Experience the sun miracle of Abu Simbel and diving in Dahab

A night with Ramses – how I experienced the miracle of the sun at Abu Simbel with Lagona Divers

When I was planning my trip to Egypt, I had one very special wish: to experience the famous sunrise miracle at Abu Simbel – preferably in combination with my diving holiday with Lagona Divers. Thanks to Lagona Travel, this dream became a reality. Even before I arrived, the team organised a detour to the temple for me before continuing on to the diving centre in Dahab. It was a busy schedule, but every single moment was worth it.

A special kind of arrival

After landing in Cairo, a driver was already waiting to take me and my family directly to Aswan. After a short stopover there, we boarded a night bus that took us in convoy to Abu Simbel. The night-time drive through the desert was an adventure in itself: a starry night, flat hills, and that special feeling of being part of something big.

It was an extraordinary piece of organisation that Lagona Travel had pulled off here. Normally, I would have flown straight on to Sharm El-Sheikh and travelled to Dahab from there – but this detour was an investment in an experience that can only be seen twice a year.

Waiting in the dark – and then the moment

We arrived at Abu Simbel at around 3:30 a.m. Hundreds of visitors had already gathered in front of the enormous temple of Ramses II. Blankets, scarves, torches – everyone found their spot as the excitement grew. Like many others, we lay down on the ground to enjoy the starry sky above us.

When the first rays of sunlight finally fell deep into the temple at around 5:50 a.m., it became completely silent. You could almost hear hundreds of people holding their breath at the same time. Gradually, the sunlight illuminated the statues in the holy of holies: first Amun-Ra, then Ramses himself, and finally Re-Harachte. Only Ptah, the god of darkness, remained in the shadows, as intended by the builders.

This moment lasted barely 20 minutes. But it felt like an eternity. Goosebumps, awe and the unshakeable feeling of witnessing something truly unique.

Why this day is so special

The sun miracle only occurs twice a year: on 22 February and 22 October. Historians agree that these dates symbolise the birthday and coronation of Ramses II. Incidentally, the relocation of the temple in the 1960s shifted the phenomenon by one day – originally, the light fell into the sanctuary on 21 February and 21 October.

The fact that the ancient Egyptians carved this spectacle into the rock using precise astronomical calculations is simply breathtaking. The corridor measures 63 metres – and only on these two days of the year does the sunlight hit the interior exactly.

A celebration of light

As the sunlight fell on the figures, applause broke out. Nubian musicians began to play in front of the temple, dervishes whirled around in colourful costumes, and the mood changed from reverent to exuberant. We danced, laughed and let ourselves be carried away by the energy of the revellers.

For me, it was a moment of letting go – as if a piece of joie de vivre had been captured with the sunbeam itself.

Onwards to Dahab – the journey continues to the Red Sea

After this magical night, the transfer took us back to Hurghada, from where we flew domestically to Sharm El-Sheikh. The next shuttle was already waiting there to take me directly to the Lagona Divers base in Dahab.

It was a tiring journey, no question about it – but as we drove along the Gulf of Suez, I knew that every detour, every sleepless night, every hour on the bus had been worth it. Because now the next adventure awaited: diving down into the legendary reefs of the Red Sea.

Why the solar miracle is perfect for diving

As divers, we are used to experiencing natural spectacles: sunbeams breaking through the water’s surface, schools of fish glistening in the light, or a majestic Napoleon wrasse suddenly appearing. Abu Simbel showed me that such “magical moments of light” also exist on land.

For me, this trip was the perfect combination: culture, history and adventure in Abu Simbel – followed by the colourful underwater world of Dahab.

If you would also like to combine your diving trip with a special cultural highlight, please contact the Lagona Divers team. With Lagona Travel, even the most unusual requests can become reality.

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