ABU SIMBEL, EGYPT - DEC 3, 2014: Interior of The Great Temple of Ramesses II on the sunrise, Abu Simbel, Egypt. One of the main sights of Egypt
238975873
archaeological, relief, tomb, stone, sculpture, travel, rock, statue, culture, landmark, queen, history, god, egypt, dynasty, africa, lake, nile, building, nasser, religious, tourist, historic, egyptian, enormous, ramses, nubian, world, unesco, famous, heritage, architecture, temple, interior, king, pharaoh, highlight, religion, ancient, monument, colossus, memorial, archaeology, faraon, ramesses, abu, simbel, nefertari, faraonic

©Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock

Temples of Abu Simbel

Top choice


Overlooking Lake Nasser, the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor, which together make up the Temples of Abu Simbel, are among the most famous and spectacular monuments in Egypt. In a modern marvel of engineering, which matches Ramses II's original construction for sheer audacity, the temple complex was saved from being swallowed by rising waters and lost forever after the building of the High Dam, by being moved lock, stock and barrel to the position it sits upon today.

A higher price (LE240/120) is charged on 22 February and 22 October.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Great Temple of Ramses II

0.02 MILES

Carved out of the mountain on the west bank of the Nile between 1274 and 1244 BC, this imposing main temple of the Abu Simbel complex was as much…

2. Temple of Hathor

0.04 MILES

Next to the Great Temple of Ramses II sits the smaller of Abu Simbel's temples. The Temple of Hathor has a rock-cut facade fronted by six 10m-high…