Abu Simbel Hotels

Abu Simbel Rundown

What a job it must have been to relocate the temples of Abu Simbel, bit by precious bit, and save the peerless ancient monnuments of Nubia from the brink of a Nile deluge. The epic deliverance of the Abu Simbel temples from the Aswan High Dam casualty list began in 1964 by a crack multinational unit of archaeologists, engineers and heavy machinery operators under the charge of UNESCO. Without precedent or prototype, the salvage took four years, $40 million and, one can assume, a lot of blood, sweat and tears! ... Read more »

One can also assume that many of the millions who visit Abu Simbel every year have no idea that were it not for a few strident advocates decades ago, they would need to strap on a scuba kit to see the complex. Indeed, it is hard to imagine tourism in Egypt today without the venerable temples. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, the “Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae”, was made official in 1979 at the same time as the ensemble at Memphis and Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur. While the trip from Aswan is a speedy in and out for most, more and more intrepid travellers have come to embrace Egypt below the Tropic of Cancer. The recent ascent of the “Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe”, just over the border in north Sudan, to the UNESCO World Heritage family is a surefire signal that the former bosom of Nubia and the Kingdom of Kush has inherent treasures galore!

WHEN TO GO

If Aswan is a furnace, Abu Simbel, hours to the south, is even more so. A temporary respite from the oppressive swelter between December and February makes the short desert winter a popular time for tourists. With balmy and comfortable weather between 50°F (10°C) and 79°F (26°C), it makes a lot of sense to visit sometime before or after the Christmas holidays, despite the crowds!

If you do come between June and September, prepare for temperatures in the 75°F (24°C) to 111°F (44°C) range. Needless to say, drink a lot of water and stay out of the sun!

GETTING AROUND

Aswan International Airport serves Cairo, Luxor, London-Gatwick and operates shuttles to tiny Abu Simbel Airport, which offers service to and from the likes of Copenhagen, Dubai, Doha and Jakarta!

Security concerns make Abu Simbel inaccessible by private car. For now, foreign nationals must take a special tourist bus or taxi from Aswan, with police escort, to navigate the three hour trip. For speed and convenience, a plane is the best bet. Some, however, prefer to take a leisurely cruise from Aswan on Lake Nasser!

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