Not the easiest to get to, but worth the effort. Abu Simbel lies south of Aswan, and aside from being 2 sets of towering statues to interesting chambers, holds fame from being raised from it’s original position to keep it from being covered by the waters of the new Aswan Dam.
Looking at tour groups offering a visit to Abu Simbel, the choice was a 3hr there, and 3hr back guard escorted road trip; a very expensive optional flight down & back; or included flight there & back which was the case on the Intrepid tour I booked..
One tour group wanted close to AUD$700 as an optional extra, and for that return flight cost, I would not have bothered even after having visited. Booking a flight direct was closer to $400 however and less at times, but the flights are unreliable, with little notice cancellations occurring, and website booking on Egyptair unprofessional at best. 4 of our tour group had to catch a plane the day before scheduled due to an Egyptair flight cancellation.
Then you have to endure security at Abu Simbel, who had us go through shoes/belts/phones/wallets off etc TWICE in 30 metres, once to enter the terminal after a painstakingly slow check of our passports, and again at the departure gate. Slow, painful, and almost enough of a reason not to ever bother. Abu Simbel airport is NOT a tourism ambassador.
But, if you understand in advance, you have to go through this dog & pony process, the Abu Simbel Temples are worth the venture. Just don’t take photo’s inside. Like Valley of the Kings, I witnessed guards demand to check phones and cameras, and delete any photo’s taken. It’s all not worth the hassle.
