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"Fantastic country, wonderful food, exceptional diving, beautiful weather - truly a holiday of a lifetime. From the easy to navigate website to the excellent customer service and helpful, friendly tour reps, the trip was well organised from start to finish. The tour guide (Ahmed) was outstanding and made the Egyptian history fun and informative. The whole trip - WOW!"

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ABU SIMBEL, EGYPT


Our Egypt tours that have an option to visit Abu Simbel

This monumental temple complex was built by King Ramses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.E.) in what was once known as ancient Nubia, as a demonstration of both his worldly and divine power. He was the most prolific pharaoh in terms of building works, and a highly accomplished military leader.

In the early 1960s the entire temple complex was moved to higher ground when the Aswan Dam caused Lake Nasser to rise and inundate the area. The two temples were dismantled and raised over 60 meters up the sandstone cliff where they were reassembled, in the exact same relationship to each other and the sun, and covered with an artificial mountain. Most of the joins in the stone have now been filled, but inside the temples it is still possible to see where the blocks were cut.

The Temple of Ramses II
Temple of Ramses II at Abu SimbelThe temple (108 feet high and 125 feet wide) is cut into the face of a sandstone cliff, with its entrance guarded by four colossal (65 feet high) statues of King Ramses II. At the feet of these statues are smaller statues of the Kings children. Above the entranceway in a niche stands a statue of the sun god, a falcon headed representation of Ramses. Inside the entranceway lies the Grand Hall (57 feet high and 52 feet wide), which is supported by 8 columns - with statues of King Ramses II - and has grandiose battle scenes on the walls. To either side of the Grand Hall are two smaller treasury rooms. Beyond the Grand Hall is the Hypostyle Hall containing flowered pillars and scenes of the King and his wife, Nefertari. Finally you reach the inner sanctuary and the statues of Ra, Ramses II, Amun and Ptah seated against the far wall.

Abu Simbel Sun Festival: The temple faces east, and at the solstices - twice a year - the dawn sunlight is aligned to light the entire length of the temple entrance corridor (some 200 feet inside), lighting up three of the four statues at the end of the corridor, but never that of Ptah, the god of darkness. The Solstices' commemorate Ramses II’s ascension to the throne (22nd February) and his birthday (22nd October).
We have departures on all the tours listed below on the 17th October 2009. These will be in Aswan in time to visit Abu Simbel on the 21st October, when the sun will still shine in through the temple entrance, though not to the same effect. This is a very popular time to visit the temples, and we will need to book the Abu Simbel option a week or so in advance for you to guarantee flights.

The Temple of Hathor
Temple of Hathor at Abu SimbelThe Temple of Hathor at Abu Simbel was built by Ramesses II to honour both Hathor as the goddess of love and music and his wife Nefertari as the deified queen. The facade resembles a pylon, just as the larger temple of Ramesses II, and the entrance is flanked by six standing colossal (over 33 feet) statues. On each side of the entrance stand two statues of Ramesses flank by one of Nefertari dressed as Hathor. Like at Ramesses II's temple, there are children depicted around their feet. There are cobras protecting the Temple door.

