Kalabsha and the Monuments of Lake Nasser

Kalabsha Temple, Beit el-Wali, and the Kiosk of Qertassi stand together at New Kalabsha, beside the High Dam a short boat ride from Aswan, and make an easy half-day. Further south, the temples of Wadi el-Seboua, Dakka, Maharraqa, Amada, and Derr, and the fortress of Qasr Ibrim, are reached by Lake Nasser cruise. All were moved or saved during the campaign to rescue Nubia's monuments from the rising lake in the 1960s and 1970s.

When the Aswan High Dam was built, the water backing up behind it created Lake Nasser and flooded the Nile Valley of Lower Nubia. The international rescue campaign led by UNESCO moved more than 20 monuments to higher ground. Abu Simbel and Philae are the famous results, but many other temples were saved too, and many visitors to Egypt never see them.

That is a shame, because these sites are atmospheric: quiet, set against water and desert, and full of fine relief carving. This guide explains what each group offers, how to reach them and which trip suits you.

The Nubian rescue in brief

Lower Nubia, the stretch of the Nile between Aswan and the Sudanese border, was dotted with temples, shrines, churches and fortresses built over thousands of years by Egyptian pharaohs, Ptolemaic and Roman rulers, and Nubian communities. As the dam took shape, Egypt and Sudan appealed for international help.

Teams from many countries cut temples into blocks, moved them to new sites, and rebuilt them. Some monuments were regrouped into clusters on the new lakeshore. As thanks, Egypt gave several smaller temples to countries that had helped, which is why the Temple of Dendur now stands in the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Temple of Debod in Madrid.

The Nubian people whose villages were flooded were also relocated, a loss that is part of the story of these monuments. A visit to the Nubian Museum in Aswan beforehand gives excellent context on the region, its people and the rescue.

New Kalabsha: the easy half-day from Aswan

New Kalabsha sits on the west side of the lake, just upstream of the High Dam. You reach it by motorboat from a small landing near the dam, a short and scenic ride.

The Temple of Kalabsha

The main temple is dedicated to Mandulis, a Nubian sun god, and was built in the Roman period under the emperor Augustus on the site of earlier shrines. It originally stood about 50 kilometers further south, at ancient Talmis, and was dismantled and rebuilt here by a West German team in the early 1960s.

It is one of the largest free-standing temples of Egyptian Nubia, and walking through its pylon, courtyard and halls gives you a strong sense of a complete temple plan. Look for reliefs of the emperor making offerings to Egyptian and Nubian gods, and climb to the roof level where access allows for views across the lake and the dam.

Beit el-Wali

A short walk away is Beit el-Wali, a small rock-cut temple of Ramesses II. Its forecourt walls carry vivid scenes of the king's campaigns against Nubians and against enemies to the north and east, with long lines of Nubians bringing tribute: animals, ebony, ivory, and gold. Some of the original color survives, making this a rewarding small site near Aswan.

The Kiosk of Qertassi

The third monument is the small, elegant Kiosk of Qertassi, a Roman-era structure with columns topped by heads of the goddess Hathor. Its position near the water makes it a favorite photograph.

Planning the visit

Allow around two hours including the boat ride, and more if you like to linger. The site is usually quiet, which is a large part of its charm. Combine it with the High Dam viewpoint and the Unfinished Obelisk, or with Philae Temple, for a full morning. Early morning or late afternoon light is best, and in summer the earlier start is much more comfortable.

The Wadi el-Seboua group

Around halfway between Aswan and Abu Simbel, three temples were regrouped at the new site of Wadi el-Seboua.

• Wadi el-Seboua, meaning "Valley of the Lions," is a temple of Ramesses II approached by an avenue of sphinxes. The rear part is cut into the rock. Inside, later Christian use left painted saints over the pharaonic reliefs, a striking mix of eras.
• Dakka is a Ptolemaic and Roman temple dedicated to Thoth, the god of wisdom, with a tall pylon you can often climb for views.
• Maharraqa is a small Roman temple, unusual for its spiral staircase.

The Amada group

Further south, a second cluster brings together three very different monuments.

• Amada is the oldest surviving temple in Nubia, begun under Thutmose III and Amenhotep II in the 18th Dynasty. Its painted reliefs are among the finest in the region. Rather than being cut into blocks, the temple was moved in one piece on rails to its new location.
• Derr is a rock-cut temple of Ramesses II, with colorful scenes in its inner halls.
• The tomb of Pennut, a local official who served the viceroy of Nubia under Ramesses VI, was moved here from Aniba. Its painted scenes show daily life and funerary rituals.

Qasr Ibrim

Qasr Ibrim was a fortified hilltop town occupied for over 3,000 years, from the pharaohs through the Christian Nubian kingdoms to the Ottoman period. It is now an island in the lake, and the only major site in the area still standing where it was built. Because archaeological work continues, cruise ships normally sail close and you view it from the deck rather than landing.

How to see these monuments

Lake Nasser cruises

The southern temples are visited on Lake Nasser cruises between Aswan and Abu Simbel. The usual pattern is three nights sailing from Abu Simbel to Aswan or four nights from Aswan to Abu Simbel. Only a small number of ships operate on the lake, so the experience is quieter than a Nile cruise, and arriving at Abu Simbel by water, sometimes with an evening visit, is a highlight.

Who should choose which

If you have limited time, add New Kalabsha to your days in Aswan. If you love ancient sites and want calm, a Lake Nasser cruise is a rewarding way to see southern Egypt and can follow a classic Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan.

Practical tips

• Agree the boat arrangements first. At New Kalabsha, confirm the boat ride and waiting time with the boatman or your guide before you set off, so you are not rushed on site.
• Carry water and sun protection. The sites are open to the sun with almost no shade.
• Bring a flashlight. The inner chambers of rock-cut temples such as Beit el-Wali and Derr can be dim.
• Check current entry details. Tickets, opening hours and photography rules can change, so confirm them through official sources or your operator.
• Read up beforehand. The Nubian Museum in Aswan makes every one of these sites more meaningful.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit Kalabsha Temple without a Lake Nasser cruise?

Yes. New Kalabsha is reached by a short motorboat ride from the High Dam near Aswan, so it fits easily into a half-day from the city.

Which Lake Nasser temples are the most impressive after Abu Simbel?

Many visitors single out Wadi el-Seboua for its avenue of sphinxes and Amada for its fine painted reliefs. Beit el-Wali at New Kalabsha is also a small treasure for its colorful battle and tribute scenes.

How long is a Lake Nasser cruise?

The usual options are three nights from Abu Simbel to Aswan or four nights from Aswan to Abu Simbel. The longer southbound trip gives a little more time at the sites.

Why were the Nubian temples moved?

Building the Aswan High Dam created Lake Nasser, which flooded much of Lower Nubia. An international campaign led by UNESCO moved the threatened monuments to higher ground or, in a few cases, to museums abroad.

Is New Kalabsha worth visiting if I have already seen Philae?

Yes. It is quieter than Philae, and Beit el-Wali adds a rock-cut temple with vivid colored reliefs. The two sites together give a fuller picture of the rescue of Nubia's monuments.

Plan it with Nourbelle

Add New Kalabsha to your time in Aswan, or ask us through plan your trip about combining a Nile cruise with Lake Nasser and Abu Simbel.