains of the rock-hewn Deir Abu Lifa, Monastery of Father Lifa, located two kilometers northeast of Qasr el Sagha, high on the southeastern slope of the escarpment where it protrudes into the plain. The monastery, which was most likely built by St. Panoukhius, was in operation from the 7th to the 9th centuries and served as a refuge for Christians through difficult times. The monastery’s entryway is carved into the mountain. The monastery was founded in 686, according to inscriptions. Fayoumi mythology has it that there are hidden riches in this monastery because when the Fayoum monks abandoned adjacent monasteries, it is said they stole their valuables and buried them at Deir Abu Lifa. In 1936, Henri Munier and André Pochan paid a visit to the abbey.

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Amazing tour to the pyramids of Sakkara and Dahshur

January 1, 2025

This week we had a great tour with Mohamed to the pyramids of Sakkara and Dahshur as well as Memphis. He tailored the tour to our preferences, took a lot of time with us and gave us detailed background information on everything. It was also great that he never tired of taking the time to answer our many questions.

You can definitely tell that he has studied Egyptology as he has a very deep understanding of the subject and can explain everything well. He also speaks perfect English and is really good driver.

We would definitely book a tour with him again in a heartbeat and would recommend him to anyone. 🙂

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Amazing Egypt Fun Tours

December 22, 2024

Highly Recommend Egypt Fun Tours!

Several weeks ago, I reached out to Egypt Fun Tours regarding a 9-hour layover in Cairo. From the very beginning, Hani Ahmed was responsive and professional, quickly providing a well-organized itinerary tailored to our limited time. The itinerary included a visit to the pyramids, other historical sites, a delicious dinner, and even a quick stop for souvenir shopping.

Upon arrival, Gilman efficiently assisted us in obtaining our day tourist visas (note: $25 per person in cash). She then introduced us to our guide, Mydo, who was absolutely phenomenal! Mydo’s knowledge, friendly demeanor, and ability to adjust the tour to our pace made the experience unforgettable.

We returned to the airport with plenty of time to relax before our flight. The entire experience was smooth, stress-free, and incredibly memorable. Egypt Fun Tours offers reasonable prices for a private, customized experience that truly exceeds expectations. Thank you, Egypt Fun Tours! We will definitely use your services again in the future.

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Alexandria! Wow!

November 7, 2024

Muhammad is the best! He showed me a world I never thought possible! The tombs in Alexandria by far was my favorite! I never knew there was a place on earth that contained both Greek and Egyptian carvings in the same tombs! The history and culture of Egypt is so fascinating! I highly recommend booking with Muhammad!

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James Risenhoover

Tour of Cairo

November 4, 2024

Despite a late start due to car trouble, Mohamed more than made up for it with his incredible knowledge and dedication. His explanations were detailed and thoughtful, and he went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. A memorable and informative tour, thanks to Mohamed’s hard work!

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AMAZING TOUR, SOLO TRAVELER.

October 12, 2024

I am a California woman who traveled to Egypt alone and thanks to Egypt Fun Tours I had a great time. Hani, Mohammed, Kamal and David (my driver) were very professional and very knowledgeable, I appreciate how respectful they were and how protective they were with me.

They show me everything I wanted to see in Cairo and nearby places like Saqqara, Memphis, etc. Thanks to them I had a great time in Egypt, they were so so helpful than on my second day they helped me to move from my hotel in Giza to the Steigenberger hotel in downtown Cairo.

The tour price is super good includes a guide (expert in the field) a driver, lunch and drinks, they took me to amazing places for lunch, the food was super super delicious, for a foodie like me that was a highlight. We went out fo the tourist traps and I got to see the Cairo that if you are in a bus tour you will never get to see.

This tour is personalized for each person depending of what you want to see and do, I absolutely love it.

I used WhatsApp to communicate with Hani and arranged all my tours, Hani was super super nice since the moment I contacted him and explained him what I wanted to do and see.

Hani and his group mesmerized me with the tours they put together, this is a memory I will keep for lifetime.

I had only good things to say about them and I highly recommend them.

I did visit the pyramids in Giza, downtown Cairo, new Cairo, several museums, Coptic Cairo and Muslim Cairo with them and I learned a lot from them, I felt like they were family to me and it was EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT.

If I go back to Egypt I will hire them again without hesitation.

David I take my hat off for you because I have NO IDEA how you can drive in crazy Cairo, thanks to all of you for making this lady’s dream a reality.

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