Esna is a city of Egypt. It is located on the west bank of the Nile some 55 km south of Luxor. The city was formerly part of the modern Qena Governorate, but as of 9 December 2009, it was incorporated into the new Luxor Governorate.

Ancient Egyptians knew Esna as Latopolis, named for the largest of the perch species that swam in the Nile’s sacred waters. Its ancient past lives on in the colorful street market overflowing with fabrics, carpets, brassware, mother-of-pearl keepsakes and more. Esna’s glorious Temple of Khnum is celebrated for its 1st-century Roman Hypostyle Hall, 24 columns topped with intricately carved floral capitals. Its walls are adorned with images of Roman emperors making offerings to Egyptian gods.

Shore excursions vary by each itinerary and are subject to change

Visit Esna, once the ancient site of Latopolis, and explore its temple, primarily dedicated to the god Khnum. A water god, Khnum was worshipped as the guardian of the source of the Nile and was said to have fashioned humankind from his potter’s wheel. The temple was thought to have been one of the latest temples built by the ancient Egyptians. See the well-preserved Hypostyle Hall, whose back wall is said to have been the facade of the old Ptolemaic temple. Admire the intricate carvings adorning towering columns and marvel at ancient wall paintings that still retain their original color. Witness the last known hieroglyphic inscriptions ever recorded, by the Roman Emperor Dios in 250 AD. Enjoy time to explore at your leisure before walking back to your ship.

Explore Esna, once an important center for trade and later a regional capital under the Greeks and Romans. Today, Esna is a quiet farming town with a lively market scene. Take a short walk from your pier into town. Along the waterfront, there are several examples of 19th-century houses with elaborate mashrabiya, or elaborate wooden lattice screens. Walk past the 14th-century Emari minaret, one of Egypt’s oldest, and view the remains of the ancient temple dedicated to the god Khnum. Built in Greco-Roman times by the Ptolemies on the site of an older temple, its hypostyle hall is the only building that has been excavated—the rest remains underneath the surrounding modern city. Venture into the covered street market, where you can purchase fabric, or have the fabric made into clothing. Also, see a market that is home to an old mill that presses lettuce seed into oil before returning to your ship.