The Abu Simbel Sun Festival: When the Sun Lights Up Ramesses II

Twice a year, at sunrise, the first rays of the sun travel through the entrance of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and reach the statues in its innermost sanctuary. It is one of the most remarkable moments in Egypt, and a powerful reminder of the skill of the builders of this Nubian monument.

When does it happen?

The solar alignment takes place on February 22 and October 22 each year, at sunrise. The light rests on the sanctuary for roughly 20 minutes (source).

What you see

Deep inside the temple sit four seated figures: Ramesses II alongside the gods Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty and Ptah. On festival mornings the sunlight crosses the length of the temple and lights three of them, while Ptah, a god linked with the underworld, traditionally remains in shadow.

Why these dates?

Egyptologists believe the temple was aligned to mark important points in the agricultural year, and a popular tradition links the dates to Ramesses II’s birthday and coronation. In the 1960s the whole temple was cut into blocks and moved to higher ground to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Before the move the alignment fell on the 21st; today it happens on the 22nd.

A Nubian story

Abu Simbel stands in Nubia, the land along the Nile in far southern Egypt and northern Sudan that gave rise to the Kingdom of Kush and the Black pharaohs of the 25th Dynasty. Read more in The Black Pharaohs: Nubia’s 25th Dynasty and Visiting Nubia, Aswan and Abu Simbel.

How to plan your visit

• Stay in Aswan or at Abu Simbel: the alignment happens at dawn, so you need to be at the temple before sunrise. Staying overnight at Abu Simbel makes the morning much easier than the early drive from Aswan.
• Expect crowds: festival mornings are busy, with music and celebrations around the site. Arrive early and be patient at the entrance.
• Book early: hotels and transport near Abu Simbel fill up around both dates.
• Can’t make the dates? The temples are spectacular on any day. Our day trip to Abu Simbel from Aswan by flight and our 6-day Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel tour are good options.

For more on the region, see our Aswan travel guide. Want to time your trip for February 22 or October 22? Tell us your dates and we will plan around the festival.