Casual_Cairo

I like the engineering aspect of it like Dave, but I disagree that it's a must to see. It's another Temple. I know I know I could get stoned for saying something like that on an Egypt forum. :/

andrys

I'm another one more fascinated by the incredible feat of moving those pieces than by the place. When I got back I got a Nat'l Geo and Life Magazine from the 60's to read more about how they did it (my interest sparked by the Nat'l Geo Egypt book initially and later AT Abu Simbel where I stayed in the little shack to read the explanations and see the huge pictures, for too long).

As it happens I was late following the group due to reading and forgot to bring liquid and it was 100+ degrees and I was very close to having a heat stroke (not exaggerating - it affected me for the next 3 days and I was glad to be on the cruise where I could relax). Anyway, the statues are enormous and interesting for that reason alone but I told others who missed it that I didn't feel they missed that much -- biased by my being too hot there. What was amazing was the interiors of the temples. BEAUtiful illustrations on the walls within.

It's definitely unique and I'd go again (w/ liquids) because it is such an unusual site and has sat in that area (lower) for thousands of years... it's at least very striking.

I just tried to imagine sailing by in those days and seeing that!

andrys

I should add that some discomfort can be there if they (as happened to us) wake us at 2am to get ready for a plane flight to Abu Simbel (from Aswan) and then you hit that heat.

Others in our group weren't so affected by it though. That they had liquids probably was one reason.

andrys

One more thing. Stonehenge. I was there in 1968 in the afternoon during a time before they roped it off. We decided to go back the morning to see it at sunrise. That was great.

I do try to imagine being back in the times when people were using the place. Same with Machu Picchu, where I thought it must have been wonderful to wake up there everyday.

- Andrys
http:///www.pbase.com/andrys

tinydancer

On my first trip to Egypt in around 1977 I couldn't afford to go so I didn't get there. On my second trip last year I could afford it, and flew down from Aswan in the morning and back to Cairo in the afternoon. It was worth every penny and every minute! Everyone who went with us felt the same. Yes, it's 'another temple'. But boy, oh boy! What a temple! If anyone said it wasn't jaw-dropping incredible, they have either been going to Egypt too many times or just can't appreciate being amazed too often (i.e. have seen it all kind of folks)(my opinion). The people who were with our group who either didn't think it was worth it, or couldn't afford the flights, well, we didn't have the heart to really tell them how incredible it was. We felt too sorry for them. I hope you choose to go. If you are excited about Egypt, you should love it. If you are going because you've just added Egypt to your already long list of places you have to visit in the world, well, maybe you shouldn't. All I can say is, if we go back to Egypt again, and someone tempts us to go again to Abu Simbel, we may just have to think about doing it. And P.S.: if you have a really, really good guide during your trip to Egypt, by the time you get to Abu Simbel you should really have a deep, well founded understanding of ancient Egypt, it's people, it's rulers, it's politics, it's artisans, it's architects. All which should really add to the impact. Just my opinion.

samcat

My husband and I are just back from a tour of Egypt, beginning in Cairo, Nile cruise, and flight to Abu Simbel. For us it was the highlight -- better than the pyramids. And the feat of moving it just added to my amazement. I'd not suggest missing it -- even for the camel ride!
Samcat

Axel2DP

I was wondering how some of you arranged for either flights or car convoy to Abu Simbel? Did you do the arrangemetn with a travel agent/ agency before arriving in Egypt? Thanks.

fthomasbond

I think you should go - the outside of the temples was amazing; the inside even more. We went on the bus (3 hrs each way) and had about 3 hours there - just enough time. The bus we were on was big with a w.c. - we napped going and looked at all our pictures on the way back...definitely more impressive to me than the pyramids. I agree on Stone hedge = have not been to other places that left you cold. Our tour had Abu Simbel as an optional trip but it could be arranged I am sure at your hotel or thru travel agents in Aswan. I also recommend Philae Temple during the day and at night - If you like to mix with locals be sure to go to a Nubian Village by camel if you think you owuld like that - more fun than it sounded

davecutter73

Axel2DP
Just to answer your question about arranging this trip. We have done the 7 day Nile cruise for the last 4 years and there are extra excursions that you can arrange whilst onboard. The tour guides will arrange this extra visit and you get the option to travel by either plane or coach. This excursion will occurr whilst you are docked at Aswan.

mowmow

GO It's really beautiful.

