
Welcome to Al-Balyana
Al-Balyana is the jumping-off point for the village of Al-Araba al-Madfuna, 10km away, site of the necropolis of Abydos and the magnificent Temple of Seti I, one of the most beautiful monuments in Egypt. Security here tends to be heavy-handed and if you haven’t been escorted thus far, you’ll certainly pick up policemen here. Although they may limit the time you can spend there, they do not have the right to stop you seeing the temple. Should you need to change money, there’s a tiny Banque Misr kiosk at the entrance to Abydos Temple, which may open when tourists arrive, but cannot be relied upon. As you’re unlikely to be able to stay in Al-Balyana, you will be limited to travelling here by private taxi or on a day trip, most easily from Luxor
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