Abu Simbel Full Day Tour From Aswan

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. King Ramses II built the temple of Abu Simbel in the far south of the southern borders of Egypt in order to immortalize the mention of his victories over Egypt's enemies abroad and to establish his authority on the southern borders of the third waterfall of the Nile River. The Temple of Abu Simbel is considered one of the largest temples that the great King Ramses II built and the most beautiful of all. It gives the greatest example of the greatness and skill of ancient Egyptian builders. The location of Abu Simbel Temple was changed because of the necessity of building the High Dam in southern Egypt. The Abu Simbel temples are two massive rock temples at Abu Simbel a village in Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt, near the border with Sudan. They are situated on the western bank of Lake Nasser, about 230 km (140 mi) southwest of Aswan (about 300 km (190 mi) by road). The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments",[1] which run from Abu Simbel downriver to Philae (near Aswan). The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the 19th dynasty reign of the Pharaoh Ramesses II. They serve as a lasting monument to the king and his queen Nefertari, and commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh. Their huge external rock relief figures have become iconic. The complex was relocated in its entirety in 1968 under the supervision of a Polish archaeologist, Kazimierz Michałowski, on an artificial hill made from a domed structure, high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir. The relocation of the temples was necessary or they would have been submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, the massive artificial water reservoir formed after the building of the Aswan High Dam on the River Nile.

   3 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Know before you go

How it compares in Aswan

• Its from-price is 14% above the median of the 312 day trips we list in Aswan.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Aswan

Aswan is Egypt's serene southern city on the Nile, where feluccas glide between granite islands, Nubian villages and palm-fringed riverbanks.

The Nile is at its most beautiful here, broken by granite boulders and green islands. Elephantine Island holds ruins of ancient temples and colourful Nubian villages, Kitchener's Island is covered by a botanical garden, and on the west bank the Tombs of the Nobles are cut into the cliffs of Qubbet el-Hawa, while the domed Mausoleum of the Aga Khan stands on a desert hill further south.

Top-ranked sights in Aswan: Abu Simbel Temples, Philae Temple (Temple of Isis), Aswan High Dam.

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