Hathor's temple at Dendera
The entrance hall has six columns topped with the head of Hathor.
5.0 on TripadvisorPrivate tour Dendera & Abydos Private Day Tour from Luxor
A long private day north of Luxor to Hathor's temple at Dendera and the temple of Seti I at Abydos, with an Egyptologist and lunch.
- Duration
- Full day, with long drives each way
- Where
- Dendera (Qena) and Abydos (Sohag)
- Pick-up
- Hotel or Nile ship in Luxor
- Language
- English (other languages on request)
From, per person$306 or more travellers
- Starts any day
- Free quote, no obligation
- Change anything you like
About this tour
Most visitors to Luxor never leave the city, and the two temples north of it are the reason to do so. Dendera is the temple of Hathor, a goddess linked to music and the sky, and one of the best preserved in Egypt. Abydos was the cult centre of Osiris, and the temple built there by Seti I is known for its fine low-relief carving.
The day is mostly about reading walls. Your guide spends time on the ceiling and crypts at Dendera, and on the king list and the chapels at Abydos. It suits travellers who have already seen Karnak and the West Bank and want something different, and anyone who prefers reading inscriptions to climbing into tombs.
It does not suit people who dislike long drives. Abydos lies well north of Dendera, so the day is long and a lot of it is in the car. If you have only one day in Luxor, take the East and West Bank tour instead.
The astronomical ceiling
Carved sky scenes inside the Dendera temple, with a copy of the famous zodiac.
Temple of Seti I
Seven sanctuaries in an L-shaped plan, finished by Ramesses II.
Abydos King List
A carved list of earlier pharaohs honoured by Seti I and Ramesses II.
The Osireion
A symbolic tomb of Osiris behind Seti's temple.
How the day runs
- 1
Early morningNorth from Luxor to Dendera
Dendera lies about 60 km north of Luxor on the west bank of the Nile, close to the city of Qena. We leave early so that we arrive when the site opens at 7:00. The temple's main entrance has six columns capped with the head of Hathor, framed by sistrums, the rattles of her cult.
- 2
MorningInside the Hathor temple
The present temple dates mostly to the Ptolemaic and early Roman periods, and the hypostyle hall was built under Tiberius. Look up: the ceiling carries astronomical scenes. The famous Dendera zodiac was taken to the Louvre in 1820 and a copy hangs in its place. There are twelve crypts beneath the temple, and a staircase leads to the roof. The ministry's ticket page lists separate "temple panorama" and "temple serdab" tickets, and which of these areas are open can change, so your guide confirms on the day what you can enter.
- 3
Late morningThe birth houses and the compound
Outside the main temple are two mammisi, or birth houses. The earlier was built under Nectanebo II, and the Roman one shows Trajan making offerings as a pharaoh. Your guide also points out the ruined Coptic church and the small chapel of Isis inside the same enclosure.
- 4
MiddayRoad to Abydos and lunch
We drive on to Abydos, which sits about 11 km west of the Nile near El Balyana in Sohag governorate. Lunch is at a local restaurant on the way. Police check ID regularly in Egypt, so keep your passport with you. Road and timing rules for tourist vehicles can change, and we confirm them for your date when you book.
- 5
AfternoonTemple of Seti I
Seti I began the temple in the thirteenth century BC and died before it was finished. His son Ramesses II completed and decorated it. It has six chapels for Osiris, Isis, Horus, Amun-Re, Re-Horakhty and Ptah, and a seventh for the king himself. In the corridor known as the Abydos King List, Seti and Ramesses make offerings to a line of earlier rulers.
- 6
Late afternoonOsireion, the Ramesses II temple, and the drive back
Behind the temple stands the Osireion, a cenotaph linked to Osiris, partly flooded since the Aswan Dam raised water levels. Next to Seti's temple is a smaller temple of Ramesses II. After that we drive back to Luxor.
How much does this tour cost?
