Abu Simbel

The first convoy leaves at 3.45 a.m and is back at 12.30. You will have two hours in AbuSimble.

With the first convoy you can choose:
• reserve seats in a minibus for 100 EGP each (= "car sharing" - not really advised, these busses are full up to the last jumpseat, some people snore, some dont wear fresh clothes)

• reserve a car with driver (f. ex. Toyota Corolla, space for 2-3 persons): 500 EGP
• reserve a minibus with driver (space for 8 persons): 650 EGP for all

The second convoy leaves at 11 a.m and will be back at 7 p.m. With the second convoy there is no "car-sharing" possible. Which leaves:
• reserve a car with driver (f. ex. Toyota Corolla, space for 2-3 persons): 500 EGP
• reserve a minibus with driver (space for 8 persons): 650 EGP for all

Meeting at the reception of your hotel will be 15 to 30 minutes before departure of the convoy. Of course all vehicles have air condition.

Advices:

Photographing is not allowed inside the temples.
Guides are also not allowed inside the temples. Thats why I recommend to buy this book instead (I have no contact to the publisher in any way). It is available at Egyptian airports and in souvenirshops in Aswan and Abu Simbel for about 80 EGP. It has beautiful pictuers and good descriptions. I would suggest to read some before leaving to Abu Simbel and reread after your return. Like this you will have beautiful memories which cannot be forgotten.

These who would like to stay longer, to see the monument at off-peak-hours, or who would love to see the Sound&Light-Show in the evening, take one convoy to get there and must return with the same driver the next day (The driver must register you for the journey there and your return - bureaucracy is not easy ... Unfortunately you will have to pay double price for this kind of journey). Staying overnight is possible.
My opinion about the Sound And Light Show in Abu Simbel: not the best one in Egypt ... 30 minutes slight show, at the end blue lasers, then 10 minutes to make photos from the (very nicely!, see picture) illuminated statues. I stayed at Nefertari (4*hotel), didnt like the food and got an aching back from the bed.
More informations (without responsibility taken): http://www.soundandlight.com.eg/Default.aspx

" .... The next morning at 3:00 am., Waleed was at the hotel to introduce us to the drivers who will take us to 3:45 convon to Abu-Simbel. I was worried that the round trip (540 km) will be too much for us but it turned out ok. Nobody complained. The drivers were polite and very careful and alert which was very important to us. I could hear that Walee was always in contact with the driver to check how everything was going. The sight of Abu-Simbel temples exhilirated us. I am glad aswan_individual could offer it..." Madeleine Vega, Los Angeles
More comments in our guestbook

It is 4 a.m. and the convoy is gathering together. „Why at this early time before any healthy man is getting up?“ I ask the driver, „because we will be back before the day becomes real hot“. Good argument. Beside this, there is a second convoy at 11 a.m. I have the chance to sit in the front beside the driver. In the back of the minibus light snoring from eleven different nationalities drowns the sound of the motor. The sleeping people do not see the stars and the moon above the desert. They do not see how the sky is building a luminous stripe in the east and the red sun getting up like fire.

After 280 km, 40 km from the frontier to Sudan, we arrive at 7.30 a.m. on the parking lot behind Abu Simbel. "10 a.m. we will meet again here, the bus will not wait.“ At the ticket counter people are pushing to get a ticket.
One has to walk around the mountain (the cupola of the monument), marvelling at the grotesque shapes of the coasts of Lake Nasser, and the sudden sight around the corner is taking your breath away ... The Temple of Ramses II (1279 – 1213 BC) is so huge and powerful, a second smaller temple beside having been built for his wife Nefertari and God Horus. Four Ramses are sitting beside each other, all statues being 20 meters high. Head and upper part of the body of one of the hulks fell after an earthquake down to his own feet. Time is short if one wants to see both temples from the inside. Because all tourists are coming with the same convoy there is a lot of tailgating.

But in spite of all this fidgetiness a big calm is lowering down on the visitor after entering the halls inside. The old statues upraise themselves. Paintings grace the walls and in the sanctuary of the big temple, four archaic Gods (inclusive Ramses) are waiting to meet the light of the sun, which will fall down on them every 21st of february and 21st of october, to wander from one to another, taking 10 minutes time all together. Abu Simbel is one of the most impressive places I ever saw.


Flights with Egypt Air

Aswan Individual is not a travel agency / travel company and cannot book flights for you. But we are frequently asked. In this case we recommend to go "around the corner" to the next travel agency near your home, or to write to Uwe Kossmann (www.mywayoftravel.de), a travel agency in Berlin, who works with Egypt Air and can book flights for you, if you pay with credit card. His website is in German, but if you write to his email adress info@my-way-of-travel.de, he will answer you in English.

This is a copy from an email to one of our guests (Sept 2009):

Dear Mr xxx,
thanks for your request.

It´s the policy of EGYPT AIR to have those flights on waitinglist first. Unusual but normal for this airline. In thirty years of being in the business, I never got a confirmation at the time of reservation.
It takes about some days up to a maxiumum of three weeks to get a confirmation status

Flights to Abu Simbel are:

MS 145 ASW ABS 0555 0640
MS 245 ASW ABS 0630 0715
MS 369 ASW ABS 0655 0740
MS 147 ASW ABS 0825 0910
MS 247 ASW ABS 0900 0945
MS 371 ASW ABS 0925 1010
MS 149 ASW ABS 1050 1135
MS 249 ASW ABS 1130 1215
MS 373 ASW ABS 1155 1240

Flights back to Aswan are:

MS 146 ABS ASW 0710 0755
MS 246 ABS ASW 0745 0830
MS 370 ABS ASW 0810 0855
MS 148 ABS ASW 0940 1025
MS 248 ABS ASW 1015 1100
MS 372 ABS ASW 1040 1125
MS 150 ABS ASW 1205 1250
MS 250 ABS ASW 1245 1330
MS 374 ABS ASW 1310 1355

There are no afternoon or evening flights on tha city-pair

To make a reservation I need your full names and contact details

Have a nive evening, kind regards
Uwe


MY WAY OF TRAVEL

Back to Culture / Sightseeing

Note: Waleed (or someone he sends) will meet you in your hotel (if you stay at Movenpick or Pyramisa Island: at the ferry on the Aswan side) and wait with you for the driver. With Aswan Individual you will not be left alone to wait for the driver!

Convoy 3.45 a.m.
With minibus sharing - only transfer, without ticket or guide for Abu Simbel:
100 EGP each person

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Private microbus with aircondition for you and your group (no sharing with strangers) - only transfer:
650 EGP for the microbus (up to 8 persons)
500 EGP for limousine
(1 or 2 persons)

Optional with guide:
plus 100 EGP

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If with stop on the way back at Highdam and Philae:
800 EGP for microbus
650 EGP for limousine and waiting for you at Philae
(tickets, guide, boat to Philae not included)

Optional with guide and boat to Philae and back
for Abu Simbel, Highdam, Philae:
plus 270 EGP
tickets not included)

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Convoy 11 a.m.
Because of security restrictions of the tourist police, carsharing of individual persons is not possible. Every group must rent a microbus for themselves. Thats why:
Private microbus with aircondition for you and your group (no sharing with strangers) - only transfer (tickets or guide not included):
650 EGP for the microbus (up to 8 persons)
500 EGP for limousine
(1 or 2 persons)

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Ticket for Abu Simbel during the day: 90 EGP

Ticket for Sound & Light Sound-Show: 75 EGP

Highdam: 20 EGP
Philae: 50 EGP