☀️ Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel, Egypt

Best time: October to April; on 22 February and 22 October the sun lights the inner sanctuary

Ramesses II's temple cut into a Nubian cliff, its entrance guarded by four 20-metre seated pharaohs. In the 1960s the whole temple was cut into blocks and moved 65 metres uphill to escape a dam's rising waters.

Good to know

• Early-morning convoys or short flights from Aswan are the easiest way in.
• Around the Sun Festival days, rooms and transport sell out early.