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $50 |
| 2 travellers | $40 |
| 3 to 5 travellers | $35 |
| 6 or more travellers | $30 |
In US dollars, per person, for a private trip. The price in your written quote, made for your dates and group, is the one that counts. International flights are not included.
What’s included
Included
- Pick-up and return by private air-conditioned vehicle in Luxor
- Private Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to Dendera and Abydos
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Bottled water
Not included
- Extra tickets the ministry lists separately for Dendera (the temple panorama and the temple serdab), if you want them
- Drinks with lunch
- Tips
Booking policies
Important information
A long day
Abydos lies well north of Dendera, so expect to be in the car for much of the day. Pick-up is early. We confirm pick-up and return times for your date when you book.
Carry your passport
The UK government advises that police in Egypt check ID regularly and that visitors may be detained without a passport and visa. Bring your passport or a clear copy on this trip.
Wear
Closed shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Both temples are open to the sun and have uneven stone floors. A small torch helps in dim chapels at Abydos.
Photography
Photography rules can differ inside the temples. Ask your guide before using a camera in the chapels.
Payment and deposit
- Prices are in US dollars and the price in your written quote is the one that counts.
- The deposit is 30 percent of the total price (50 percent for trips that start from 18 December to 5 January).
- The balance is due 15 days before arrival. If you book later than that, the full amount confirms the booking.
- Payment instructions come with your written quote.
Cancellation and refund
Send every cancellation by email so that we can confirm it in writing. The charge is a percentage of the tour price, and anything you paid above it is refunded.
| Days before arrival | Normal dates | 18 Dec to 5 Jan |
|---|---|---|
| Until 61 days | 20% | 35% |
| 60 to 31 days | 35% | 50% |
| 30 to 15 days | 50% | 75% |
| 14 to 1 days, or no-show | 100% | 100% |
A bank and payment fee of 6 percent is deducted from every refund. Full rules: terms and policies.
Children
- Children under 3 travel free.
- Children from 3 to 11.99 years pay 50 percent of the tour price.
- From 12 years, travellers pay the adult price.
Please give the age of every child at the time of travel when you ask for a quote.
Travel tips
Know before you go
Start early
Pickup around 8:00 gets you to the pyramids before the heat and the coach groups.
Wear
Closed shoes, a hat and sunscreen, expect sand, steps and uneven ground.
Extra tickets
Entry inside the Great Pyramid is an optional ticket bought on the day.
Photos
Photos are free outdoors; some tombs charge for cameras. Drones are not allowed.
Traveller reviews
What our travellers say
A Fantastic Tour of Egypt
“The entire trip was seamlessly executed.”
Best tour guide!!
“He made our trip to the pyramids and Alexandria fun and memorable.”
Amazing 2 week trip
“My friends and I spent two weeks in Egypt and he was with us every step of the way.”
FAQ
Questions about this tour
Still unsure? Message us on WhatsApp and a real person from our team will answer.
Can I see Dendera and Abydos separately?
Dendera is near enough to Luxor for a shorter trip on its own. Abydos is the long part of this day, so most travellers see them together.
Why does the Dendera zodiac look so new?
The original is in the Louvre in Paris. The relief you see is a copy, put in place after the French removed it in 1820.
What are the so-called helicopter hieroglyphs at Abydos?
They are overlapping signs where an inscription of Seti I was plastered over and recarved under Ramesses II. Online they are claimed to show modern vehicles, but they are a layering of old carvings.
Is it safe to travel by road?
The UK government warns that road accidents are common in Egypt and advises against driving outside main cities and resorts at night, so we aim to be back before dark. The UK advice excludes Luxor and Qena from its Western Desert warning but does not name Abydos or give road rules for it. We confirm the current road and timing rules for your date when you book.
Is this a good day for young children?
It depends on the child. The temples are fine, but the time in the car is long, so it suits older children better than toddlers.
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Before you go
Guides for this trip
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