Temples of Wadi es-Sebua

The Temples of Wadi es-Sebua are a New Kingdom Egyptian temple complex located on the west bank of the Nile in Nubia, roughly 40 km south of Aswan. The main temple dates to the 13th century BCE and is associated with Ramesses II.

The site features a colonnaded forecourt and inner sanctuary with remnants of reliefs and inscriptions; an avenue of sphinxes originally led to the entrance. The rebuilt complex preserves the alignment and many architectural elements visitors expect at a Nile-side New Kingdom temple.

The principal temple was constructed under Ramesses II in the New Kingdom and later received repairs and additions in antiquity. The entire complex was dismantled and reconstructed on higher ground during the Aswan High Dam salvage efforts in the 1960s to protect it from flooding.

The temples sit on the desert edge of the Nile floodplain in Aswan Governorate, south of the city of Aswan and accessible from the Desert Road that links Aswan with sites in Lower Nubia.

• Timing: Best visited in the cooler morning hours to avoid the midday desert heat and strong sunlight.
• Relocation: The complex was moved to higher ground during the Aswan High Dam resettlement projects in the 1960s.

• Plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon to avoid Aswan's midday heat; the complex's reliefs and exterior architecture show best in softer light and are easier to photograph then.
• Combine the Wadi es‑Sebua stop with nearby Nubian and temple sites when travelling from Aswan (road transfers are the normal way to visit) so you don't make a separate trip for this relatively compact temple complex.