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Overview
Abu Simbel Temples
Abu Simbel Temples is a pair of rock-cut temples on the west bank of Lake Nasser in Egypt’s southernmost governorate, approximately 280 km south of Aswan. The larger temple was built by Pharaoh Ramesses II of the 19th Dynasty as both a monument to his own glory and a statement of Egyptian power to the Nubian peoples to the south. The smaller temple was dedicated to the goddess Hathor and to Ramesses II’s chief wife, Nefertari — one of only a handful of temples in Egyptian history dedicated to a queen.
The Great Temple’s facade is dominated by four colossal seated statues of Ramesses II, each approximately 20 meters tall, flanking the entrance. Inside, the hypostyle hall is lined with eight Osirid statues of the king and painted reliefs of his military campaigns, most famously the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites. At the temple’s innermost sanctuary, four statues receive a remarkable solar phenomenon twice a year: on February 22 and October 22, sunlight penetrates 65 meters through the entire temple to illuminate the faces of three of the four statues — Ptah, god of darkness, remains in shadow.
The temples would have been submerged permanently by Lake Nasser following construction of the Aswan High Dam. In one of the most ambitious archaeological rescue operations in history, UNESCO coordinated the dismantling and relocation of both temples between 1964 and 1968, cutting them into over 1,000 blocks and reassembling them on an artificial hill 65 meters higher and 200 meters back from the original site.
Photo Gallery
Interesting Facts
The four facade statues of Ramesses II are each approximately 20 meters tall — taller than a six-story building
The solar alignment occurs on February 22 and October 22, when sunlight penetrates 65 meters to illuminate the sanctuary statues — dates believed to correspond to the king's birthday and coronation
The UNESCO relocation (1964–1968) involved cutting both temples into over 1,000 blocks and reassembling them 65 meters higher on an artificial hill
The peace treaty with the Hittites recorded in the Great Temple is the earliest surviving international peace treaty in history, signed around 1259 BCE
The Small Temple of Nefertari is one of only two temples in Egyptian history built by a pharaoh to honor his wife
History & Significance
Ramesses II began construction of the Abu Simbel temples around 1264 BCE and completed them roughly 20 years later. The site was chosen at the border of Nubian territories that Egypt had controlled since the New Kingdom, and the temples served a dual function: religious sanctuary and political monument asserting Egyptian sovereignty. Inscriptions record Ramesses II’s victories at Kadesh and his subsequent peace treaty with the Hittite king Hattusili III — the earliest known international peace treaty in recorded history.
The temples fell out of use following the decline of Egyptian power in Nubia and were gradually buried under drifting sand. They were largely unknown to European scholars until the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered them in 1813, with Giovanni Belzoni clearing the entrance four years later.
The UNESCO salvage campaign of 1964–1968 involved 51 nations and cost approximately $80 million USD. The temples were cut into 1,036 precisely numbered sandstone blocks, each weighing up to 30 tonnes, and reassembled inside a concrete dome structure. The project directly led to the creation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 1972.
What to See
Colossal Facade Statues
Four 20-meter seated statues of Ramesses II guard the Great Temple entrance; the second from the left has been damaged since antiquity, likely by an earthquake shortly after construction.
Solar Alignment Event
Twice yearly on February 22 and October 22, dawn sunlight reaches 65 meters to illuminate the inner sanctuary statues — an event crowds travel specifically to witness.
Battle of Kadesh Reliefs
The hypostyle hall walls carry detailed carved reliefs of Ramesses II's chariot charge at Kadesh — the largest military narrative in ancient Egyptian art.
Temple of Nefertari
The smaller temple is dedicated to both the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari, whose facade statues stand equal in height to those of the king — a deliberate statement of royal esteem.
Inner Sanctuary
The deepest chamber contains four statues of Ramesses II with Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah — Ptah alone is never illuminated by the solar event, as he was god of darkness.
Abu Simbel Tickets and Prices (2026)
One ticket covers both temples: the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Small Temple of Nefertari and Hathor. These are the official prices for foreign visitors, as listed by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in October 2026.
| Ticket | Adult | Student |
|---|---|---|
| Standard ticket (both temples) | EGP 822 | EGP 445.50 |
| Sun alignment days (22 February and 22 October) | EGP 1,272 | EGP 670.50 |
Students need a valid student card and must be 24 or younger. Children under six enter free. Photography with a phone is free; flash is not allowed inside. The evening sound and light show has its own ticket. Bring a bank card, as payment at the major sites is now mostly by card.
