Elias Tours Egypt · Abu Simbel
Two rock-cut temples built by Ramses II in the 13th century BC, on the western bank of Lake Nasser in Upper Egypt near the Sudanese border.
Upper Egypt · Nubia
Abu Simbel was built to mark Egypt’s southern border and project pharaonic power into Nubia. The site was largely forgotten and buried in sand until rediscovered in 1813. Between 1964 and 1968, both temples were dismantled into 1,036 numbered blocks and reassembled 65 metres uphill to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. The operation involved 50 countries and has not been repeated since.
Abu Simbel · What to Know
01
Four seated colossi of Ramses II, each 20 metres high, front the main entrance. Inside: a 60-metre hypostyle hall with carvings of the Battle of Kadesh — one of the most detailed battle records from the ancient world.
02
Smaller than the main temple but unusually significant — Ramses dedicated it to his wife Nefertari, depicting her at equal scale to himself, which was not standard practice. The interior reliefs are well-preserved.
03
On 22 February and 22 October each year, sunlight reaches the innermost sanctuary and illuminates three of the four seated statues — the fourth, a god associated with the underworld, remains in shadow. The alignment still works after the relocation.
04
One of the world’s largest reservoirs, formed by the Aswan High Dam. Abu Simbel sits on its western shore — the lake and desert landscape around the temples is part of what makes the site feel remote and significant.
05
45-minute flight from Aswan, or a 3.5-hour drive through the Nubian desert. Most visitors fly in, spend 2–3 hours at the temples, and return the same day. An overnight stay in the small town gives you the site early morning before tour groups arrive.
06
Abu Simbel was built on land that was Nubian, not Egyptian — the temples were a statement of conquest as much as devotion. The surrounding area still has a Nubian population with a distinct culture, language, and architecture.
“Most people arrive expecting the scale. What they do not expect is the silence. The site is remote, the desert is still, and the temples are genuinely imposing. It holds up.”
Mostapha Kamal · Licensed Egyptologist & Founder, Elias Tours Egypt
Abu Simbel Tours · Elias Tours Egypt
Day Trip from Aswan
Fly or drive from Aswan with a private licensed guide. 2–3 hours at the site, both temples covered in depth. Return same day.
7 Day Package
Cairo, Nile Cruise, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel — the full itinerary for those who want to cover the main sites without rushing.
Private transport from Aswan, a licensed Egyptologist guide, and flexible timing to avoid the main tour groups.
Book a Private Tour
Or Call · +20 151 521 3040
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