Axel2DP

Thanks davecutter73 and fthomasbond.

tinydancer

I have to just add that we both have several things we visited that we'd have to say were the highlights, we found it so very difficult to pick just one. Which only means that there are more than one wonderful surprises to find in Egypt. On my personal don't miss list would be: Pyramids and the Solar Boat, Egyptian Museum, Karnak temple including the sound and light show at night, Abu Simbel, Dar el Bahir (Hatsepshuts palace), Valley of The Kings, tombs of the nobles at Saqqara. The one we had to miss but would go back again just to see is the Ramesseum in Luxor because it's supposed to have the most well preserved original colors, as many of the most visited tombs have been touched up. We learned a lot about ancient cultures that can evolve tremendously and then seemingly just disappear. We were speechless. Gosh, I wish we were going again!

tinydancer

PS: Thought you might enjoy this site: http://lexicorient.com/egypt/index.htm

JToronto

If cost is a major issue for you and it's a choice of spending $300/person to fly in and out of Abu Simbel vs spending 5 days in Cairo/pyramids/Luxor (ie you're a budget traveler), then it might not be worth it. If you are a person who would spend $300 at a fine restaurant then there is no reason not to go. It only takes a half day of your trip and there isn't much else you can do in one morning in Egypt that will equal it (except maybe Giza). (even if you are a budget traveler, you can go IF you are planning to visit Aswan - it's a long drive through the desert, and yes you get up painfully early, but that is how I first saw it and it was magical to me. But you need to add at least 3 extra days to your trip to take the train from Luxor to Aswan, see Aswan and Abu Simbel, and take the train back to Cairo)

doctorjohn

I just did my Egypt portion of the trip.

I did the fly in and fly out same day. My flight to Abu simbel was at 5am. Got to Abu Simbel at 0745 after a stop in Aswan. Got to the site at 0800. It twas quite busy for the first hour. Then magically, all the tour buses left at around 0915 and I had the place pretty much to myself. I had to go back and retake alot of pictures because now there were no people there!

My driver and tour rep got me back to the airport at 1040 for my 1045 flight. I basically got off the car, went through the scanner and onto the bus to go to the plane. Abu simbel is a really small airport and you can cut times close. Flew back to Aswan to catch a nile cruise

I think that half a day was pretty good for me. It is definitely more impressive than Phillae, Kom Ombo, Edfu. But I feel that Karnak was more impressive than Abu Simbel.

In terms of logistics of the trip. It was arranged by lady egypt. My bag (luggage) only went so far as aswan so I had no bag to pick up in Abu simbel. Transfers were quick to and from the airport.

I would recommend it...but if cost and time are a factor then you may have to reconsider

doc

Axel2DP

Thanks doctorjohn.

Doctorjohn,

How did you find the light in Egypt for photography? Is the sun directly overhead and too harsh for most of the day for good pictures? At about what time is the sun directly overhead and about what time does it start to come down to give you good side lighting? Can you see a good sunset from Islamic Cairo?

doctorjohn

Axel2DP,

The sun is very harsh by 1045 and lasts most of the day. Things improve after 3pm but many sites close at 4. The problem with afternoons is that the haze is mostly dissipated by this time but the sun is in direct site of many of the sites. As an example, at the pyramids of Giza, the sun sits directly behind the Khaffire pyramid and the sphinx, such that good pictures of this are pretty much impossible unless you are 90 degrees to the sun. Because of this, i preferred morning light for good picture taking.

During mid day (i assume you are a photographer), I recommend a couple of things:

1. Have a UV filter to dissipate unwanted UV rays.

2. Have a circular polarizer filter. When used at 90 degrees to the sun, it give more depth of color to the sand and stone and sky and helps to prevent washout of the picture due to the harshness of the sun

3. Most importantly, I suggest that you learn how to use the Auto Exposure bracketing feature of your camera (if its an SLR). This allows u to take multiple shots at different exposures in order to achieve an acceptable picture. Basically, you will need to decrease the exposure level in order to compensate for the harsh sunlight. You can still take good pics in harsh sunlight...you just need to know how to manipulate the settings to get what you want.

In terms of sunsets, I saw a few good sunsets...one from the dunes behind the giza pyramids, and a few from the nile cruise we took. To be honest...what was more interesting was the hues of pinks and orange that were on display in the sky after the sun had set. The actual sunset itself wasn't that impressive.

doc

Axel2DP

Thanks for the tips doctorjohn.