Deir el-Medina Travel Guide: Top Sights in Egypt, Tours & Travel

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Deir el-Medina- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; Egypt; 5 Reviews

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Suggested Duration: 4 hours

Deir el-Medina, located on the west bank of the Nile opposite Luxor, was home to the skilled artisans and laborers who crafted the tombs in the Valley of the Kings during Egypt's New Kingdom (ca. 1550–1080 BCE). Originally called Set maat, meaning "Place of Truth," this village provided a space for these workers, who were entrusted with sacred tasks, to live and work in relative isolation. Over time, the site evolved, with the Hathor temple transforming into a Christian monastery in later centuries. Excavations have uncovered a well-organized community, offering a detailed look into the daily lives, social structures, and healthcare practices of ancient Egyptian society. Deir el-Medina’s location near key royal burial sites highlights its crucial role in the ancient Egyptian religious and funerary system, making it a significant archaeological and historical site today.

Operators offering tours in Egypt

Attractions in Luxor

Karnak

4.9

Luxor Temple

Valley of the Kings

4.4

Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

Colossi of Memnon

Tomb of Nefertari

4.8

Ramesseum

Madinat Habu

Reviews of Deir el-Medina

Jake

5
Reviewed: 2024-06-20

We had the place all to ourselves! Be wary that for the tombs, "guides" will ask for tips for taking you down so be prepared. The temple is the highlight for sure!
Nadine Mangelsdorf

5
Reviewed: 2024-06-09

Amazing tombs for the workers that helped build the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Queens. Great colors and imagery in a tight space. The security guards of each tomb will happily show u and explain everything u could want to know for a small tip.
Chanel Hayes

5
Reviewed: 2024-05-03

So beautiful and much bigger than I expected it to be, definitely worth a visit! Some of the hieroglyphics still have a lot of colour.
Moana Rule

5
Reviewed: 2024-04-24

Ancient Egyptian workmen’s village and home to the tombs of the artisans that worked on the Royal tombs. Significant as it showed daily Egyptian life. Beautiful artwork on the walls and ceilings. Some stairways narrow and it does get hot below.
CarefullyPlated

5
Reviewed: 2023-02-05

Don't pass on visiting here! Our tour guide gave us this as an option and we decided yes. The best choice ever! It was one of my fa orite places to visit. He suggested it and noted it was one of his fa irises. A true gem as its beautifully preserved and full of color. It's where many common people lived and shows how 'normal' Egyptians once lived. That was amazing to see how close the homes were, literally atta he'd to one another like boxes assembled for a fort. The in and out of the buried tombs could be a bit challenging for some to enter. A lot of ducking and bending is necessary to scale through. I'm tall and did not have a problem but my friend found it difficult ult and claustrophobic; to me, well worth it. Don't let that stop you! The most magnificent preserved colors in all of ancient Egyptian relics.