Abydos & Dendara or Edfu & Kom Ombo?
 

If you have to choose, which trip would you do?

I've read many posts raving over Abydos, but minimal on Edfu & Kom Ombo.

In Luxor I'll be spending time a full day and a half to explore West Bank, 1/2 day in Karnak and a couple of hours in Luxor Temple. Plus separate time to visit Luxor museum.

Can't afford a Nile cruise, so am tossing between taking the train down to Aswan (without stops at Edfu & Kom Ombo) or dropping Abydos & Dendara to visit those sites by private car.

Which pair should I not miss?

Abydos was one of my favorite temples after two trips to Egypt. The color of the reliefs are spectacular, like no other temple I've visited. It also has the "King List", which is a chronlogical list of the pharohs in cartouches. Dendera is unique too, in that it is dedicated to Hathor and has a row of columns with the likeness of Hathor on them, though I think some or all of the faces were scratched off by early Christians. The temple is beautiful, though, in very good shape. Edfu is interesting, but nothing I don't think it compares to Abydos. Kom Ombo I liked (it also has mummified crocodiles as I recall). However, my vote is definately for Abydos and Dendera.

I choose Abydos & Dendara as well. Abydos is neat. The hypostle halls still have roofs over them. It's neat standing in the dark in the 2nd hall (it's lit but still dark and atmospheric) with sunlight streaming into the hall through cutouts in its roof. The carvings on the wall and on some of the worshipping (?) rooms in the back are beautiful. Abydos is kind of out of the way (3 hrs ride from Luxor) so there's less of a chance it's crowded.

I missed Dendara when I was in Luxor and kind of wish I had seen it.

I didn't care for Kom Ombo at all. I think it's the least attractive of the temples that I saw in Egypt. I mean the history of it is still interesting but lookwise, I didn't like it.

Edfu's not bad. There's a duplicate of a ceremonial barge in one of the rooms in the back. One of the side rooms had a carving of the Goddess Nut on the ceiling.

Having visited all four of them, I can say there is no choice. Abydos and Dendara are head and shoulders better than Edfu and Kom Ombo.

Abydos has some of the most magnificent bas relief sculptures I have ever seen it also has the remnants of a mind bogling ancient temple outside in the back. Dendara is in excellent condition and a place you will remember for years.

Edfu is interesting but not in the same league as Dendara. Kom Ombo is sort of just... there.

Thank you all for your advice. This definitely helps!
Looks like I'll just catch a train to Aswan then :)

Happy travels!