Description
Abu Simbel Temples of King Ramses II, are the famous temples deep south of Egypt where the sun shines and light the King’s and Queen’s statue on their face twice a year, 22nd of October and the 22nd of February. The magical temples of Abu Simbel are carved in the rock. The huge temples were moved by UNESCO to prevent them from drowning under Nasser Lake which was formed by the High Dam in Aswan.
The tour starts by picking up from your hotel/residence in Aswan and driving to Abu Simbel temples. The drive is about 3 and a half hours and we always start the trip at 5 am, to allow visiting the temples before the sun is too hot from one point and to watch the sunrise on the way. Also, allow visits to other sites after returning back from Abu Simbel if your visit to Aswan is not a long one.
Itinerary of Abu Simbel expedition
Begin your Abu Simbel expedition with a tour of the Great Temple of Ramesses II, a massive structure built in the 13th century BC to honour Pharaoh Ramesses II and the goddess Hathor. After exploring the temple‘s impressive reliefs, statues, and carvings, you‘ll be sure to have plenty of photo opportunities.
Next, you‘ll head to the Nubian Museum, located near the Great Temple of Ramesses II. This museum is dedicated to preserving the culture of Nubia and offering visitors an insight into the region‘s past. You‘ll be able to explore the exhibits, which cover topics such as archaeology, architecture, and the history of Nubia.
After a lunch break, you‘ll be able to explore the Temple of Queen Nefertari. This smaller temple was built in the 13th century BC and is dedicated to Hathor and the goddess Isis. You‘ll be able to explore the beautiful reliefs and statues inside, as well as the terrace, which offers stunning views of the desert. This Abu Simbel expedition tour will take you to some of the most spectacular monuments in Egypt and provide you with a wealth of historical knowledge. With this itinerary, you‘ll be sure to have a fun and memorable day in Abu Simbel!
Trip Duration: Full day (9 hours).
Group Size: booking is based on a minimum of two people booking together. If you are only one person, please email our partner the tour operator at tours@holidaytours.one to request a one-person tour.
If you are a group of 5 or more people booking together, you automatically receive a discount of 45%. Encourage your friends to join you.
Adult discount
# TITLE NUMBER DISCOUNT
1 Group Price 5-16 45%
Visit Abu Simbel
An ancient temple complex called Abu Simbel can be found in southern Egypt at the second cataract of the Nile River. It was originally carved out of a solid rock cliff. The two temples that make up the site were built either between 1264 and 1244 BCE or 1244 and 1224 BCE during the reign of Ramesses II (c. 1279 – c. 1213 BCE). The discrepancy in the dates results from different perspectives on Ramesses II’s life held by contemporary scholars.
Based on the elaborate artwork found throughout the Great Temple’s interior, it is certain that the buildings were built, at least in part, to commemorate Ramesses’ victory over the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BCE. According to some researchers, this suggests that the first construction took place around 1264 BCE when the people would still be celebrating their victory. Others believe that the decision to erect the massive monument at that precise location, on the border with the conquered lands of Nubia, points to a later date of 1244 BCE because it would have needed to begin following the Nubian Campaigns Ramesses II and his sons undertook and were erected as a representation of Egypt’s power.
Regardless of the precise start date, it is generally acknowledged that the complex took twenty years to build and that the temples honour the gods Ra-Horakty, Ptah, the deified Ramesses II (The Great Temple), the goddess Hathor, and Queen Nefertari, who was Ramesses’ favourite wife (The Small Temple). Contrary to popular belief, the complex was not known by the name “Abu Simbel” in ancient times.
Both Temples The Great Temple is 98 feet (30 metres) high and 115 feet (35 metres) long. Two seated colossi on each side of the entrance, each measuring 65 feet (20 metres), depict Ramesses II seated on his throne. These enormous statues are accompanied by smaller, but still, larger-than-life statues that represent Ramesses’ conquered foes, the Nubians, Libyans, and Hittites.
