Lake Nasser Abu Simbel – Aswan Cruise (4 days and 3 nights)

1st day: Kalabsha Temple and Beit el-Wali

We will meet you at your hotel, airport, train station or bus stop; You will recognize our driver by the sign with your name in his hands. He will take you to the pier, where the ship will be waiting in Abu Simbel. After lunch, the excursion program will begin with a visit to the twin temples of Abu Simbel. The Temple of Ramses II, 30 meters high, the pediment of which is guarded by four giant statues of the pharaoh. The temple was carved directly into the rock, more than 60 meters long and beautifully decorated with columns, colored reliefs and drawings. The Temple of Nefertari, the wife of Ramses, is a simplified version of the Great Temple. Please note: here you will see something unique in ancient Egyptian art – the statues of the king and queen that decorate the façade of the temple are equal in size.

Extra charges:

• Light and sound show at the Temple of Abu Simbel

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Overnight on board the ship.

Day 2: Qaser Ibrim, Temples of New Amada

Breakfast on board. You will sail near the island with the remains of the old city  of Qaser Ibrahim. The tour is from the deck as it is forbidden to go ashore, but we will try to swim close enough for you to get a good view. Next, you will visit New Amada with the remains of temples that were moved from another area that was flooded by Lake Nasser. You will see  the Temple of Amada, which was moved to a new location in one piece (!). Inside it there are well-preserved beautiful small reliefs describing scenes from the life of the pharaohs in bright colors. It is the oldest temple in Nubia. Next, you will visit  the Temple of Derr, carved into the rock and built by Ramses II. Later, you’ll see Penut‘s tomb, the only one of its kind saved from flooding. Inside the burial chamber there are various reliefs showing the life of the buried man as well as his afterlife.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Overnight on board the ship.

3rd day: Temples of Wadi es-Sebiya

After breakfast on board the ship, you will visit Wadi es-Sebia with its temples. The Temple of Amun was built by Ramses II in the Nubian style, partly in the rock and partly outside. Here you can see one remaining pylon, statues, a pronaos, a hypostyle hall (once installed in a Christian church) and three chapels; there are numerous reliefs throughout, including images from the Ptolemaic dynasty and the Roman period. Greco-Roman Temple of Dhaka, dedicated to Thoth, the god of wisdom, was originally built as a small room in the 3rd century BC, but was later expanded at the expense of other rulers. It consists of a 12-metre-high pylon in almost perfect condition, decorated in high relief with images on numerous graffiti by its ancient visitors. The Temple of Maharak was built in the Roman era and is dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis. It was not completely completed and painted. You will visit a court surrounded on three sides by columns. It is the only temple in Nubia with a spiral staircase leading to the roof.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Overnight on board the ship.

4th day: Kalabsha Temple and Beit el-Wali

After breakfast on board the ship, you will sail to the New Kalabsha Temple Complex, where there are some ancient temples that were moved here from their former location. First of all, you will see  the Kalabsha temple, which was built of sandstone around 30 BC and is dedicated to the Nubian god of fertility, Mandulis. Though the temple was not actually finished,  but it is considered one of the best examples of Nubia’s ancient Egyptian architecture. Then you will see the temple of  Beit el-Wali, built by Ramses II. The most interesting reliefs, covered with the bright paint of that clock, tell the story of the great era of Ramses II. Finally, you will see the charming Kiosk of Kertassi, built in the Roman era, whose columns depict the four faces of the goddess.

Now it’s time to dine at one of Aswan’s local restaurants before heading to the giant Upper Dam of the Aswan High Dam, the greatest achievement of architecture and technology of the 20th century. Next, you’ll visit  the Nubian Museum in Aswan, which features more than 3,000 artifacts from different eras. After that, we will take you back to your hotel, airport, train station or bus stop. That’s all for our excursion program Completed.

Breakfast and lunch are included.

Due to factors beyond our control, please understand the change in the program schedule.