Located in the region of Nubia, near the southern border of Egypt, the Great Temple of Abu Simbel is one of the most impressive structures of Ancient Egypt. Abu Simbel Temple is the most famous structure in all of Egypt after the Pyramids of Giza. The Abu Simbel Temples are on the western shore of Lake Nasser in Abu Simbel, a small village of Aswan, near the border with Sudan in Upper Egypt. Carved into the rocks by Ramses II the Great around 1264 BC, this massive temple captivates visitors with its majestic architecture and fascinating history. There are two temples in Abu Simbel. The first is the Great Temple, dedicated to Ramses II, and the second is the Lesser Temple, dedicated to his wife, Queen Nefertari. The twin temples were built to serve as a permanent memorial to the king and his queen Nefertari and to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh.On the front facade of the temple are four colossal statues of Ramses, depicted in a seated position. The four statues guarding the gate of this temple are the largest remaining statues from the time of the ancient Pharaohs.
When you step inside the temple, you are greeted by huge standing statues of Ramses. In the sanctuary, there are four statues deifying Amun Ra, Ra Horakhty, Ptah and Ramses II. One of the most fascinating details of the temple is that it was built according to an astonomical map. Only on February 22 and October 22 each year, the sun’s rays reach deep into the temple and illuminate the innermost god statues. Ancient architects positioned the temple so that the sun’s rays would reach the chamber on February 22, the anniversary of Ramses’ ascension to the throne, and on October 22, his birthday.
Abu Simbel also has a special section built for Queen Nefertari. Known as the Little Temple, it is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and her Great Royal Consort Nefertari.
The two temples were moved from their original location in 1968 when construction of the Aswan High Dam began. The temples were moved 64 meters up and 180 meters west from where they were built to the desert plateau. The process of moving these huge temples took 5 years. Abu Simbel Temple was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Transportation options from Aswan Airport to Abu Simbel
There are direct flights from Aswan Airport to Abu Simbel. Egyptair and Air Cairo operate flights on this route on certain days of the week. The flight time varies between approximately 45 and 60 minutes. Ticket prices can vary between 60 and 220 USD. The distance between Abu Simbel Airport and the temples is only 5 km. You can reach the temples in 10 minutes by taxi or shuttle.
If you prefer to travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel by road, you will have to cover a distance of approximately 282 kilometers. This journey takes about 4 hours depending on traffic and road conditions. You can reach Abu Simbel from the airport by taxi or renting a car. The round trip taxi fare to Abu Simbel starts from around 130 USD, depending on the number of passengers and peak days.
To visit the magnificent temples, you can join group tours departing from Aswan city center. Bus departure time is 4 am. The bus returns to Aswan around 2 pm. After arriving at the Abu Simbel Temples, you will have about 2 hours to explore the place. The price for unguided group tours usually starts from 29 USD per person.