Beni Hasan

📍 Location: East bank of the Nile, ~20 km south of Minya · 🏺 Period: Middle Kingdom (11th–12th Dynasties) · 🎟️ Tickets: ~200 EGP foreign adults

The 39 rock-cut tombs at Beni Hasan belong to the regional governors (nomarchs) of the Oryx Nome who ruled this stretch of Middle Egypt during the Middle Kingdom. Cut high into a desert cliff with sweeping views over the Nile valley, the tombs are reached today by a long stair from the river road — and the climb is worth every step.

Four tombs are usually open. They are nothing like the painted royal tombs of Luxor: instead of religious texts, their walls are alive with the daily life of Middle Kingdom Egypt. Tomb 3 of Khnumhotep II is the most famous — its scenes include an entire register of Asiatic traders in brightly striped robes leading donkeys laden with goods, one of the earliest depictions of Levantine people in Egyptian art. Tomb 15 of Baqet III shows over 200 paired wrestling positions that have been studied by martial arts historians as the oldest known fight manual.

Highlights

Tomb of Khnumhotep II (BH3) — Asiatic traders, hunting scenes
Tomb of Baqet III (BH15) — wrestling and battle scenes
Tomb of Amenemhat (BH2) — long autobiographical inscription
Tomb of Kheti (BH17) — agriculture and crafts
Spectacular view over the Nile from the tomb terrace

Visiting

Opening hours: 7 am – 5 pm
Tickets: ~200 EGP foreign adults
Best time: combine with a Minya overnight or a long day from Cairo
Nearby: Tuna el-Gebel, Mallawi Museum, Akhetaten / Tell el-Amarna

Few foreigners make it this far — you may have the whole cliff to yourself.