Is Abu Simbel Really Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

Abu Simbel is one of the southernmost attractions in Egypt, and in recent years it has become very popular, partly thanks to social media.

The village itself is small, but the two temples on the shore of Lake Nasser attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

When planning a trip to Egypt, many travelers ask the same questions. Is Abu Simbel really worth it? Is the long trip from Aswan or Luxor worth the time and effort? How do you get there and how much does it cost?

After my Egypt trip, I decided to put together this guide with the most important things you should know about visiting Abu Simbel. I will help you decide if it is the right choice for you.

Let’s go through the most important questions step by step:

Who should visit Abu Simbel?

I think visiting Abu Simbel is a good idea if you:

• are especially interested in ancient Egyptian history
• don’t mind long road trips, even driving through the desert, which can feel boring
• enjoy discovering unique places and hidden gems
• can adapt to the strict rules that come with the trip
• love photography and are looking for a special location in Egypt
• haven’t seen a desert mirage before (you might see many on the way).

Who should skip Abu Simbel?

You might want to skip Abu Simbel if you:

• plan to stay only in Upper Egypt, as it’s quite far
• don’t like long car or bus journeys
• are not that interested in visiting yet another Egyptian temple
• are traveling on a low budget, as options here are limited
• need well-developed infrastructure, either for comfort or health reasons.

Pros of visiting Abu Simbel

• You can see one of the most impressive sights in Egypt

The temples truly impress most travelers, and I have to admit, even as a frequent traveler, they amazed me in person.

• You can learn more about ancient Egyptian history

Abu Simbel was built by Ramesses II and has a fascinating story, especially how the temples were relocated to save them. Seeing this in real life gives much more context than just reading about it.

• You can experience a road trip in southern Egypt

The journey itself feels like an adventure. Driving through the desert for hours was a real experience for me, even if it’s not for everyone.

• You might see desert mirages on the way

On the road, you can often see optical illusions caused by the heat. It really looks like water or lakes in the middle of the desert, even though they are not real.

• You can discover Nubian culture

The area around Abu Simbel is part of Nubia, and this was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Everything feels colorful, lively, and different from other parts of Egypt. I especially loved the decorations and local design style, although I couldn’t really find good souvenirs to take home.

• You can watch a light show at the temples

Since we stayed overnight, we had the chance to see the evening light show. It starts around 8 PM and tells the story of the temples with projections and sound. Keep in mind that it’s not always in English, and you may need to pay extra for an audio guide.

• You can take a boat trip on Lake Nasser

I really liked Lake Nasser. It’s calm, scenic, and feels very different from the rest of Egypt. If you have time, a boat trip here is definitely worth it.

Cons of visiting Abu Simbel

• The journey is long and tiring

The road between Aswan and Abu Simbel is only open during certain hours, so planning is important. The drive takes around 3 hours one way, with very limited stops along the way. It can feel exhausting, especially with early departures.

• It can be expensive

Whether you go on a day trip or stay overnight, visiting Abu Simbel is not cheap. Transport, accommodation, entrance tickets, and extras all add up quickly, and there are very few budget options.

• Accommodation is very expensive in Abu Simbel

There are only a few hotels, and prices are quite high compared to the quality. Compared to other destinations in Egypt, the value for money is not great.

• It can feel repetitive if you’ve seen many temples

If you’ve already visited several temples in Egypt, this might not feel very different. In that case, it may not be worth the long journey.

• There are large crowds in the morning

Most day trips arrive very early, often around 7 to 8 AM, which means big crowds. However, many groups leave early, so the area becomes much quieter in the afternoon. I recommend visiting later in the day if possible.

• Staff around the temples can be pushy

Some people ask for tips or money quite aggressively, even compared to other parts of Egypt. Prices for souvenirs and even snacks are also higher here.

• There are limited things to see besides the temples

Abu Simbel is a very small place. Besides the temples and Lake Nasser, there isn’t much else to see, so it can feel a bit boring after a short time.

