Abu Simbel / Aswan is a port of call on Nile river cruises with Lindblad Expeditions, concentrated in the fall-to-winter season from October through March.
This final port of call bridges two of Egypt's most extraordinary destinations. Abu Simbel, carved into the sandstone cliffs above Lake Nasser, houses the great rock temples built under Ramses II, their colossal facade figures among the most striking monuments of the ancient world. Reaching the site typically involves a short flight from Aswan, rewarding travelers with an intimate look at Egyptian engineering and devotion carved more than three thousand years ago.
Cairo, sprawling along the Nile, closes the experience with layers of history spanning pharaonic, Islamic, and modern eras. The Giza plateau, just outside the city, holds the last surviving wonder of the ancient world, the Great Pyramids and Sphinx, while the Egyptian Museum safeguards treasures including artifacts from Tutankhamun's tomb. Together, these stops offer a fitting, memorable close to an Egyptian voyage.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Abu Simbel / Aswan.
Marvel at the Great Temple's Facade
Four seated colossi of Ramses II, each over 60 feet tall, guard the entrance and align with the sun twice yearly to illuminate the inner sanctuary. Arrive early via the short flight from Aswan, as the site draws crowds quickly after sunrise.
Stand Before the Great Sphinx
The limestone guardian faces east on the Giza plateau, its weathered features still commanding after roughly 4,500 years. Pair a visit with the nearby pyramids for photos framing both monuments together.
See Tutankhamun's Golden Mask
The Egyptian Museum's most famous holding anchors a collection of royal jewelry, sarcophagi, and funerary treasures pulled from the Valley of the Kings. Set aside at least two unhurried hours to take in the galleries.