More statues show members of his family as well as various gods and symbols of power. The interior of the temple is decorated with engravings showing Ramesses and Nefertari paying respect to the gods as you pass between the colossi through the main entrance. Along the north wall of the Hypostyle Hall, a detailed representation of Ramesses’ great victory at Kadesh can be seen. This victory is thought by contemporary scholars to be more of a draw than an Egyptian triumph. The scholars Oakes and Gahlin claim that these engravings of the battle’s prelude, Give a lively account in both text and reliefs.
In the Egyptian camp, battle preparations are underway. While one soldier gets his wounds dressed, the horses are harnessed or given their feed. Another scene shows a council of war between Ramesses and his officers, as well as the king’s tent. Two Hittite spies are apprehended and tortured until they divulge the real location of the Hittite king Muwatalli. When the battle finally breaks out, the Egyptians charge in orderly formation while the Hittites are in disarray, their chariots crashing, their horses bolting, and their soldiers falling into the River Orontes. Except for the assistance of [the god] Amun, who defends him in battle and ultimately grants him victory, Ramesses faces the entire Hittite army alone in the text (208). The Small Temple is a nearby structure that is 92 feet (28 metres) long and 40 feet (12 metres) tall.
Additionally, the front facade of this temple is adorned with three colossi on either side of the doorway that stand 32 feet tall and show Ramesses and his queen Nefertari (10 metres). The prominence of the queen is demonstrated by the fact that, in contrast to Abu Simbel, where Nefertari is portrayed as being the same size as Ramesses, women are typically depicted on a much smaller scale than pharaohs. The Small Temple is notable for being only the second time in the annals of ancient Egypt that a pharaoh dedicated a temple to his wife.
The first was Pharaoh Akhenaton, who did so for his queen Nefertiti in 1353–1336 BCE. Images of Ramesses and Nefertari making offerings to the gods as well as representations of the goddess Hathor adorn the walls of this temple. Sacred Place It is believed that Ramesses carefully selected the site because it was sacred to Hathor long before the temples were built there. Ramesses is regarded as a god among gods in both temples, and his selection of a place that was already revered by the populace would have accentuated this impression.
The temples are also oriented toward the east, which means that on February 21 and October 21, respectively, the sun shines directly into The Great Temple’s sanctuary, illuminating the statues of Ramesses and Amun. The times are believed to be Ramesses’ birth and coronation dates. The sanctuary of The Great Temple differs from these other sites in that the statue of the god Ptah, who stands among the others, is carefully positioned so that it is never illuminated at any time. The alignment of sacred structures with the rising or setting sun, or with the position of the sun at the solstices, was common throughout the ancient world.
The High Dam at Aswan The Egyptian government intended to construct the Aswan High Dam on the Nile in the 1960s CE, which would have submerged both temples (and also surrounding structures such as the Temple of Philae). Both temples were disassembled, moved 213 feet (65 metres) up onto the plateau of the cliffs they once sat below, and then rebuilt 690 feet (210 metres) to the northwest of their original location between 1964 and 1968 CE. At a cost of over 40 million US dollars, UNESCO spearheaded this project with a multi-national team of archaeologists. A man-made mountain was built to give the appearance that the temples were cut into the rock cliff, and great care was taken to position both temples in precisely the same direction as before. Oakes and Gahlin state the following: A coffer dam had to be constructed before construction could start in order to shield the temples from rising water.
The temples were then sawn into blocks, being careful to place the cuts where they would be hidden when assembled. A reinforced concrete supporting framework held up the interior walls and ceilings. The joints were filled with mortar made of cement and desert sand when the temples were put back together. Because it was done so covertly, it is now impossible to tell where the joins were made. Both temples are currently supported by two enormous reinforced concrete domes inside of an artificial mountain made of rock and debris. All of the smaller statues and stelae that surrounded the complex’s original site were also moved and put in the places where the temples should have been.
After the Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simbel is currently Egypt’s most popular ancient site, and it even has its own airport to accommodate the tens of thousands of visitors who come here each year.
