Wadi es-Sebua

Wadi es-Sebua means valley of the lions in Arabic, from the avenue of sphinxes that leads up to the temple, and the building itself was cut and built for Ramesses II, partly freestanding and partly rock-cut, with colossal statues of the king at the entrance. It was moved a few kilometres in the salvage campaign and set up on a new shore, and two other rescued monuments were brought to the same place: the temple of Dakka, begun by a Meroitic king and extended by the Ptolemies and Romans, and Maharraqa, a small unfinished Roman temple with a spiral staircase. Coptic-era plaster and painting over the sanctuary reliefs survives in places, where the temple served as a church. Access is almost entirely by cruise boat.

What you actually see

• The sphinx avenue - the lions that give the valley its name.
• Colossi of Ramesses II - standing figures at the temple front.
• The temple of Dakka - a Meroitic foundation extended by Greeks and Romans.
• Coptic overpainting - Christian plaster over the pharaonic reliefs.

When to go

October to April. Two hours ashore, as part of a Lake Nasser cruise. Landings happen in the morning or late afternoon depending on the itinerary. The alternative is a long desert drive that few undertake.

Honest expectations

Practically speaking this is cruise-only; the road approach is long, rough and needs arrangement. There is no shade and no facilities at the landing. Time ashore is fixed by the boat. Water levels can affect where boats can moor.

Nearby

Amada lies further south along the lake; Kalabsha is north near the dam.