Tours including an Abu Simbel option

Tour Country Duration Price
Egypt & Jordan Experience 2011 Egypt From UK£1,710
Egypt & Jordan Experience 2011 tour 
Egyptian Family Adventure Egypt 13 days From UK£810
Egyptian Family Adventure tour
Cairo, Aswan (felucca or luxury cruise) Luxor, Red Sea (Hurghada). This family adventure gives you a taste of everything that Egypt has to offer. The Pyramids and Sphinx in Cairo and temples and tombs in Luxor provide the main sightseeing, and a short camel ride, overnight felucca trip on the Nile and some time by the Red Sea balance these out to make a fun and educational holiday for the whole family, staying in 4 & 5 star hotels.
Nile Family Adventure Egypt 9 or 10 days From UK£620
Nile Family Adventure tour
Cairo, Aswan (felucca or luxury cruise) Luxor. This short family adventure fits into a half-term or longer holiday, and combines visits to the pyramids, sphinx and museums in Cairo, with a short camel trek, school visit and a felucca sailboat cruise. All in all, this is a great family introduction to Egypt with a balance of ancient sites and history, and more adventurous activities, staying in 4 & 5 star hotels.
Splendours of the Nile Egypt 9 or 10 days From UK£730
Splendours of the Nile
Cairo, Aswan (Nile cruise) Luxor. This classic tour gives you the chance to experience Cairo’s best and most important sites, including the Pyramids, Sphinx and the world famous Egyptian museum before transferring to Aswan for a luxury cruise down the Nile to Luxor. You visit all the major sites en-route, and the tour has optional visits to Abu Simbel, Alexandria and the fascinating Valley of the Whales.
Splendours of the Nile 2011 Egypt 9 or 10 days From UK£770
Splendours of the Nile tour 
Cairo, Luxor-Aswan Nile Cruise, Cairo. This is an updated version of our classic Cairo & Nile cruise itinerary, starting with the pyramids and sphinx and a city tour in Cairo, and then featuring a luxury 5 day/4 night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan. All the main highlights in the Nile Valley are covered, including an option to visit the spectacular temples at Abu Simbel. 
Nile Explorer Egypt 9 or 10 days From UK£365
Nile Explorer
Cairo, Aswan (felucca or luxury cruise) Luxor. This classic tour travels through the Nile Valley visiting Egypt's ancient sites and monuments. From the Pyramids and Sphinx in Cairo, to the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple in Luxor, we take in all the main sites, and include a peaceful felucca ride or Nile cruise down the Nile stopping at riverside temples and villages. The tour can be completed in one week.
Grand Egyptian Adventure Egypt 15 days From UK£460
Grand Egyptian Adventure
Cairo, Aswan (felucca or luxury cruise) Luxor, Dahab. One of our most popular itineraries, this tour starts with visits to the Pyramids & Sphinx in Cairo, with an optional City & Museum tour. From Aswan, we take a peaceful felucca sailboat or luxury Nile cruise along the Nile to Luxor, where we explore temples & tombs on both banks of the river. The tour ends with time for you to relax at the beaches and cafes at Dahab, to snorkel or scuba-dive among the coral reefs of the Red Sea, and if you wish, to climb Mt. Sinai.
Classic Nile Cruise Egypt 7 nights From UK£680
Nile cruise boat
Nile Cruise; Luxor - Aswan - Luxor.  This classic Nile Cruise tour spends a week travelling up and down the River Nile between Aswan and Luxor, visiting all the major sites en-route. These include the Temple of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, the temples of Edfu and Komombo, and the island temple of Philae in Aswan, with a local option to visit the temples to Ramses at Abu Simbel. This is a private tour with one of our own Egyptologists on a 5-star deluxe level cruise boat (not joining with one of the large boat groups for the tours).
Egypt & Jordan Experience Egypt & Jordan 16 days From UK£1,480
View of the Treasury through the Siq, Petra, Jordan

Cairo, Aswan (Nile Cruise) Luxor, Mt. Sinai, Jordan. This tour covers all the main sites in Egypt and Jordan. Following visits to the Pyramids, Sphinx and a city tour in Cairo, we enjoy a luxury cruise along the Nile from Aswan to Luxor. We then head via Cairo and the Red Sea to Jordan for a jeep safari & Bedouin meal in Wadi Rum. From here we travel up the scenic King's Highway stopping to explore Petra, Kerak and Madaba, before finishing in Amman with a day trip to the Dead Sea and the Roman ruins at Jerash.

Egypt Experience Egypt 14 days From UK£980
Egypt Experience
Cairo, Aswan (Nile cruise) Luxor, Red Sea. This deluxe 5-star tour gives you a comprehensive introduction to the main highlights Egypt has to offer while staying in some of Egypt's best hotels. We see the Pyramids, Sphinx and famous Egyptian Museum in Cairo, enjoy a luxury Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan, and finish the tour with time to relax and enjoy the Red Sea at a beach resort in Hurghada.
Grand Egypt & Jordan Adventure Egypt & Jordan 16 days From UK£940
Camels outside the Treasury, Petra, Jordan

Cairo, Aswan (felucca or luxury cruise) Luxor, Dahab, Jordan. Following a tour to the Pyramids & Sphinx in Cairo, this tour visits the main highlights of the Nile Valley between Aswan and Luxor, featuring a peaceful felucca or luxury cruise along the Nile. After a stop by the Red Sea, we enter Jordan to see the stunning desert scenery of Wadi Rum, explore the ancient city of Petra, swim in the Dead Sea, and visit several other sites including the Roman ruins at Jerash. The tour starts in Cairo and finishes in Amman 

Pharaohs and Deserts Egypt 15 days From UK£630
Pharaohs and Deserts
Cairo, Aswan (felucca or luxury cruise) Luxor, Fayoum, Western Deserts. This tour combines Egypt's main historical sites and a felucca or luxury cruise in the Nile Valley, with two separate desert safaris. Around Fayoum we visit the Wadi Rayan protected area with its spring oasis and desert lake, and the World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Whales. In the Western Deserts, we visit the Baharya & Farafra oases and enjoy an overnight jeep safari in the spectacular White Desert.
Jewels of the Nile Egypt 15 days From UK£1,850
Jewels of the Nile
Why not combine your favourite sport with a family holiday to remember. Spend 7 days fishing on Lake Nasser for the magnificent Nile Perch then head down the Nile on a luxury cruise boats, enjoying all the comforts of a 5-star floating hotel. This way the whole family stays happy!

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