Egypt · Africa

Discover Sohag with Rafeek

Sohag, also spelled as Suhag or Suhaj, is a city on the west bank of the Nile in Egypt.

Seeing Sohag without the story is only half the trip

The problem

Group tours run on someone else's clock, printed signs say too little, and searching for context on your phone pulls you out of the moment. Most travellers leave Sohag with photos but no sense of what they actually saw.

How Rafeek fixes it

Rafeek is a personal audio guide in your pocket. Press play at each landmark in Sohag, listen at your own pace, and keep your eyes on the place instead of a screen. Guides work offline, so no roaming or signal worries.

What you'll discover in Sohag

10 landmarks with their own audio guide — tap any one to read what you'll hear.

Abydos Temple Complex

One of ancient Egypt's most significant archaeological sites, Abydos was the primary cult center for the god Osiris. The complex includes the magnificent Temple of Seti I, famous for its well-preserved reliefs and the Abydos King List, a chronological list of Egyptian pharaohs.

Akhmim

An ancient city on the east bank of the Nile, once the capital of the ninth Upper Egyptian nome and a center for the worship of the god Min. Today, visitors can see the colossal statue of Meritamen, daughter of Ramesses II, and the remains of a temple dedicated to him.

El-Arafa Mosque

Also known as the Prince Hassan Mosque, this is another of Sohag's important historical mosques. It serves as a key place of worship in the city and reflects traditional Islamic architectural styles prevalent in the region.

El-Hawawish Necropolis

An ancient burial ground located in the mountains east of Akhmim, serving as the cemetery for officials during the Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period. The site contains numerous rock-cut tombs decorated with reliefs and paintings depicting scenes of daily life from over 4,000 years ago.

Red Monastery (Deir el-Ahmar)

Located near the White Monastery, this Coptic Orthodox monastery is renowned for its breathtakingly vibrant and well-preserved frescoes. The paintings inside its main church are considered among the most important surviving examples of late Roman and early Byzantine art in the world.

Sidi Arif Mosque

A major mosque located in the heart of Sohag city, dedicated to the 13th-century Sufi sheikh Arif Billah. It is a significant religious and architectural landmark for the local community, featuring a prominent dome and minaret.

Sohag National Museum

Opened in 2018, this modern museum showcases the rich history of the Sohag Governorate from prehistory to the Islamic era. Its collection features artifacts unearthed from major local sites like Abydos and Akhmim, providing a comprehensive overview of the region's heritage.

Statue of Meritamen

A stunning, colossal limestone statue of Queen Meritamen, the daughter and Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Discovered in Akhmim, this beautifully preserved monument stands in an open-air museum and is considered one of the finest examples of New Kingdom statuary.

Wannina (Ancient Athribis)

The archaeological site of the ancient town of Athribis, which contains the remains of a large temple dedicated to the goddess Repyt. Recent discoveries at the site include thousands of inscribed pottery sherds, known as ostraca, which offer insights into the daily life of the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.

White Monastery (Deir el-Abyad)

A Coptic Orthodox monastery founded in the 5th century by Saint Shenoute the Archimandrite. Its fortress-like structure, built with white limestone from pharaonic temples, is a prime example of early Coptic architecture and was once a major monastic center.

How Rafeek works in Sohag

Download Rafeek

Get the app on iOS or Android and pick your destination.

Choose a guide

Browse the landmarks nearby and choose the ones you want.

Press play and walk

Listen as you go, at your own pace, online or offline.

About Sohag

Sohag, also spelled as Suhag or Suhaj, is a city on the west bank of the Nile in Egypt. It has been the capital of Sohag Governorate since 1960, before which the capital was Girga and the name of the governorate was Girga Governorate. It also included Esna Governorate.