Abu Simbel

This Abu Simbel travel guide covers the best things to do in Abu Simbel: the Great Temple of Ramesses II, the Temple of Nefertari and the sun festival. Below you will also find the best time to visit Abu Simbel, how to get there and around, and a choice of hotels in Abu Simbel.

Abu Simbel is a small Nubian town on the western shore of Lake Nasser, far south of Aswan and close to the border with Sudan. It is home to two of the great monuments of ancient Egypt: the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the smaller Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor.

History

The temples were cut into the sandstone cliffs in the 13th century BC by Ramesses II, partly to impress Egypt’s might on Nubia. Four seated colossi of the king, each about 20 m high, guard the Great Temple; the smaller temple’s facade shows Ramesses and his queen Nefertari at almost equal size, a rare honour. Sand buried the temples for centuries until Europeans rediscovered them in the early 19th century. When the Aswan High Dam threatened to flood them, a UNESCO-led international campaign cut the temples into huge blocks and rebuilt them between 1964 and 1968 on an artificial hill some 65 m higher and about 200 m back from the river. They are part of the Nubian Monuments World Heritage Site.

What to see and do

• Great Temple: the colossal facade, the hall of Osiride pillars and reliefs of the Battle of Kadesh, leading to the sanctuary.
• Temple of Nefertari: graceful reliefs of the queen and the goddess Hathor.
• Sun festival: on about 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun shines deep into the sanctuary to light up statues of the gods and the king, drawing large crowds.
• Sound and light show: evening shows are projected onto the temple facades.
• Lake Nasser: multi-day lake cruises call at Abu Simbel and other rescued Nubian temples.

Practical tips

Most visitors come on a day trip from Aswan, setting off before dawn by road or taking a short flight; staying overnight lets you see the sound and light show and the temples in quiet early-morning light. Nubian guesthouses offer a local alternative to hotels. Bring water and sun protection, as the site is exposed. For the sun festival, arrive very early and expect queues.

Last checked October 2026. Sources: whc.unesco.org, newworldencyclopedia.org, madainproject.com, egypttoursplus.com.