Abu Simbel Airport

Abu Simbel Airport is a small airport close to the village of Abu Simbel on the shore of Lake Nasser, near the Sudanese border. It exists almost entirely to bring visitors to the great rock temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari, and it is one of the quickest ways to see them from Aswan.

Airlines and routes

EgyptAir and Air Cairo fly between Aswan and Abu Simbel, a flight of under an hour. Some services continue to Cairo via Aswan. Timetables are designed around temple visits, with a morning flight out and an early-afternoon flight back, but frequencies vary by season and some days have no flights at all. Book well ahead around the sun festivals on 22 February and 22 October.

Getting to the temples

The temples are a short drive from the airport. Many fly-in packages include the transfer and the temple ticket; check what is included when you book. Most visitors still come by road from Aswan, a drive of about three and a half hours each way, usually in an early-morning convoy or organised minibus.

Facilities

The terminal is tiny, with a waiting area and basic refreshments. Bring water, sun protection and cash or a card for the temple ticket if it is not included. In summer, flying lets you avoid the long, hot desert drive.

Last checked October 2026. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, flightsfrom.com, aviability.com.