Major city · Egypt
Abu Simbelأبو سمبل
Stay one night if you want the temples without the 4AM convoy; otherwise day-trip from Aswan and accept about 2 hours on site.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EGP
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- avoid May–Sep (40°C+ days)avoid May–Sep (104°F+ days)
- Airport
- ABS
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Egypt ↗Check visa rules for your passport on the official Egypt e-visa portal before flying; visa on arrival availability depends on nationality and can change.
- Egypt ↗Drones need prior permission and are routinely confiscated on arrival; leave them at home.
- Egypt ↗Do not photograph military sites, police, bridges or government buildings; some museums and tombs charge for or ban photography.
- Egypt ↗During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight; hotels and tourist restaurants still serve.
Abu Simbel is a village of about 2,000 people on Lake Nasser, 280 km south of Aswan and 40 km from the Sudan border, built around two rock temples cut for Ramses II and Nefertari. In the 1960s UNESCO had both temples sawed into blocks and reassembled uphill before the lake rose. Almost everyone sees them on a convoy day trip from Aswan; a night here buys you the Sound & Light show and a near-empty site at opening.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Abu Simbel, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, also written LE or £E).Egypt-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckVodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) and WE sell tourist SIMs at Cairo airport with passport; about EGP 500–1,000 for 20–40 GB — check.Egypt-wide
- Tap waterTap water is chlorinated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; do not drink Nile water.Egypt-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 10% even when service is added (it rarely reaches staff).Egypt-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Egypt-wide
- SafetyThe area is heavily policed and the temples are safe to visit.
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels and restaurants; attendants at sites expect EGP 10–20.Egypt-wide
- Emergency numbers122 police · 123 ambulance · 180 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysFriday is the weekend day (with Saturday for offices); sites open daily, some close earlier in Ramadan.Egypt-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckABS Abu Simbel Airport (About 4 km from the temples; EgyptAir flies from Aswan, up to four flights daily (check)).ABS Abu Simbel Airport (About 2.5 mi from the temples; EgyptAir flies from Aswan, up to four flights daily (check)).
- Getting aroundThe village is small enough to walk end to end in about 20 minutes.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea at a village caféEGP 30–60
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekcheckEGP 500–1,000
- Museum or sight ticketGreat Temple entryEGP 822 (students EGP 450)
- Budget bedBudget hotel room, a night, per roomEGP 800
- Mid-range bedBudget hotel room, a night, per roomEGP 1,200
- High-end bedBudget hotel room, a night, per roomEGP 1,800
A day, not counting the bed: Budget EGP 1,200 · Mid EGP 2,500 · High EGP 5,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ABS Abu Simbel Airport (About 4 km from the temples; EgyptAir flies from Aswan, up to four flights daily (check))ABS Abu Simbel Airport (About 2.5 mi from the temples; EgyptAir flies from Aswan, up to four flights daily (check))
Weather and climate
Abu Simbel: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
24°C75°F
9°C48°F
0 rd
Feb
26°C79°F
10°C50°F
0 rd
Mar
30°C86°F
14°C57°F
0 rd
Apr
35°C95°F
19°C66°F
0 rd
May
39°C102°F
23°C73°F
0 rd
Jun
41°C106°F
25°C77°F
0 rd
Jul
40°C104°F
25°C77°F
0 rd
Aug
40°C104°F
26°C79°F
0 rd
Sep
39°C102°F
24°C75°F
0 rd
Oct
36°C97°F
22°C72°F
0 rd
Nov
30°C86°F
16°C61°F
0 rd
Dec
25°C77°F
11°C52°F
0 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The village is small enough to walk end to end in about 20 minutes. Hotels sit 10–20 minutes on foot from the temple gate; taxis and hotel shuttles cover the rest. The airport is about 4 km out.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 3–3.5 h by road
Convoy coach or minibus, about 3 h each way; EgyptAir flights from ABS
Book the convoy through your hotel or the Aswan tourist office; confirm at least 2 hours on site before paying.
Lake Nasser cruise (Aswan–Abu Simbel)
overnightDoor to door: Overnight or multi-day
Cruise ship across Lake Nasser
One-way or return sailings link the temples with Nubian sites along the lake.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Village centre (Ramsis Road)
Cafés, cheap hotels and the walk to the temple gate; 10–20 min on foot.
Lake Nasser shore
The resort-style hotels with gardens and pools; 10–20 min walk to the temples, some along a busy road.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- EGP 1,200–2,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- EGP 2,000–3,500 excl. bed
- High
- EGP 3,500+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range double room1 × 1 night × EGP 3,000 | EGP 3,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × EGP 2,500 | EGP 5,000 |
| Convoy day trip from Aswan, return2 × EGP 400 · check | EGP 800 |
| Great Temple entry2 × EGP 820 · check | EGP 1,640 |
| Sound & Light show2 × EGP 1,000 · check | EGP 2,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × EGP 500 · check | EGP 1,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | EGP 1,340 |
| Trip total≈ EGP 7,390 per person per day, bed included | EGP 14,780 |
2026 estimate in Egyptian pounds; flights and tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea at a village café | EGP 30–60 |
| Simple meal (koshari, grilled chicken) | EGP 150–300 |
| Bottle of water | EGP 10–20 |
| Taxi, village to airportAgree the fare first. | EGP 100–200 |
| Great Temple entry | EGP 822 (students EGP 450) |
| Sound & Light show | US$20 (children 6–12 US$11) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a weekcheck | EGP 500–1,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Convoy buses must start back to Aswan by 16:00; miss it and you are stranded.Convoy buses must start back to Aswan by 4:00 PM; miss it and you are stranded.
- Foreigners cannot self-drive here; police escorts and convoys apply.
- Photography inside the temples is by mobile phone only; camera permits are checked.
- It is roughly 10°C colder than Aswan, with strong wind off the lake — bring a jacket even in winter.It is roughly 18°F colder than Aswan, with strong wind off the lake — bring a jacket even in winter.
- Food and drink options are limited; carry water and snacks.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 122
- Ambulance
- 123
- Fire
- 180
- Tourist police
- 126
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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Abu Simbelأبو سمبل
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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إلى العنوان ده، لو سمحتTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police122
- Ambulance123
- Fire180
- Tourist police126
Embassy
No embassies in Abu Simbel; most are in Cairo, with consulates in Aswan for some countries (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Convoy coach Aswan → Abu Simbel, return: EGP 150–350 depending on season and hotel commission (check)
- EgyptAir Aswan → Abu Simbel: about 45 min, fares vary by season (check)
- Taxi village → airport: EGP 100–200
Say or show
- السلام عليكم — Hello (as-salaamu alaykum)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- بكام؟ — How much is it? (bikam?)
- فين المعبد؟ — Where is the temple? (fein el-ma'bad?)
- أنا محتاج دكتور — I need a doctor (ana mehtag doktor)
- لا شكراً — No, thank you (la shukran)
Carry your passport; police checkpoints on the Aswan road ask for it.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Abu Simbel. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Feb · avoid May–Sep (40°C+ days) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for ABS: EgyptAir schedule, transfer time, taxi fallback.
- Two walking clusters with rescue anchors: village centre and the Lake Nasser shore.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Great Temple, Nefertari's Temple, Sound & Light) and eat pages with last orders.
- Convoy and heat fixtures so gates A–D can go green.