Abu Simbel: Temples and Cultural History
Accommodation in Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is shaped above all by the Great Temple, which Ramses II had carved into the living rock around 1264 BC. This gives the place a clear cultural focus. When looking for a holiday rental, you can consider whether Abu Simbel itself should be the centre of your trip, or whether you would also like to include the wider destination of Aswan, with its other cultural and natural attractions.
Getting there and a cultural event
Abu Simbel Airport is located in the city of Abu Simbel in Aswan Governorate. It serves as an important gateway for travellers visiting the temples of Abu Simbel and other destinations in southern Egypt. It was established in 1969 to make it easier for tourists and other visitors to get there. This connects the specific location with a broader interest in travel to southern Egypt.
The Sun Alignment celebrations also show the connection between culture and the temple: in the 2019 programme, they concluded with a joint artistic performance at the Temple of King Ramses II in Abu Simbel. If you want an event to determine your travel dates, check the latest event dates in advance.
Aswan as a wider cultural region
In the wider destination of Aswan, the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae form a serial World Heritage site comprising ten components in Aswan Governorate. The Great Temple of Abu Simbel is therefore part of a broader cultural context that also encompasses other monuments, each with its own history.
The main temple at Philae was begun by Ptolemy II Philadelphus and dedicated to the goddess Isis. During UNESCO’s Nubian Campaign in the 1960s, the monuments of Philae were relocated to Agilkia Island to protect them from flooding caused by the Aswan High Dam. The temples of Philae can only be reached by boat; check the current access arrangements before visiting.
Kalabsha, too, tells of different historical uses and changes. The temple bears inscriptions in Meroitic and Greek; its sanctuary was used as a church. In 1962–1963, the temple was relocated from Kalabsha Island to New Kalabsha Island.
The Unfinished Obelisk is located in the Aswan quarry. Work was abandoned because of flaws in the stone and several cracks. Had the obelisk been completed, it would have weighed 1,168 tonnes and stood about 42 metres tall. Its dimensions make the planned scale tangible, while its abandonment reveals the limits of the material.
Museum, landscape and regional activities
The wider destination of Aswan also includes the Nubian Museum. It opened in 1997, and its design is inspired by traditional local Nubian architecture. The main exhibition hall and the diorama present local traditions and Nubian craftsmanship; the museum garden serves as an open-air museum. The region’s cultural heritage therefore encompasses traditions and crafts as well as temple history.
Aswan Governorate encompasses the Nile, nature reserves, and extensive desert and mountain landscapes. Leisure activities include kayaking and cycling along the Nile, with Mount Abulhawa and Nabatat Island as destinations. Fishing in the Nile and Lake Nasser is also possible. For specific activities, check the latest arrangements in advance.
For your holiday rental search, the difference between the travel profiles can be summed up as follows: Abu Simbel focuses on the Great Temple and its connection with the 2019 celebrations; the wider destination of Aswan offers a broader view of Nubian monuments, the museum, the Nile and the landscapes. First decide which of these focuses you want to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Wahat Al Farafirah, Abydos, Al Khārijah, Dakhla Oasis, Al Qaşr.
Go to the wider travel overview: Al-Wadi Al-Dschadid.
