The Holy Family traveled from El Bahnasa towards south till they reached Samalout where they crossed the Nile to the east side where there is the monastery of the Virgin at Gabal El Tair. The monastery nowadays can be reached through the paved way from Aswan (Cairo-Aswan) it was called Gabal El Tair because of the huge number of birds usually seen at the top of the hill. The Monastery was also known as the Monastery of the coil since at a certain point people who wanted to visit the monastery at the top of the hill used a box which was pulled to the top by this coil or rope. The hill is some times known as Gabal El Kaf because it was said when the Holy Family was on a boat one of the rocks was about to fall and Jesus Christ raised his hand and touched the rock preventing it from injuring the Family. The hand print of the lord is still visible. There is a tree at the same site known as the tree of Worshiper or Shagaret El Abid which is located two kilometers south of the hill. The tree has a strange shape with most of its branches stooping towards the ground then going up with green leaves. The people called it the tree of Worshiper since it was believed that this tree kneeled down to Jesus when he passed by it.

The Holy Family passed by different other points such as Ashmunin, Dairut el Sherif and Meir until they reached the site where the Monastery of Deir El Muharaque lies nowadays.

The monastery of Dir El Muharaque:

It is considered one of the very important religious sites in the Journey of the Holy Family since the Angel appeared one more ordering the Holy Family to go back to Palestine. It is located about 12 kilometers west Kousia in Assuit governorate about 327 kilometers south of Cairo. It is mentioned in some sources that the Holy Family stayed there for 6 month and 6 days. The Coptic Church celebrates the consecration of the church of the Holy Virgin at the Monastery on 15th of November. One of the most important religious events that is directly related to this monastery was the vision of Pope Theuphilus who explained a vision which he saw one night after a long prayer when the Holy Virgin appeared to him and told him about the blessed journey of the Holy Family and ordered him to register it. The Pop’s book is considered one of the most important documents for the journey of the Holy Family. There are only 3 manuscripts in Arabic for this book. One is kept in the Vatican, the other in the national library in Paris and the third is kept at Deir El Muharaque.

The monastery of the Holy Virgin on Durunk Hill:

According to tradition the Holy Family on their return passed the hill of Assuit (the place known as Gabal Durunk) where now stands the Monastery of the Holy Virgin eight kilometers south west of Assuit. There is a church on the edge of Durunk village called the church the angel. Inside this church there are three alters over which there are twelve domes. There are a number of icons and manuscripts. It was mentioned by Makrizi in 15th century.

On their way back to Palestine it is believed that the Holy Family took the same route