{ "id": 8039, "date": "2026-10-13T09:12:04", "date_gmt": "2026-10-13T07:12:04", "guid": { "rendered": "https:\/\/monhurghada.com\/abu-simbel-sun-festival-22-october\/" }, "modified": "2026-10-13T09:32:29", "modified_gmt": "2026-10-13T07:32:29", "slug": "abu-simbel-sun-festival-22-october", "status": "publish", "type": "post", "link": "https:\/\/monhurghada.com\/en\/abu-simbel-sun-festival-22-october\/", "title": { "rendered": "Abu Simbel Sun Festival on 22 October 2026: How to Get There from Hurghada" }, "content": { "rendered": "

Twice a year, a phenomenon more than 3,000 years old repeats itself at Abu Simbel: at sunrise, the sun’s rays travel through the whole great temple of Ramses II and light up the statues in the sanctuary at the very back. The next date is Thursday 22 October 2026<\/strong>. On holiday in Hurghada? Here is how to see the Abu Simbel sun festival<\/strong>, which option to choose and our tips for this very busy day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Abu Simbel sun festival?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The great temple was aligned so that, around 22 February and 22 October<\/strong>, the rising sun reaches some sixty metres inside, all the way to the holy of holies. Four statues sit there: Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty, the deified Ramses II and Ptah. The first three are lit up for about twenty minutes, while Ptah, a god linked to the underworld, stays in the shadow. According to tradition, these dates are linked to the birthday and coronation of Ramses II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the temple was moved in the 1960s to save it from the waters of Lake Nasser, the phenomenon still happens, within a day of the original date. Around the temples, the day turns into a real festival, with Nubian music and dancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get there from Hurghada<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Abu Simbel is too far for a same-day return trip from Hurghada. You first need to reach Aswan, about 6 to 7 hours by road, at the latest the day before. Then there are two options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step<\/th>Option<\/th>Price<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Hurghada \u2192 Aswan<\/td>Private door-to-door transfer<\/td>\u20ac160 per car (2-3 people), each way<\/td><\/tr>
Option 1<\/td>Abu Simbel over 2 days: overnight on site, temples at sunrise<\/td>\u20ac160 per person, or \u20ac255 with hotel and sound and light show (min. 2 people)<\/td><\/tr>
Option 2<\/td>Abu Simbel day trip from Aswan, leaving around 11 pm the night before<\/td>\u20ac115 per person<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Children aged 0 to 5 travel free and children aged 6 to 11 pay half price. Temple entrance fees, lunch and an English- or French-speaking guide are included in the excursions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Option 1: stay overnight in Abu Simbel (the most comfortable)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You leave Aswan on 21 October, sleep by Lake Nasser and are already there on the morning of the 22nd, with no night drive. Be aware: hotels in Abu Simbel fill up very quickly for this date. See the 2-day trip<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Option 2: the return trip from Aswan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For the sun festival, a special convoy leaves Aswan around 11 pm on 21 October<\/strong>: you travel overnight by private car and reach Abu Simbel well before sunrise. Get some rest on the afternoon of the 21st, as the night will be short. See the Abu Simbel trip<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suggested 3-day itinerary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  1. 21 October<\/strong>: private transfer from Hurghada to Aswan, then, with the 2-day option, the drive to Abu Simbel; with the return trip, departure from Aswan around 11 pm.<\/li>
  2. 22 October<\/strong>: the sun festival at sunrise, guided visit of the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari, lunch, return to Aswan.<\/li>
  3. 23 October<\/strong>: Aswan sightseeing or return transfer to Hurghada.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Prefer to avoid the crowds? The rest of the year, the temples are just as impressive at sunrise. Find all our itineraries in our guide Aswan and Abu Simbel from Hurghada<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our tips for 22 October<\/h2>\n\n\n\n