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Before you go
Your trip to Abu Simbel.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Abu Simbel – Aswan Destination Aswan and Abu Simbel about 280 km from Aswan
How to get there
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Abu Simbel Airport (ABS) Abu Simbel · 5 km
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Rodoviária de Abu Simbel Abu Simbel · 2 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
Abu Simbel Airport (ABS) receives flights from Aswan and Cairo and is a few kilometres from the temples. By road, the trip from Aswan crosses the desert by car, bus or tour. Cruises on Lake Nasser connect Aswan with Abu Simbel.
How many days
Half a day is enough for the temples on a day trip; with an overnight you can attend the sound-and-light show and visit during the first hour of the morning.
When to go
In the cool months, from October to April; on Sun Festival days the town is crowded; in summer the heat is extreme.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
No. The temples are close to town, and tours include transport from Aswan.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Abu Simbel
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Morning
Abu Simbel Temples
Arrive early at both temples, see the interior of the Great Temple and the Temple of Nefertari.
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Afternoon
Lake Nasser
Relax on the shore of Lake Nasser and return to the temples for the sound-and-light show at night.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
How to go from Aswan to Abu Simbel?
By the desert highway, by plane, or by cruise on Lake Nasser.
Is it worth sleeping in Abu Simbel?
Yes: visiting in the first hour has fewer people, and at night there is a sound-and-light show.
What happens at the temple in February and October?
Twice a year, at the end of February and the end of October, the dawn light reaches the sanctuary of the Great Temple.
Is Abu Simbel close to Sudan?
It is about 40 km from the border, on the shore of Lake Nasser.