I thought I might be "templed out" after the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Luxor and Karnak but nothing is as amazing as Abu Simbel.

The site is close to the Sudanese border, so be warned, it is a three-hour each way journey by coach from Aswan, and most leave at 4.00am to get there by 7.00. This is not an ancient Egyptian torture but a sensible precaution. You don't want to be in Abu Simbel (except in an air conditioned hotel) in the midday heat. So the coaches are on the road back to Aswan by about 10.15. And it is important to see the site soon after dawn.

Do not despair. If you are lazy (like me) there are regular flights from Aswan. The journey then only takes half an hour each way, and there is a big bonus if you sit on the left hand side of the plane because there is an incredible first glimpse of the temples (yes, two of them) as you make the final approach for landing.

I won't give the full history lecture about the temples or how they were moved to avoid flooding by Lake Nasser. Simply they were the most awesome sight I have seen in my 60 years. Imposing, majestic, staggeringly beautiful, nobody visiting the Upper Nile should miss them, it would be like visiting London without seeing the Tower or Rome without going to the Sistine Chapel. You'll always kick yourself if you get so near and then don't see Abu Simbel.

If you are lucky enough to be cruising Lake Nasser or staying at Abu Simbel, the son et lumiere show ought to be incredible.

Well done UNESCO for saving this amazing piece of history.