Opening Hours and the Sun Festival
The temples open every day at 6:00 AM, with last entry at 4:00 PM all year, including Ramadan.
Twice a year, on 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun shines about 60 metres into the Great Temple and lights the statues in the sanctuary, leaving only Ptah, a god linked with the underworld, in shadow. The site opens before dawn on these days, prices are higher and the crowds are large, so book transport and a hotel well ahead. See our guides to the February and October sun festivals.
How to Get to Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel stands on the shore of Lake Nasser, about 280 km south of Aswan and 40 km from the Sudanese border. There are three ways to reach it:
| How | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| By road from Aswan | About 3.5 hours each way | The most popular choice. Cars leave Aswan very early, around 4 AM, so you reach the temples soon after they open. Our day tour adds a Nubian village. |
| By air | About 45 minutes from Aswan | Short on time. EgyptAir flies to Abu Simbel from Aswan, and from Cairo via Aswan; a shuttle bus meets the flight. |
| Lake Nasser cruise | 3 to 4 nights | The slowest and most rewarding way, arriving by water and seeing the temples lit at night. See also our 5-day Lake Nasser cruise. |
Abu Simbel is also included in our multi-day trips: the Cairo and Abu Simbel tour, the Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel tour, and the three-day trip from Hurghada.
How Long Do You Need?
Allow two hours at the temples: an hour in the Great Temple, half an hour in the Small Temple, and time to walk round the artificial hill built over them. A day trip by road from Aswan takes about 12 hours in total, so most people visit Abu Simbel on its own day, then see Philae Temple or the Aswan High Dam on another.
If you stay overnight in Abu Simbel village, you can see the temples at sunrise before the day-trippers arrive, and watch the sound and light show in the evening.
Why Abu Simbel Was Moved
When the Aswan High Dam was built in the 1960s, the rising waters of Lake Nasser would have drowned the temples. Between 1964 and 1968, a UNESCO-led international team cut both temples into more than 1,000 blocks, some weighing up to 30 tonnes, and rebuilt them 65 metres higher and about 200 metres back from the river. The new site was set so that the sun would still reach the sanctuary on the same two days a year, though the alignment now falls one day later than in ancient times. Inside the artificial hill you can see the concrete dome that holds the mountain up; ask your guide where the joins between the blocks still show.
Abu Simbel Tours
Reach Abu Simbel by road or by air from Aswan, or on a Lake Nasser cruise, with a private Egyptologist guide: compare all our Abu Simbel tours.
Abu Simbel: Common Questions
How much is the Abu Simbel ticket in 2026?
The standard ticket for foreign visitors is EGP 822, or EGP 445.50 for students, and covers both temples. On the sun alignment days, 22 February and 22 October, it is EGP 1,272.
Is Abu Simbel worth the long trip from Aswan?
For most visitors, yes. The four 20-metre statues of Ramesses II and the painted halls inside are among the greatest sights in Egypt, and the early start means you see them before the heat of the day.
Can you visit Abu Simbel without a tour?
Yes. You can hire a car and driver in Aswan or fly from Aswan Airport, then buy your ticket at the site. A guided tour adds an Egyptologist who explains the reliefs, which are hard to read on your own.
When is the Abu Simbel sun festival?
On 22 February and 22 October each year, at sunrise, when sunlight reaches the sanctuary of the Great Temple.
What should I bring to Abu Simbel?
Water, a hat and sunscreen, a bank card for tickets, and a light layer for the early-morning drive, which is cool in winter.
Abu Simbel Tours
Our Abu Simbel tours leave from Aswan for the day, with time inside both temples and a private guide, or reach the temples from the lake on a Lake Nasser cruise. See the Abu Simbel day tour from Aswan and the trips below.
These packages visit this site as part of the itinerary.
2 nights Cairo & 7 nights Nile Cruise
Dive into 10 days of pure Egyptian magic with 2 days exploring Cairo's iconic pyramids and bustling streets followed by...
Start From
$1875 /P.Person
Day tours & Nile cruises visiting Abu Simbel Temples
Day TourAbu Simbel & Nubian Village Day Tour
Day TourHurghada to Cairo, Abu Simbel & Luxor Tour
PackageFamily Luxury Escape: Cairo, Nile Cruise & Red Sea
PackageEgypt Grand Family Holiday: Cairo, Cruise & Red Sea
PackageChristmas Nile Cruise: Cairo & River Journey
Package2 nights Cairo & 7 nights Nile CruiseMore to see in Aswan & Nubia
