Two-day excursion to Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel from Hurghada

Tour Details:

Day 1:

We will pick you up at your hotel in Hurghada; You will recognize our driver by the sign with your name in his hands.

During your trip to Luxor, your path will take you along the Nile River through some of the cities and towns of Upper Egypt, giving you an idea of the Egyptian landscape and the way of life of the people living here. There will definitely be some stops so that you can capture some of the scenery on camera.

The excursion program will begin with a visit to  the West Bank of Luxor,  ancient Thebes, where you will make a short stop to look at the 3400-year-old Colossi of Memnon, the giant statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. They once stood guard over his temple, which was larger than the Temple of Karnak, but, unfortunately, has not survived to this day.

The next stop will be in the Valley of the Kings. This is the place where the ancient Egyptians buried their kings and nobles for 500 years. The mummies of some famous persons of the time, as well as pharaohs, were found here. Take the opportunity to descend into one of the tombs of the Egyptian rulers, and you’ll discover well-preserved colorful paintings and hieroglyphs on the walls.

Get ready for another attraction –  the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, who was one of the most famous rulers of Ancient Egypt. The female pharaoh proved her ability to successfully rule the empire and finally created for herself a temple of extraordinary architecture, with columns, a hypostyle hall and many statues, paintings and bas-reliefs.

Before you head to Aswan, you will have lunch at one of the local restaurants in the city.

In Aswan, you will have plenty of free time, which you can dispose of at your discretion: relax in a hotel or take advantage of one of the programs we offer:

Visit to the famous temple of Filai

or

Felucca ride to the beautiful Botanical Gardens on Kitchener’s Island

or

Visit to  the island of Elephantine with its remains of antiquity, including the famous nilometer

Visit the Aswan High Dam , a masterpiece of modern technology and architecture

Visit the ancient granite quarries where the famous Unfinished Obelisk is located

2nd day:

After breakfast at the hotel, you will drive to the twin temples of Abu Simbel. Believe me, you are very lucky to see this amazing historical monument! In the 1960s, in order to avoid flooding Lake Nasser after the Aswan High Dam, it took an international team 5 years to dismantle it piece by piece, move it to another location and rebuild it to another elevation.

The temples of Abu Simbel are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and consist of two temples carved out of the mountain:  the Great Temple of Ramses II, perhaps the greatest of all the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, and the Small Temple of the goddess Hathor, dedicated to Ramses’ wife, Nefertari. Some sources mention twin temples in the 13th century BC. Huge temples were built in the area between Egypt and Nubia and were created not only for some religious and architectural reasons. considerations, but also as a reminder to smaller neighbors of the power and greatness of the Pharaoh of Egypt. It clearly demonstrates the pharaoh as godlike.

The Temple of Ramses II really deserves its name as the Great One, its height reaches 30 meters, and the gate is guarded  by four giant statues of the pharaoh, carved out of the rock and more than 20 meters high (the distance between the corners of the lips of the colossi is more than one meter). Unfortunately, one colossus lost its head and part of its torso as a result of the earthquake, but nevertheless, the sight is impressive. Pay attention not only to the large façade,  but also on the inside of the temple, carved into the rock more than 60 meters long, where you will find beautifully decorated halls with columns, colored reliefs and drawings.

In the sanctuary there is a group of four sculptures: Ramses with the triad of gods, Ptah, Amun-Ra and Harmakis. It is here that the “solar miracle” takes place: only twice a year do rays penetrate the sanctuary and illuminate these sculptures, with the exception of the god Ptah, who, according to myology, was associated with the underworld and therefore must remain forever in darkness.

The Small Temple of the Goddess Hathor is a simplified copy of the Great Temple. Around the portal, you will be able to see sculptures of the royal family: four statues of Ramses II and his two wives Nefertari, with small depictions of their children. Please note: this is something unique in ancient Egyptian culture – the statues of the king and queen are equal in size (more than 10 meters), while: “The wife of a great king will never be higher than her husband’s knees.” The ratio of the height of the statues shows the relationship between the pharaoh and the importance in his life and place in the heart of Nefertari’s wife. You should definitely visit this place!

Upon your return to Luxor after a long journey, you will have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Temple of Karnak, located on the East Bank of Luxor. This is certainly one of the most unusual temples in the whole world, which has been in remarkably good condition for thousands of years. You will have plenty of time to explore the gate, where you will learn how the pylon was built, walk along the alley of sphinxes (with the body of a lion and the head of a ram),  discover the hypostyle hall with its more or less preserved columns, admire hieroglyphs and paintings, see the Sacred Lake and various chapels, temples and statues.

And if you want, find the Sacred Scarab located near the lake, go around it three times clockwise – and, according to legend, your wish will definitely come true…!

In the evening you will return to your hotel in Hurghada.

The tour runs daily.