Abu Simbel at a glance
The Abu Simbel temples stand in Nubia in the far south of Egypt, on the shore of Lake Nasser and in the administrative area of Aswan. The Great Temple was cut into the rock for Ramses II in the 19th dynasty, around 1264 BC. Four seated colossi, about 21 to 22 meters high, guard the entrance. North of it stands the smaller temple of Hathor and Queen Nefertari, with six standing figures on its front. Together they belong to the UNESCO World Heritage property Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, inscribed in 1979.
This guide covers the practical side of a visit: the Abu Simbel temple tickets and opening hours, day trips from Aswan by bus or private car, flights, long tours from Luxor and Cairo, the Sun Festival, the temples from the inside, the relocation, history, the weather and where to sleep. Prices are in Egyptian pounds (EGP) for 2026, tour prices in dollars. They change, so check them before you pay.
Our picks: Abu Simbel tours
For most visitors from Aswan, the group tour with guide and entry is the simple choice; the private car adds your own schedule. Flying from Aswan saves the long drive; from Luxor or Cairo, plan a very long day.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Abu Simbel in one day from Cairo with flights
- Flights Cairo to Aswan and back
- Abu Simbel entry
- Private guide and car
Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and back, then a private car to Abu Simbel with a private guide, the entry and a late lunch.
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Private Abu Simbel trip by flight from Aswan
- Return flights from Aswan
- Abu Simbel entry
- Private guide
Return flights Aswan to Abu Simbel, private transport, a professional guide and the entry, back in about six hours.
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Private day trip to Abu Simbel from Luxor with lunch
- Abu Simbel entry
- Private transport
- Lunch
A long private day by road with the entry, an English-speaking guide at the temple and lunch.
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Abu Simbel by private car with a private guide
- Abu Simbel entry
- Private English-speaking guide
- Private air-conditioned car
A private air-conditioned car from Aswan, your own English-speaking guide and the Abu Simbel entry.
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Abu Simbel group tour with guide and entry
- Abu Simbel entry
- Professional guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Hotel transfers in Aswan, an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional English-speaking guide and the entry.
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Abu Simbel day trip with hotel pickup
- Return transfer from Aswan
- Driver
Return transfer from your Aswan hotel with a driver. The entry and an English-speaking guide depend on the option you book.
Check availability →Abu Simbel tours from Aswan, Luxor and Cairo
Day trips by road, small-group buses and longer tours, with live prices and availability. Check what each tour includes.
Plan your Abu Simbel visit
One page for each question you are likely to have.
Abu Simbel tickets and entrance fee
2026 prices, opening hours, how to buy and the photo rules.
Abu Simbel tours from Aswan
Day trips by bus or private car, with timings and what to check.
Flying to Abu Simbel
The airport, the Aswan and Cairo routes and transfers.
From Luxor or Cairo
Very long day trips and multi-day alternatives.
The Sun Festival
22 February and 22 October, and what to expect.
The Great Temple of Ramses II
The colossi, the halls and the sanctuary.
The Temple of Nefertari
The small temple for Hathor and the queen.
Inside the temples
Halls, reliefs and the sanctuary, plus photo rules.
The UNESCO relocation
How the temples were cut up and rebuilt on higher ground.
History of Abu Simbel
Ramses II, Kadesh and the rediscovery for Europe.
Abu Simbel facts and numbers
Statue heights, dates and costs.
How to get to Abu Simbel
Road trips, flights and transfers.
Lake Nasser cruises
Reaching Abu Simbel by boat from Aswan.
Things to do in Aswan
Philae, the dam and Nubia before you set out.
Weather and best time
Heat, cooler months and crowds.
Where to stay
Overnight stays and the sound and light show.
The two temples in brief
The Great Temple opens onto a pillared hall with eight figures of Ramses II as Osiris, followed by a second hall with four pillars, a vestibule and a sanctuary. In the sanctuary sit four statues: Ptah, Amun-Re, the deified Ramses and Re-Horakhty. The north wall of the large hall shows scenes of the battle of Kadesh.
