Day trip to Abydos and Dendera from Safaga Port

Tour Details:

We will meet you at your cruise at the port of Safaga; You will recognize our driver by the sign with your name in his hands. During the trip, we will make some stops so that you can capture the unique Egyptian desert landscape and some settlements.

First of all, you will go to Abydos, one of the oldest cities in Egypt, which is considered one of the most valuable archaeological sites. Discover  the Temple of Seti I with well-preserved colored reliefs; the famous Abydos King List, which lists ancient kings, starting with Menes, who is rarely mentioned as the first pharaoh of Egypt, and ending with Ramses I.  the father of the Network. With the exception of some pharaohs, who must be banished from the memory of the people, this list is considered a complete and valuable key for archaeologists. But it’s not just these hieroglyphs that have caught the public’s attention. A mysterious tablet with mysterious hieroglyphs resembling a helicopter with blades, an airplane and a submarine was found in the temple. Some scholars believe that this is nothing more than the result of weathering, which led to the subsequent change of hieroglyphs. The debate about the origin of these images continues to this day.

Next, you will visit  the Osireion, a cenotaph built in honor of the god Osiris. Not far from the Temple of Seti I, you can see the temple built by his son Ramses II. It is certainly not so well preserved, but it is still interesting, as the walls depict in detail the battles of this pharaoh, arguably the greatest and most influential pharaoh in the entire history of the Egyptian Empire.

After lunch at one of the local restaurants, head to your second destination: Dendera. The temple of the Ptolemaic period, dedicated to the goddess Hathor, is one of the best-preserved sanctuaries. It was built in the 1st century BC on the remains of old temples, under the direction of the famous queen Cleopatra VII. Entering the temple, it is as if you are making a journey into the past – the play of light and shadows on the ceilings,  which are still intact, create a mysterious atmosphere. After walking a little, you will find walls covered with scenes from ancient Egyptian history. Climbing to the roof by the stairs that ancient priests used 2000 years ago, you will see the ornaments of the New Year’s procession of Hathor on the landing. On the roof, which offers a fantastic view of the square in front of the temple, you will have the opportunity to visit a kiosk and two chapels. The Temple of Hathor is undoubtedly the highlight of this place, but there are other places to visit, such as, for example, the small Temple of Isis or the Birthplace of Isis, a beautiful sacred lake surrounded by trees, the Coptic Church,  houses from Roman and Ptolemaic times, as well as various other brick buildings of the ancient city.

In the evening, our driver will take you back to your cruise, to the port of Safaga.

The tour runs daily.