Abu Simbel Trip

Abu Simbel Temple

Abu Simbel is a truly unique archaeological site located in southern Egypt, very close to the Sudanese border. The site consists of two massive temples carved into a mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the reign of King Ramesses II. What’s super famous about this place is that it was completely moved in the 1960s to save it from flooding after the Aswan High Dam was built.

The Great Temple (Ramesses II’s Temple):

• The Facade: The main thing you’ll see are the four huge, seated statues of Ramesses II, each about 20 meters tall. One of them is damaged, with its head and upper body having fallen off.
• Inside: You’ll find a massive hall with eight huge pillars, each one a statue of Ramesses II dressed as the god Osiris. The walls are covered in carvings showing the king’s victories in the famous Battle of Kadesh.

The Small Temple (Hathor and Nefertari’s Temple):

• The Facade: This temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, Ramesses II’s wife, and the goddess Hathor. The facade has six carved statues—four of Ramesses II and two of Nefertari.
• Inside: The carvings inside show Queen Nefertari making offerings to the gods, which is pretty rare in ancient Egyptian temples and shows how important she was.

Cool Photo Spots & Things to See

• The Giant Ramesses II Statues: This is the ultimate photo op. Snapping a picture standing near the foot of one of these statues really shows off how massive they are.
• The Temples from the Outside: The best angle for a photo is from a bit of a distance so you can get both temples in the same shot.
• Lake Nasser: The temples sit on the shore of the beautiful Lake Nasser, which provides an amazing natural backdrop for your photos.
• Inside the Temples: While photography inside might be limited, seeing the colorful carvings and detailed scenes on the walls is a breathtaking experience on its own.