So, you’re visiting Egypt and you’re making a list of the most exciting and interesting places to visit. Mr & Mrs Egypt are excited to help you make the most of your next trip to Egypt by offering guides and advice on your trip.
As you’ve clicked through to this specific guide, there’s a good to fair chance that you’re interested in Abu Simbel. Well, we’d like to tell you that your interest is very well-founded as these twin temples built by Ramesses II are simply stunning and Abu Simbel fully deserves its place on your Egypt itinerary.
If anything we say here inspires you to visit Egypt with us, take a look at our custom Egypt tours, and please get in touch if you have any questions.
Abu Simbel in brief
Abu Simbel is two temples cut into a sandstone cliff above the Nile in the far south of Egypt, near the border with Sudan. Ramesses II built them in the 13th century BC: the Great Temple for the gods Amun-Ra, Ra-Harakhti and Ptah, with four colossal statues of the king at its entrance, and the Small Temple for his queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor.
In the 1960s the rising waters behind the new Aswan High Dam threatened to drown the site. In an international rescue campaign led by Egypt and UNESCO, both temples were cut into blocks and rebuilt on higher ground, where you see them today. Most visitors reach them from Aswan, by road or by a short flight.
What is Abu Simbel?
Abu Simbel is a pair of twinned temples that were built by Ramesses II — arguably Ancient Egypt’s most successful ruler. The temples were built over 3,000 years ago as a dedication to three gods: Amon-Ra, Ra-Harakhti, and Ptah. However, it is also accurate to say that Ramesses II built Abu Simbel to promote his own power and to demonstrate the might of his Egyptian empire.
When Was Abu Simbel Constructed?
Many years of careful assessment and research have given us a fairly accurate timeframe for when Abu Simbel was built. Both temples were completed in 1244 BC, and they took approximately twenty years to build. The amazing thing is that the temples were built so long ago (over three thousand years) that there was enough time for these amazing structures to be completely forgotten about and covered in sand. And this leads us to the next topic…
Private visit
Abu Simbel is a long day from Aswan, and how it is planned makes the difference. On a private visit the car and guide are yours, the early start is timed for you, and you are not working to a coach group’s schedule.
- Private licensed guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Entries arranged so you are not waiting on a coach group
When was Abu Simbel Discovered?
While it’s unclear exactly how long Abu Simbel laid under the sand, forgotten to the world, we know that it was discovered in 1813 AD by Jean-Louis Burckhardt. He discovered the top portion of the Great Temple’s frieze and began the process of organising an excavation, which was led by Giovanni Battista Belzoni. Even in the 19th century, when tourism wasn’t nearly as big an industry, Abu Simbel was a popular attraction.
Saving Abu Simbel!
Some readers may already know the story of how Abu Simbel was saved during the 1960s. It may be the greatest architectural reconstruction achievement of all time. Essentially, the Aswan High Dam’s construction created Lake Nasser, and its rising waters put Abu Simbel in immediate danger of being submerged.
Thankfully, the Egyptian government had help from UNESCO and over 50 countries who were invested in protecting this ancient treasure. They then embarked on an almost inconceivably difficult project to dismantle, move, and then reassemble Abu Simbel. This vast undertaking took five years and it proved to be a resounding success!
When you visit, the fact that the temples used to be in a different place is almost inconceivable, as it has been rebuilt so perfectly into the cliffside. While the original architecture is impressive, for many, the skill and attention to detail in the reconstruction project is just as impressive!
Private visit
Abu Simbel is a long day from Aswan, and how it is planned makes the difference. On a private visit the car and guide are yours, the early start is timed for you, and you are not working to a coach group’s schedule.
- Private licensed guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Entries arranged so you are not waiting on a coach group
How to get to Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan
You’ll find the temples of Abu Simbel just a five-minute drive from the village of Abu Simbel. Unfortunately, there are no big cities or easy-to-reach places nearby. This means that the best way to get to Abu Simbel is to first visit Aswan as you can take a road trip from the city of Aswan to Abu Simbel.
It is possible to drive from Luxor but it’s such a long journey we don’t recommend it. A road trip from Aswan to Abu Simbel takes roughly 3.5 hours both ways, so look out for comfortable vehicles with good air conditioning.
Road or flight from Aswan
By road. Most visitors go by car or coach, roughly 3.5 hours each way through the desert. Departures are early, often before sunrise, so you arrive before the worst of the heat and are back in Aswan in the afternoon. Road travel follows the security arrangements in place at the time, which can set when vehicles leave, so we confirm the timing when we plan your day. Day 8 of our itinerary shows how to visit from Aswan on the 18-day tour: a private air-conditioned car there and back in one day.
By air. There are short flights between Aswan and Abu Simbel. They save the long drive, but schedules are limited and change by season, so we check them for your dates before suggesting it.
Same day or overnight. Abu Simbel is a long but very doable day trip from Aswan. If you would rather not rush, a night in Abu Simbel village lets you see the temples when it is quieter.
If you are travelling on a Nile cruise that reaches Aswan, Abu Simbel is usually visited as a day trip from Aswan before or after the sailing.
There is much more to say about Abu Simbel, but we hope your appetite is suitably whetted! One thing that can never be conveyed in writing or, indeed, by video, is the sense of wonder most people feel when they stand before this ancient, beautiful monument. No literary or cinematic experience can actually replace standing at Abu Simbel, and we hope you have an incredible time when you visit!
Tell us the month. We will outline the days.
Frequently asked questions
When was Abu Simbel built?
Both temples were completed around 1244 BC, after roughly twenty years of work, during the reign of Ramesses II in the 13th century BC. They later lay forgotten under sand until Jean-Louis Burckhardt saw the top of the Great Temple’s frieze in 1813. In the 1960s they were moved to higher ground to save them from the rising waters behind the Aswan High Dam.
Who built Abu Simbel?
Ramesses II built both temples. The Great Temple is dedicated to Amun-Ra, Ra-Harakhti and Ptah, and four colossal seated statues of the king guard its entrance. The Small Temple honours his queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. As well as a religious monument, Abu Simbel was a statement of Ramesses’ power and of the might of his empire.
How do you visit Abu Simbel from Aswan?
Most people go by road, roughly 3.5 hours each way, leaving early to arrive before the heat and returning to Aswan the same day. Short flights from Aswan save the drive when schedules allow. Road timings follow the security arrangements in place at the time, so we confirm them when we plan your day. With us, the car and guide are private.
