egypt abu simbel

Along with the Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza, the great temples of Abu Simbel are one of Egypt's most iconic images.

Built by Rameses II in the 13th Century BC, four enormous statues of the king flank the entrance of the impressive façade. The specific alignment of the stones means that the sun's rays light the statues in the innermost sanctuary of the Greater Temple on only two days a year, thought perhaps to have marked the King's birthday and coronation day. This spectacular feat of ancient engineering had to be repeated in the 1960s when UNESCO undertook a massive rescue operation to save the temples from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, disturbed by the building of the Aswan High Dam. The original stones were re-laid further from the river, recreating the grand stature of the mystical temples.

 If you're fascinated by the majestic monuments of Ancient Egypt, we recommend you fly to Abu Simbel where private guiding can be arranged. Alternatively, you could take the cruise on the Kasr Ibrim, which travels Lake Nasser from the Aswan High Dam to Abu Simbel.