Edfu and Kom Ombo: The Temples Between Luxor and Aswan

Any Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way, and both are worth far more attention than their status as "cruise stops" suggests.

The Temple of Horus at Edfu

Built during the Ptolemaic period, the Temple of Horus at Edfu is one of the best-preserved temples anywhere in Egypt, largely because it was buried under desert sand for centuries before excavation, which protected it from the weathering that damaged more exposed sites. Its pylon entrance, at over 30 meters tall, is the largest and most complete of its kind still standing.

Kom Ombo's Unusual Double Temple

Kom Ombo is unique among Egyptian temples for its symmetrical double design — one half dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and the other to Horus, each with its own matching entrance, hall, and sanctuary running side by side. A small on-site museum displays mummified crocodiles found near the temple, connected to Sobek worship at the site.

How They Fit Into a Nile Itinerary

Both temples are usually visited as scheduled stops on a Luxor-Aswan cruise, typically Kom Ombo in the late afternoon or evening — when the light on its riverside setting is especially good — and Edfu the following morning, often reached from the boat by a short horse-drawn carriage ride into town.