Your private professional Egyptologist guide and helpful driver will come to pick you up with an air-conditioned vehicle from your hotel in Aswan in the early morning. After arriving at the Abu Simbel archaeological area, begin your guided exploration of the two magnificent temples. The complex consists of two rock-cut sanctuaries that were built by the order of Ramses II during the 13th century BCE. They were carved directly into the mountainside rather than constructed from separately assembled blocks, creating an extraordinary and unique combination of architecture and natural rock.
Your first and most famous stop is the Great Temple of Ramses II. This Temple was built in ancient Nubia, which was in an area where Egypt's political and cultural influence was being greatly projected southward. This fantastic temple therefore functioned as both a holy and sacred monument and a powerful statement of royal authority. The entire 55–63-meter axis of the temple was especially engineered so that, twice a year, the bright sunlight travels the full length of the wide hypostyle hall, the second hall, and the vestibule to strike the enormous four seated statues in the innermost sanctuary.
After exploring the Great Temple, continue to the remarkable Temple of the beautiful Queen Nefertari, sometimes called the Small Temple. The temple was especially dedicated to Hathor, who is one of ancient Egypt's most important goddesses, and to Queen Nefertari, Ramses II's Great and beloved Royal Wife. What makes the arrangement particularly remarkable and unique is that the brilliant Nefertari's statues are represented at essentially the same monumental scale as those of the king. This is an extraordinary, visually powerful, and great statement of the queen's status.
You can relax during your journey back to Aswan after a full day exploring one of Egypt's greatest and most beautiful monuments.