Abydos

[denisegr]

Advice please, im thinking about visiting Abydos whilst in luxor in june, any ideas on best way to do this, costs,how long of a journey thanks

[Zooropa]

I did it via taxi a few years ago.

Struggling to remember times and costs will be out of date now.

I did it along with Dendara.

I think it was a good 3 hours (maybe more).

Fare i really am guessing what i paid now £30-40 perhaps???

[carrie]

Went with Petra, now Oceanus can't remember how much we paid but they are very competitive price wise, no rushing to get back or complaints about how long we stayed there.
Another thought June is Ramadan 27th May till 25th June followed by the feast not always a good time to travel.

[Zooropa]

Ah yes Petra, i seem to remember it was you Carrie who gave me their name.

Like you my driver was polite and laid back.

Having looked on Google maps my guess of about three hours seems about right.

I regret spending only an hour or so there now but i had been to Dendara as well and it was teatime by the time we got back to Luxor.

Tempted to go in when i visit in May now!

PS, just to clarify - 3 hours each way!

[Winged Isis]

Allow a whole day, especially if including Dendara, which you should.

[Horus]

I reckon you need at least a day to do each one, by the time you get to Abydos and back you will have little enough time as it is without trying to do Denderah at the same time. The best way to see Denedrah was either on a cruise that took it in as part of the cruise itinery, or on a day trip on the Lotus boat that gave you several hours there, but I doubt if that is still operating with the present dearth of tourists.
PS. I would also reccomend Petra travel

[Who2]

Abydos ? You need a call from Kevin....

[Yildez]

A visit to Abydos should always include a walk across the desert to the Ramses temple, as well as at least a couple of hours in the main Seti temple, as there's a lot to see. The landscape is fascinating, and there's a royal pyramid on the outer edge to the left of the temple - Stan took me and Carrie to see it on a visit to Abydos some years ago. 2012 I think? You can't access the remains of the pyramid from the temple site, as the guardians won't let you, but it can be reached through a village on the outskirts - maybe someone could give directions?

I agree with Horus that it's better to visit Abydos and Dendara on separate occasions, unless you have a very fleeting interest in Egyptian history. There are lots of interesting buildings at Dendara as well as the main temple - don't miss the roof, or the crypt! One of the ancillary chapels has a niche high up on the wall; on one visit I was able to climb up - VERY rickety ladder - and enter it. Very eerie with the doors closed!

Outside of Luxor, Abydos is my favourite site!

[Mad Dilys]

Ahhh the crypt at Dendara, I last went about 25 years ago, very interesting indeed.

[A-Four]

Went with Petra, now Oceanus can't remember how much we paid but they are very competitive price wise, no rushing to get back or complaints about how long we stayed there.
Another thought June is Ramadan 27th May till 25th June followed by the feast not always a good time to travel.

I believe it is Carrie here who gives the best sound advice, especially with regards the period of Ramadan. To all who have been to Abydos, they should remember that on arrival, they leave what ever vehicle they arrived in, at about 10-30 a.m., temperature still quite cool, they then remain in a quite cool environment, being the main covered temple at Abydos, for about two hours.

Suddenly you become aware of a long ramp, where the sun beckons you, it is high noon in June, you want to climb down to see the Tomb of Osirus, and then, did some one mention a visit to the Ramessis temple,........... I think not, and to add further to this, a guide and armed police officer must attend with you, who will not have had either food or water since before sunrise and will not until sunset.
I believe as you approach that ramp, you will discover there is a large iron gate that will be closed and locked, you may even see a sign,..........closed for restoration.

There is always a good reason, to make more than one journey to Abydos. .

[denisegr]

Thanks for all the info, i am not too bothered about Dendera as i have visited many times tbh the idea of 6 hours in a taxi does not appeal may give it a miss im sure i have been to Abydos back in 2002 but it was my first visit to Egypt and i got a bit templed out.

[Horus]

Yildez wrote:

There are lots of interesting buildings at Dendara as well as the main temple - don't miss the roof, or the crypt! One of the ancillary chapels has a niche high up on the wall; on one visit I was able to climb up - VERY rickety ladder - and enter it. Very eerie with the doors closed!

I bet you mean this one Yildez?

[carrie]

I don't know why but some temples etc. I get a feeling, can't explain it but Dendera is not one of those places nor is Hatchepsut.

[denisegr]

I get a similar feeling when i visit the Hyperstyle hall at Karnak, i get an overwhelming feeling of contentment, peace and happiness almost spiritual, its weird but wonderful and has often moved me to tears, its very hard to understand why this happens.

[Horus]

Although one of the later temples, I always find lots to see at Denderah I can spend hours wandering around it and finding fascinating details and little hidden gems, it is one of my favourites along with Medinet Habou.

[Brian Yare]

Advice please, im thinking about visiting Abydos whilst in luxor in june, any ideas on best way to do this, costs,how long of a journey thanks

When visiting in the warmer months I recommend leaving Luxor at crack of dawn, or even earlier. The West Bank desert road requires a journey time of 2 hours (probably a bit longer if sticking to the speed limit of 90km/h).

In early May 3 years ago I arrived at Abydos at 8am and had it completely to myself for an hour. Eventually another solo traveller arrived. A few minibuses turned up at about 10am.

An alternative is to stay overnight in Abydos or Sohag.

I would avoid Ramadan if at all possible. Dehydrated drivers are probably even more dangerous than the ones one meets at other times of year.

[Yildez]

Yildez wrote:

There are lots of interesting buildings at Dendara as well as the main temple - don't miss the roof, or the crypt! One of the ancillary chapels has a niche high up on the wall; on one visit I was able to climb up - VERY rickety ladder - and enter it. Very eerie with the doors closed!

I bet you mean this one Yildez?

Yes, that's the one Horus! Don't think I'd be able to manage the ladder these days - at the time, I had to come down backwards as the height was so scary!! I've never been sure exactly what the purpose was? Although I did wonder if it was for a priest/priestess to prophesie from? Whatever, very interesting.

[Horus]

Yildez, I was having a look through my images from Denderah and this one is taken looking at the back wall of the small niche. The decoration of this wall is of very poor quality when compared to elsewhere in the temple and had the odd bit of graffiti scrawled here and there, but what always intrigued me was the small rectangular part to the left of the seated Hathor figure. It is in hieroglyphics, but does not look as if it was carved at the same time, if you look closer you can see that the rectangular shape has been cut in relief from the original wall surface.

[Yildez]

Yes, I see what you mean, looks very odd especially as the surround is not straight. I can't see it clearly enough to look up the heiroglyphics, but it definitely doesn't look right. I didnt take any photos of the niche - I was too spooked by the atmosphere in there, and couldn't wait to get back down the ladder, even though the ladder itself put the wind up me!!!