In May my wife and I will be taking a 2 week prepaid guided tour of Egypt. This will include a 7 day Nile cruise. An option of the tour is a morning visit to Abu Simbel at a cost of $200 per person. The tour company cannot guarantee the amount of time at Abu Simbel because of potential delays in flight schedules (We would be flying from and returning to Aswan). My question is, for those of you who have visited Abu Simbel, in your opinion would the experience be worth the extra $400 for the two of us? Thanks in advance for your input.
Abu Simbel Option
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In my opinion, it's worth it. Abu Simbel is pretty impressive. Also, it's unique and will stand out in your memory at the end of the trip when the many other temples may start to look the same. Do be prepared though that it can take time to get to this site. I remember waiting in the airport at both ends, but the flight itself was short. Don't worry about actual time at Abu Simbel. There's just the two temples there and you don't need hours and hours to see it. It's not a huge sprawling site like Karnak.
If money is an issue, whoever is more interested could go to Abu Simbel and the other could stay in Aswan to shop or relax and see the pictures at home.
My brother did the same excursion in October last. The temples in the desert were indeed breathtaking BUT they had only 1.5 hours for the visit. This seems to be the normal way, planes flying on and off.
We have been on a Nile cruise in March 1997 and at that time the excursion was by bus (3 hours to Abu Simbel, 1 hour visit and 3 hours back !!). We have chosen to stay in Aswan for a walk in the soukhs and a good (expensive) cup of coffee at the Old Cataract Hotel, which was also quite an experience!
On our trip to Egypt in 1995, we had the option of going to Abu Simbel. We chose to spend more time in Aswan. While Aswan was okay, we were sorry we didn't take advantage of the Abu Simbel option. I say go.
We visited Abu Simbel in Aug. '99. It is definitely worth the $400. As mentioned in Diane's reply, this visit will stand out in your memories.
Be sure to sit on the left side of the plane when you go. The view as you approach the site is awesome!
My husband & I were in Egypt in 1992. We flew to Abu Simbal and really are glad that we did. It really stands out in my memory. (Of course we did not have to pay $200. each. The price has gone up) I suggest that you go. You will only be there about an hour and a half but that is better than not seeing it. Happy traveling!
Yes you should go. Its a fantastic site.
Also, your trip to Egypt is a once in a life time experience and you don't want to regret leaving this out. The cost of going now is very small compared to going back to Egypt again.
The roundtrip flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel costs US$85 this past January. My tour group (Trafalgar) also offered it as a side trip for the amazing price of $270!!! per person. Boy, was I glad that I had done my homework and got to the Egypt Air office in Cairo to book my ticket. I had to leave earlier than my group and do it solo, but I saved and bundle. (The buses that leave from the airport to the monument are free.) There were some pretty unhappy campers on our tour at having been bilked at $270. I also took the train to Alexandria (first class, round trip) for less than $20 and paid a taxi to take me about for $10. The tour group offered this as side trip but in a van at triple the travel time for $99. Do the math.
DON'T miss it. It is one of the most impressive sites in Egypt. You have 2 hours there and it is enuf. It is very hot. We were there this past Nov. Sit on the left side of the plane so you can see the site as the plane banks for the landing. Enjoy!
Yes, definitely go to Abu Simbel. It's a long day, but well worth the trip. The flight is short and you'll spent about two hours at the site. It's very impressive from the standpoint of size and trying to image how it was moved. Don't miss it. We went in April, and it was over 100 degrees. Take lots of water. Happy adventures!
My wife and I are also travelling to Egypt in May and are taking the Abu Simbel tour as a part of our tour. We however will pay $120 each. The company we're going through is Viking Travel.
Yes, Abu Simbel is worth seeing. There seem to be prices all over the board. $270 seems high.
It is hot and tourists do get overcome by the heat, then have sickness they can't understand - or so the doctors in Egypt say. Wear a good straw hat with a wide brim, sun glasses, and carry a large bottle of water around with you. Also cover up your arms and anything else that shouldn't get sunburned.
Rosemary
Mtselinda, Just returned from Egypt and have another suggestion, Log on to the Travel Forum, Travel Medicine and get some good suggestions from CDC.
Rosemary
Rosemary, I'm not sure where I should look for this. Is it on the Fodor's website? I haven't found anything on the site by that name. Thanks
CDC stands for Center of Disease Control.
It is a United States office. I check with it before going overseas. I have forgotten the e-mail page, but one can get the telephone number at numerous sources. It is listed in some of the travel guides, as well as on its web page.