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Egypt will always hold a special place in my heart. In a way, it was the country that started it all.
Eight years ago (has it really been that long?), my boyfriend and I decided that we wanted to do something different with our travels. Instead of lying by the pool all day, we wanted to see new sights, experience new cultures and marvel at the wonders of the world, both ancient and modern, natural and man-made.
The first country that came to mind when we thought about this kind of travel was Egypt. Of course you can lay by the pool at an all-inclusive hotel in Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh all day, but we were interested in the ancient sites. We wanted to see the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, the temples of Abu Simbel and Karnak. We saw all those things… and more.
Planning a trip to this beautiful country yourself? Don’t forget to read my travel guide!
In this post I want to share with you my five favourite Egyptian temples.
1. Abu Simbel Temples
My absolute favourite! The day we visited Abu Simbel was definitely the highlight of our whole journey! This was something I was really looking forward to before we boarded the plane to Egypt and it did not disappoint! I remember the moment I came face to face with the 20 meter high statues of Ramesses II as though it was just yesterday. Difficult to describe with words, this is something that you will have to see with your own eyes.
In the 1960s the entire temple complex was cut into large blocks and rebuilt on higher ground in order to save it from flooding by Lake Nasser due to the construction of the High Dam.
2. Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor
Luxor, known to the Greeks as Thebes and to the ancient Egyptians as Waset, was the capital of Ancient Egypt during the Middle and New Kingdom and is therefore one of the best places to visit if you’re interested in ancient temples.
The Karnak Temple Complex is definitely the biggest temple complex in Luxor (and the second largest ancient religious site in the world, after Angkor Wat in Combodia). Over a period of 2.000 years more than 30 different pharaohs contributed to this site, making it absolutely huge and well worth spending a few hours of your time exploring the ruins!
3. Philae Temple in Aswan
The Philae Tempel was the first temple we saw during our visit to Egypt and therefore made a lasting impression. Originally located on the island Philae, this temple too had to be relocated to save it from being flooded after the construction of the High Dam. The temple, who is dedicated to the goddess Isis, was rebuilt on Agilkia Island and can be reached by boat.
4. Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor
Hatshepsut was one of the few female pharaohs to rule Ancient Egypt. Her Mortuary Temple is located on the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor and is worth a visit for a number of reasons. The terraced temple looks very different from your average temple and was built in front of a huge rock wall, making it all the more impressive.
5. Kom Ombo Temple
The last temple on my list is one I’ve never even heard of before leaving for Egypt. The Temple of Kom Ombo is located in the town of Kom Ombo, 50 km (30 miles) north of Aswan, and is special because of it’s double design. The temple is dedicated to two gods, the falcon god Haroeris and the crocodile god Sobek, and everything in this temple comes in two: it has a double entrance, double altars,…
This was also the first time we saw some of the vibrant colors the Egyptians used for decorating their temples, still visible after so many years.
And there you have it: my personal top 5 of the beautiful ancient temples that we visited while traveling through Egypt in 2011.
