Dandara Abydos Tour from LuxorThe Temples of Seti I and Hathor
A full private day north of Luxor to two of Egypt's most beautiful temples, Abydos and Dendera.
- Duration
- 11 hours
- Your party
- Private, 2-8 guests
- Starts
- Your hotel in Luxor
The Dandara Abydos Tour from Luxor visits two temples that many travellers consider the finest in Egypt, both far from the usual crowds.
Abydos was the holiest place in ancient Egypt, the burial place of the god Osiris. The Temple of Seti I, finished by his son Ramesses II, holds some of the most refined reliefs ever carved, and the Abydos King List, a row of 76 royal names that helped scholars rebuild Egyptian history. Behind it lies the Osireion, a mysterious stone hall often half filled with water.
On the way back you stop at Dendera and its Temple of Hathor, built in Ptolemaic and Roman times and remarkably complete. Its ceilings have kept their blue and gold, and you can climb to the roof chapels to see the copy of the famous Dendera zodiac, whose original is in the Louvre.
Abydos & Dendera from Luxor
Leave Luxor early with your Egyptologist for the drive north to Abydos, about three hours along the Nile valley. Explore the Temple of Seti I, the King List and the Osireion. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Dendera to visit the Temple of Hathor, its painted ceilings, crypts and roof chapels. Return to your hotel in Luxor in the early evening after a long but deeply rewarding day.
- 1
Temple of Seti I, Abydos
The finest reliefs in Egypt and the Abydos King List.
- 2
Temple of Hathor, Dendera
Painted ceilings and roof chapels in a remarkably complete temple.
Included
- Private hotel pickup and return in Luxor
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Entrance tickets to the sites in the itinerary
- Bottled water on board
- All taxes and service charges
- Lunch at a local restaurant
Not included
- Gratuities
- Drinks with meals
- Personal expenses
Before you go
How long is the drive on the Dandara Abydos Tour from Luxor?
About three hours to Abydos and one hour from Dendera back to Luxor, so the day lasts around eleven hours.
Who built the temple at Abydos?
The main temple was built by Seti I and completed by his son Ramesses II, who also built a smaller temple nearby.
Is the original Dendera zodiac still there?
No. The original was taken to Paris in the 19th century and is in the Louvre. A copy is in its place on the ceiling.
