Fodor's Expert Review New Valley Museum

Al-Kharga

The small, well-organized museum is a perfect finale to a trip to the Western Desert oases. The collection spans more than 15,000 years of New Valley history. Finds are displayed from the Neolithic, pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic, and Mamluk to Ottoman periods. The displays are presented in rather staid wood-and-glass cases, but the information in English is well put together. The ground floor concentrates on ancient finds, and pride of place must go to a small selection of Greco-Roman era mummies just beyond the entrance, including a gilt-faced "Golden Mummy" from Bahariya. The most rare objects are the nondescript Old Kingdom terra-cotta jars displayed in the hall to the right of the mummies, which are unique to the oases region. The second floor displays items from the Islamic era, including blue tiles, cut glass, and Mamluk clothing from Al-Qasr.

Quick Facts

Shar‘a Jamal ‘Abd al-Nasir, at corner of Shar‘a al-Keneesa
Al-Kharga, New Valley  Egypt

No phone

Sight Details:
Rate Includes: £E30, Sun.–Thurs. 9–5, Fri. 9–noon and 3–5