The smaller temple has a hall with six pillars, a vestibule and a sanctuary, and the goddess Hathor appears as a cow. Queen Nefertari is shown on the front at about the same size as the king. The temple is not her tomb, which lies in the Valley of the Queens.
A few things to know before you go
Details that save money and avoid surprises.
Two ticket prices
A foreign adult pays EGP 750 on a normal day and EGP 1,200 on 22 February and 22 October, the Sun Festival days. Students pay half. The next Sun Festival is on 22 February 2027.
Ticket prices →Opening hours and last entry
The temples open daily from 06:00 to 17:00. The last entry is one hour before closing, at 16:00, and the site does not close at 16:00.
Buy at the gate or online
Both ways work, and online booking is not compulsory. Online shops can show a slightly higher total than the tariff, so look at the final amount before you pay.
The Sun Festival is not an equinox
The two dates are fixed days, 22 February and 22 October. The link to a birthday or coronation of Ramses II is a popular idea, not settled history. The light reaches the sanctuary for a short time only, and no sighting is guaranteed.
Sun Festival →The $80 million belongs to a larger campaign
UNESCO gives $80 million for the whole Nubian rescue campaign with 22 monuments and complexes. The move of the Abu Simbel temples alone is put at $40 million.
Relocation →The sound and light show needs guests
The first show needs at least 10 foreign guests or 50 Egyptian guests. A second show happens only if the first is oversubscribed and at least 10 tourists attend.
Stay overnight →Abu Simbel in the context of southern Egypt
Most visitors combine the temples with a few other stops.
Abu Simbel is usually reached from Aswan. For the city, the Nubian villages and the culture of the region, the Nubian Village guide goes deeper than this page does. If you are looking at a longer Nile trip, the Nile cruise guide explains the options between Luxor and Aswan, and the temples of Thebes have their own guide at Visit Luxor. This site stays with Abu Simbel and the road, the air and the lake that lead to it.
More independent Egypt guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place on the Nile.
Luxor
Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Nile cruises to Aswan.
Nubian Aswan
Gharb Soheil, Elephantine, Philae and day trips to Abu Simbel.
Giza Pyramids
Pyramid tickets, the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Saqqara.
Valley of the Kings
Tomb tickets, Tutankhamun, Hatshepsut and the West Bank of Luxor.
The Nile
Nile cruises from Luxor to Aswan, dahabiyas, feluccas and Lake Nasser.
Karnak Temple
The temple of Amun in Luxor: tickets, the Hypostyle Hall, the light show and the Avenue of Sphinxes.
Abu Simbel: frequently asked questions
How do I get to Abu Simbel?
Most visitors take a guided day trip by road from Aswan, which takes about 3.5 hours each way. You can also fly from Aswan or Cairo, join a long tour from Luxor, or arrive by Lake Nasser cruise. See the pages on getting there, flights and cruises.
How much is the Abu Simbel entrance fee?
For foreign adults it is EGP 750 on a normal day and EGP 1,200 on 22 February and 22 October in 2026. Foreign students pay EGP 375 and EGP 600. Vehicles pay a separate ticket. Details are on the tickets page.
How long should I plan for a day trip from Aswan?
Private-car tours pick you up around 04:00 and take 12 to 14 hours in total. A small-group bus takes about 9 hours. Both include roughly 3.5 hours of driving each way. Read the tours page before you choose.
When is the Sun Festival?
On 22 February and 22 October each year. The next one is on 22 February 2027. Sunlight reaches the statues in the sanctuary for a short time, and the weather decides what you see.
Can I stay overnight at Abu Simbel?
Yes. A common plan is to arrive in the afternoon, watch the evening show and visit the temples the next morning. Read more on the where to stay page.
Is abusimbel.org the official website of the temples?
No. It is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Supreme Council of Antiquities or any tour operator, cruise company or hotel.