Things to do in Abu Simbel

No. 5 of Night Attractions in Egypt

Abu Simbel Temples

Abu Simbel Temples are located on the west bank of Lake Nasser in southern Egypt, consisting of two rock temples carved into the cliffside. They are a grand architectural complex commissioned by Pharaoh Ramesses II of the 19th Dynasty of ancient Egypt in the 13th century BC. The temple complex's pylon, colossal rock-cut statues, hypostyle halls, and inner sanctuary were all carved directly from the mountain rock, intended to demonstrate national power to the southern Nubian region. The Great Templefeatures four seated statues of Ramesses II, each approx. 20m high, standing at the front. Passing through the hypostyle hall into the inner sanctuary, you can see four seated stone statues of deities. Two mornings each year, sunlight penetrates the entire temple to shine directly into the depths of the sanctuary, illuminating three of the statues, while only the god of the underworld, Ptah, remains in the shadows. This ingenious astronomical design was largely preserved after the temple's relocation and is a unique highlight of Abu Simbel. Between 1964 and 1968, due to rising water levels in Lake Nasser caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the temple complex was cut into blocks and relocated to a site approx. 60m higher than the original location. This rescue relocation is considered a classic project in the history of cultural heritage preservation.

Temple of Nefertari

The Temple of Nefertari is one of the most iconic structures in ancient Egyptian history and is part of the Abu Simbel site. The facade of the temple is carved with six colossal statues, four of which are of Ramesses II, and the other two are of Nefertari. Notably, the statues of Nefertari are almost the same height as those of the pharaoh, which is extremely rare in ancient Egyptian art, reflecting the significant status Nefertari held in the heart of Ramesses II. The interior walls of the temple are decorated with exquisite reliefs and murals of high artistic value. Furthermore, the temple's construction techniques are a model of ancient Egyptian engineering. The temple's construction made full use of the local rock terrain, employing a rock-cut architectural style that allowed it to blend seamlessly with the surrounding natural environment. This design not only enhanced the stability of the temple but also allowed it to remain well-preserved after thousands of years of weathering and erosion.

No. 13 of Best Things to Do in Egypt

Philae Temple

Philae Temple is dedicated to the goddess of love, Isis. Philae was originally a small island in the Nile River south of the Aswan Dam, where the temple was first built. After the completion of the Aswan Low Dam in 1902, Philae Island would be flooded during the flood season, and travelers arriving by boat could only see the temple gates and stone columns protruding above the water. The temple walls preserve numerous hieroglyphic inscriptions and vivid reliefs, primarily worshiping Isis, while deities like Hathor also received offerings here. Legend says Isis possessed ten thousand names; she governed fertility and was also the protector of the people, widely revered in ancient Egypt.

No. 5 of Cool Water Escapes in Egypt

Agilkia Island

Agilkia Island is an island in the Nile, located in Lake Nasser south of Aswan. The island is home to thePhilae Temple complex, which was relocated in its entirety from thePhilae Templesite. Between 1977 and 1980, the complex was dismantled stone by stone, numbered, and reconstructed here. To accommodate the temple, the island itself was leveled and reshaped to replicate the original terrain of thePhilae Templeas closely as possible. Visitors must take a boat from Aswan, and the short journey on the Nile is an experience in itself. The sound and light show held on the island in the evening uses lighting and narration to tell the myth of Isis and Osiris, and the silhouette of the temple against the night sky creates a unique atmosphere.

Sound and Light Show - Abu Simbel

The Sound and Light Show at the Abu Simbel Temples in the New Valley Governorate is a popular tourist activity. This performance uses music and lighting to illuminate the monuments at night, showcasing the history and culture of ancient Egypt.

No. 7 of Night Attractions in Egypt

Kom Ombo Temple

An hour's drive from Aswan takes you to the Temple of Kom Ombo, which means "Golden City" in ancient Egyptian. It is located on a small hill by the Nile and was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty. Like other temples, it also has tall stone pillars and temples that look desolate because of dilapidation, but what is different is that it has two gates. One gate is dedicated to the eagle god Horus (Haroeris) and the other is dedicated to the crocodile god (Sobek), so the temple of Kam Ombo is also known as the "double temple".

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Aswan

The High Dam

The Aswan Dam is located on the Nile River, 900 kilometers south of Cairo, Egypt. The arc-shaped arch bridge is 111 meters high. It is 40 meters wide at the  3830 meters long. When it was built, it formed Lake Nasser. Standing by the dam, overlooking the vast and misty Nasser Reservoir, the lakes and mountains, the egrets are flying in front of the Xisai Mountain, and the fishing boats are dotted and sparkling. In addition to the boundless water surface on both sides of the dam, there are many water conservancy facilities, such an industrialized scene is rare in Egypt. Walking slowly upstream from the main dam, you can see the emergency spillway on the right and the dam's grand power station on the left. The low-lying places are composed of low and high layers of cinnamon soil steps, piles of accumulated stones and piles of yellow sand on the shore, all of which have left the historical imprint of the construction of the project.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Aswan

Nubian Village Aswan

Nubian Village Aswan is located on the west bank of the Nile, across the river from downtown Aswan. The journey to the village is an experience in itself: take a felucca or motorboat from the riverside pier, crossing the waterways near Elephantine Island, which once served as the ancient boundary between Egypt and Nubia, with date palm groves and exposed granite reefs lining the banks along the way. This is a settlement for the Nubian people, many of whose ancestors relocated here due to the construction of the Aswan Dam. Today, the exterior walls of the houses are painted in bright blues, oranges, and yellows, with geometric patterns and murals depicting daily life extending from the walls to the doors and windows, making the entire village look like a spread of color. The village still preserves the Nubian language, music, dance, and hospitality traditions. Camels roam the dirt paths and are available for rides; some families keep crocodiles in their courtyards, continuing the local tradition of raising them, and sometimes you can even see baby crocodiles up close; many families will invite guests into their homes to serve sweet and sour hibiscus tea, offer a taste of home-cooked Nubian meals, and chat about their lives to the rhythm of drums and singing. The small market near the village entrance sells handmade beads, silver jewelry, scarves, and painted pottery, all featuring distinct Nubian patterns. Compared to temples and tombs, this place presents a vivid and lively side of Egypt that is worth slowing down to explore.

Sobek Park & Farm

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Aswan

Unfinished Obelisk

Aswan's unfinished obelisk, a huge pity for ancient Egyptian stonemasons, but an awe-inspiring sight for tourists, is Egypt's heavier monolithic stele . The obelisk is about 42 meters long and weighs about 1168 tons. If the inscription is completed, it will be the heavier monolithic stone building in Egypt. The obelisk was not completed, possibly because a crack appeared in the middle of the stone. The obelisk is still attached to the parent rock in the Northern Quarries, which the ancient Egyptians used to mine granite. This huge obelisk has some interesting nicks and pictograms of dolphins and various birds.