Hello,
We'll be heading to our first Nile cruise at the beginning of December. Now I'm wondering if we should also book an optional tour to Abu Simbel. I'm a little bit concerned about the departure times - apparently in the middle of the night. Would you recommend to do this tour? Are those temples so much more impressive than those which can be seen during the "usual" cruise? So is it really worth getting up so early, spending so much time?
Well if yes, is it worth choosing a more expensive plane trip? Does it save a lot of time regarding a bus trip (also in the morning/night...)?
As to the weather: is it already that hot in Abu Simbel at the beginning/mid of December? I've read about 40°C and more, but don't know the month.
Many thanks for your help in advance!
Nic

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I would recommend going to Abu Simbel if you get the chance. It has a lovely setting on the banks of Lake Nasser and it was an amazing feat of engineering to move the temples uphill from the rising waters after the Aswan dam was built.

You can go by coach in a road convoy from Aswan. I think it leaves about 3 - 4am and usually arrives around dawn. It takes about 2 - 3 hours but you can sleep on the coach. Remember to ask for a breakfast box from your hotel/ship to take with you. The temples are amazing and it would be a shame to miss them (assuming that you have the time and energy to visit them).

I've seen them twice now and personally I would recommend going on an overnight air trip if you have that option. The first time I went, I flew down from Aswan and visited the temples in the afternoon when hardly nobody else was about. You have free range to wander around them and the security man don't mind too much if you take photos (even though you're not supposed to). The temples are in the middle of nowhere and the silence is amazing. I stayed in a hotel about a ten minute walk away. I then saw the sound and light show in the evening and even had time to get up early the next morning and walk to the temples to see the sunrise before flying back to Aswan.

If you go by coach you will arrive with coach-loads of other people and it can get very crowded and noisy. I did that the 2nd time and found it a very difficult experience. If going by coach is your only option, then you will still enjoy your visit but perhaps not appreciate the temples and their setting quite as much.

As for temperatures, I went in December and January and it was very pleasant. Warm, dry and sunny but never so hot that it was unbearable.

You'll have a great time in Egypt, it's a wonderful country.

Abu Simbel is wonderful!

In its outlay and exterior it is unique; not to be compared with any other tempel in Egypt. The fact that Ramses II wanted to have a tempel there to commemorate him in alliance with his favourite wife Nefertari is something that will make the romantic types feel attracted. He couldn't do that in Lower Egypt. The priests would never accepted that: the pharao was a god, not his wife. But Ramses loved his Nefertari so much he build this tempel for her, so that she would be remembered next to him. He also build the most beautiful tomb for her in the Valley of Queens. So delicate that it is closed to the public to preserve the excellent murals and paintings nowadays.
He also portrayed himself as Atum with Nefertari as Muth in the Tempel of Karnak in a very affectionate way. The mural was covered by the priests, because gods would never show this kind of affection (see my Luxor page).

In Abu Simbel Ramses could express his love for Nefertari; it was far away from the priests in Karnak and the people of Nubia seemed to love Nefertari.

I have been there twice: first time in the convoy. You will need to raise at about 3am. We gathered at 3.30am for a coffee and hand out of breakfast box before we left to Convoy road. The convoy will leave at about 4.30am. You will see the sunrise in the desert. Be sure to take a seat on the left side of the bus! You will arrive at about 9.30am with hundreds of other people.
I hate crowds! I didn't like it! I felt pushed, lost my husband and group while there. Never saw Nefertari's Tempel because I was looking for hubby and company. Before I knew it we were forced into the bus on our way back. As far as I am concerned a big waste of money.

Second time I went there by cruise and that would still be my favorite way to go there, but it will take you 4 days. The ship docks right in front of the Tempels. We weren't in a group so we could pick our time to visit them and had them practically to ourselves.

The guards will allow you to take pictures (for a baksheesh). DON'T DO IT!!! Or at least without flash! The flash will ruin the murals! Please show some respect and save these monuments for your children and grandchildren....

The cruise will take 4 days and I think you will not have the time.
If you can afford it the plane is a good option!

