22 February & 22 October · Every year ·
The Abu Simbel Sun Festival
Two mornings a year, the first light of the sun reaches some 60 metres into Ramses II's Great Temple and falls across three of the four statues in its sanctuary. It draws thousands, lasts about twenty minutes, and is well worth timing a holiday around if you can.
What you see at sunrise
The light reaches the sanctuary's back wall and its four seated gods. Ra-Horakhty, Amun-Ra and Ramses II are lit, while Ptah, linked with the underworld, is left in darkness.
When the temple was moved up the hillside in the 1960s, away from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, the dates shifted by roughly a day. They now fall on or around 22 February and 22 October.
Before dawn the town of Abu Simbel gathers outside the temple with drums, music and dancing.
How to be there for the dawn
Spend the night in Abu Simbel
The most relaxed way to do it: a short walk to the gates before sunrise, rather than a night-time coach. There are only a handful of hotels, so book these first.
Abu Simbel guideSail Lake Nasser
The cruise ships tie up just beneath the temples, so on the morning itself you are a few minutes from the gates while the coaches are still on the road.
Lake Nasser cruisesGo by road from Aswan
On festival days the drive sets off from Aswan in the early hours to arrive before sunrise. A long morning, but it slots neatly into a Nile cruise holiday.
Abu Simbel excursions
Questions travellers ask
When is the Abu Simbel Sun Festival?
On or around 22 February and 22 October each year, at sunrise. The next is 22 February 2027.
How long does the light last in the sanctuary?
Roughly twenty minutes. Plan to arrive well before dawn: people queue in the dark and the temple fills fast once the gates open.
How busy does it get?
Very. It is the busiest morning of Abu Simbel's year. Staying overnight or arriving on a Lake Nasser cruise gets you nearer the front of the queue.
Is Abu Simbel worth it on other days?
Absolutely, and it is far quieter. If your holiday dates don't match the festival, the temples are every bit as striking.