If you decide to visit Abu Simbel

Here are some travel tips based on my own experience if you’re planning a trip to Abu Simbel:

How to get to Abu Simbel

Most tourists visit Abu Simbel from Cairo or Hurghada.

Of course, you can travel these long distances by bus or car, but I don’t really recommend it, especially not in one day.

From Cairo, the most efficient way is to fly to Aswan, then take another flight to Abu Simbel. However, the schedule is not always easy, and I found it difficult to plan a time-efficient connection.

After arriving in Abu Simbel, you will need to use a taxi or Uber. This is the easiest option, but also the most expensive.

You can check schedules on Google Flights first, then book directly on the airline’s website. Air Cairo, Nile Air, and EgyptAir usually operate these routes.

We chose a different option. We flew from Cairo to Aswan, rented a car there, and then drove to Abu Simbel.

Despite many warnings online, we had no problems at all. We passed two police checkpoints where we were not even stopped, and after about 3 hours of driving, we arrived in Abu Simbel.

In my opinion, this was a cost-effective and flexible solution.

One important thing to know is that the road between Aswan and Abu Simbel is only open between 5 AM and 5 PM, so you need to plan your drive within this time.

Day trip from Aswan or Luxor

If you are already in Luxor or Aswan, you can join a private bus tour or take a private taxi to Abu Simbel.

These options are not cheap. In our case, renting a car was only slightly more expensive, so you won’t really save much, unless you choose the cheapest group tours.

From Luxor, the distance is very long. The journey takes about 6 to 7 hours one way. Because of this, I would not do a Luxor to Abu Simbel trip again in one day, especially not as a round trip. It’s very tiring.

Road conditions are also not like in Western countries, so driving in Egypt can feel more exhausting.

If you travel from Aswan with an organized group bus tour, it’s less tiring, but there is one reason why I didn’t choose this option.

Most group tours leave very early in the morning and arrive between 7 and 9 AM, when the temples are the most crowded.

In the afternoon, when the experience is much better and quieter, they are already heading back to Aswan.

So in my opinion, these tours don’t really focus on the best visitor experience. They follow a fixed schedule and miss the biggest advantage, which is visiting in the afternoon when there are fewer people.

Best time to visit the Abu Simbel temples

As I mentioned before, the best time to visit is not in the morning, when most group tours arrive.

The best time is in the afternoon, when the tour groups slowly leave. After around 2 PM, the area becomes much quieter, and the temples are still open until later in the day.

In my experience, the time between 2 PM and 5 PM is perfect for visiting.

This is one of the biggest advantages of traveling independently, because you can only visit in the afternoon if you are not on a fixed group tour schedule.

How much time to spend in Abu Simbel: Day trip from Aswan or overnight stay?

You only need about 2 to 3 hours to explore the temples, walk around, and enjoy the area. So the visit itself is not very time-consuming, the real challenge is getting there.

You have two main options. You can do a day trip from Aswan and return the same day, or you can stay overnight in Abu Simbel.

We chose to stay overnight. It was not cheap, but it allowed us to see the light show in the evening and visit the temples in the afternoon, which I think is the best time.

Since the road between Aswan and Abu Simbel is only open until 5 PM, planning a same-day trip can be more complicated. Staying overnight makes everything much easier.

I would recommend a day trip mainly for those who want a cheaper option and don’t mind making some compromises with timing and crowds.

Where to eat in Abu Simbel

To be honest, we brought our own food, as it was difficult for me to manage a gluten-free diet in such a small village.

If you’re looking for a restaurant, I found New Abu Simbel Restaurant as a good option, or you can also rely on hotel restaurants.

Conclusion: Is Abu Simbel worth visiting?

So, is Abu Simbel worth it?

In my opinion, yes, but only if it fits your travel style.

If you are truly interested in ancient Egyptian history and don’t mind the long journey, it can be a unique and memorable experience. Seeing the temples in person is impressive, especially if you visit at the right time.

But if you are short on time, on a budget, or already visited many temples in Egypt, you might not feel it’s worth the effort.

For me, it was worth seeing once, but not a must for everyone.