We will be in egypt in august for a 9 day Trafalgar tour,
one of the optional tours, is flying to Abu Simbel, where
you spend 90 mins. This trip is very expensive to do & we
are on a tight budget.......is it something we can miss,
or a "must not be missed tour?"
Thanks for any feedback
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I've been to Egypt a few times and only once went to Abu
Simbel. It is worth the trip because you may not go back
again. There would also be cheaper ways to get there, but
the drive is about 3-4 hours each way. It is a unique
monument and you can see the whole place in 90 mins, but
you will find that there are a million other tourists
there. If you can get there just after sun up the crowds
are less, but the temple itself may not be open. Also, the
toilets are PUTRID, or at least they were when I was there.
I mean, knock-out smells......go to the loo before you
leave for Abu Simbel.
Abu Simbel is not to be missed. The scale of the temple
built by Ramses II to deify himself is unbelievable. By
the time I went to Abu Simbel (I flew as well), I had been
to Giza, Saqqara, and all the tombs and temples in Luxor.
I was pretty jaded, but Abu Simbel impressed me greatly.
As far as getting there another way, I'm not sure it is
even possible anymore. In Jan 98, the driving option was
nonexistent because of the unrest between Luxor and Aswan,
so flight was the only option. I don't think you can get
there another way.
Go and you will not be disappointed.
Like the above post, I had seen countless temples & ruins
before going to Abu Simbel but am very glad I forked over
the money and went. It truly is an amazing place. I went
in September 1998 and the road was still closed, so flying
was the only option. One of the locals told me that
Egyptair had bribed the government to keep the road closed
longer than necessary in order to maintain its monopoly of
getting tourists in and out (hence the expensive price tag).
I have no idea if that's true or not, but regardless, I'd
say you will get your money's worth. Yes, there will be
millions of people there when you arrive, but if you linger
behind your group and let them enter the temple first, you
might find yourself virtually alone with the huge stone
carvings, as I did. Amazing how quiet it can outside get
after everyone goes inside all at once...
I had a really spooky dream after I went to Abu Simbel. I woke up in the middle of the night standing on my bed after dreaming that I was back in the tomb...............Spoooooooooooky. Maybe call MISR travel. They are all over the world and should know the update on how you actually get to Abu. Or if not try the Egyptian Consulate/Embassy....but they can be a bit useless - depends who you get.
While Abu Simbel is nice, it in no way
matches Luxor West Bank or Karnak. Ramses went for
monumentalism, not artistry, and the statues, paintings,
and hieroglyphs are not at Luxor levels. There is also the
definite
taste of artificiality about it (the door to the right of
the main temple leads you into the middle of the hollow
mountain of steel and concrete built to support the facade).
But if you do go, there are cheaper ways than prebooked
tours.
From April 1998: Standard return airfare (including
transport from the airport to the site) is USD 135, but
there are frequent
speical deals through American Express or Misr Travel, such
as one for USD85 return that requires you to spend no
more than two hours at the site before returning (this is
sufficient and the flight schedules are arranged for this).
When you fly (typically a Boeing 737-200 of Air Sinai) sit
on the left side (no assigned seats), which has good views
of Lake Nasser, and Sudan in the distance. Just before
landing you get a good view for two minutes off the left of
the Abu Simbel temples. Admission to Abu Simbel is EGP
36.50 (19.50 student) including a EP4 guide fee but I never
saw the guide.
I did not go to Abu Simbel due to the costs and I really
regret it. I probably won't get back to Egypt so I'll never
get to see it. It my seem expensive but I think it is well
worth it. Also when you get home all the pictures you see of
Egypt have Abu Simbel - a constant reminder of what I
missed! Enjot It!
Agree with the above posts...it's an incredible site, and
ought not be missed. It's bloody incredible how they
rescued it from the advancing Lake Nasser by carving it all
up, moving it, and then reassembling it. And, with all the
technology available in the 60s, they still didn't get it
done as precicely as the original builders. Definitely see
it!! You won't regret the time in the least.
Abu Simbel is a must! Perhaps my opinion is influenced by the fact that I didn't have to spend on a flight - when i went, it was possible to go from Aswan by shared taxi with other travellers. But it was the sight that made the most impact on me of all the monuments I visited in Egypt. I can appreciate the point made in a previous post that the Luxor monuments can be said to have more artistic merit. But the combination of dramatic setting and sheer grandeur of scale is, I think, unequalled in Abu Simbel.
you have all convinced me that it is worth the money, so we
will definitely not miss this opportunity.Thankyou
everybody for the advise, it is much appreciated!!!!!
We will let you know what we thought upon our return.