Thank you very much for your replies - both are very helpful and informative. Actually, I have asked everyone I know having already made a Nile cruise if it's worth visiting Abu Simbel. And everyone told me to go there. And I surely believe it must be a stunning place. But it often depends on the circumstances. Therefore, I appreciate the negative things you told me about the convoi things.
Well we'll have to think about it. As I neither like to get up in the middle of the night (unfortunately, I can't sleep in busses) nor crowds, maybe it might be advisable to postpone this trip and spend a relaxed day at Assuan instead. A short cruise at Nasser lake seems to be most appealing to me. Maybe I can combine it with Cairo some day (Cairo is not included in our tour, but I'd love to see the pyramids once!). Maybe you have gained experience with this combination?

hi nick
If you dont want to go to Abu Simbel thats your call but;-
you have traveled a long way to get the start of the "convoy"
They are close to the most impresive temples in the country and you'll miss out.
Ok you'll be tired - we were - but 2 weeks later we've got the memories, (couldnt find a Tshirt :-))
I'm sure we'd have regretted not going.

Your hotel /boat will happily (for a price) book you a private car / small group mini bus tour and you'll be back mid afternoon on time for a nap if the big bus does not appeal



above all enjoy the trip and have a great time
Don

If this is a once in a lifetime trip and you can never see yourself going to Egypt ever again, then yes...go for it, cram Abu Simbel into your itinerary. But you said you would like to return to see the Pyramids (and there's more to Cairo than just Pyramids! Lots to see....), and taking the more relaxed cruise down to Abu Simbel does sound the best option...so maybe leave Abu Simbel out this time...you won't be wasting your time with an extra day in Aswan.

;@P

vdoortje: Why does the cruise take 4 days?! Where else does it take you? And how long do you get at Abu Simbel? I've floated past Abu Simbel on the ferry from Aswan down to Sudan...it was quite an old decrepit ferry, and we passed Abu Simbel about 10 hours after leaving Aswan...the modern cruise ships would surely be much faster? Just curious... ;@p

Maykal,

This is a holiday cruise; it doesn't need to reach Sudan in 10 hours. People are relaxing there and enjoying the scenery. The ship will leave from Kalabsha near the High Dam in Aswan after you have visited the Tempel there. Than it will sail Lake Nasser and dock at several places like Amada Tempel, Dakka Tempel and Qasr Ibrim. The ship will take its time at each place for the passengers to visit the sites. It will stay at Abu Simbel at least a day so you can enjoy all of it.

Why the hurry??

;-) Dora.

Ok, I didn't realise there were other places the boats stopped at! I'm all for slow travel...I just couldn't understand, if our slooow slooow ferry to Sudan could get to Abu Simbel in 10 hours, why did the cruises take so much longer...

Are the other stops on the cruise places worth seeing?

;@P

Nick,

Our first visit to Egypt was a "once in a lifetime" visit. Just the 8 day cruise from Luxor to Aswan and back. We felt the need to enjoy it all and booked all the extra excursions. It costed us a fortune and all we saw was the "touristy" side of Egypt. I am not claiming I am not a tourist but it made me feel the urge for more.

After we returned home I felt homesick to Egypt; I wanted more. I searched the Internet and made friends there and this made me plan our second trip, and third and fourth. Now we are planning our 6th trip.

I heared of the cruise to Abu Simbel so I included that in our 4th trip and I loved it. Egypt can make you addicted.
I always say: just give me an excuse to go there again! Had some very good excuses in the past and have some again! LOL!

Save something for another trip. Egypt has so much to offer!

Yes, Maykal,

Specially Ammada Temple! It has murals, so vivid, unique in Egypt! Qasr Ibrim seems also a unique place, because it has artefacts of a 3.500 year history. First inhabitants in pharaonic times. Then a Chistian cathedral and monastery, then some Islamic inhabitants. We sailed along to see the ruines. Bulk tourists are banned there. But a small group can visit the excavations.

Not for cruise passengers. But there are fishermen in Aswan that will offer trips to tourists across Lake Nasser with fishing and a trip to Qasr Ibrim. Look at my Aswan pages.