Abu Simbel day tour from Aswan: Private car Egyptologist guide

Abu Simbel's two temples in one day, without the convoy crowds

A private day tour from Aswan to Abu Simbel by air-conditioned car with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and water included. The three-hour drive each way frames a three-hour visit to the Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Nefertari, the two monuments relocated by UNESCO and the Egyptian government to escape the Aswan Dam flood. Children from age 6 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Abu Simbel day tour from Aswan

• Pick up from hotel in Aswan
• Drive 3 hours to Abu Simbel
• Visit Abu Simbel temples
• Explore Temple of Ramses II
• Explore Temple of Queen Nefertari
• Spend around 3 hours at site
• Drive back to Aswan

The experience

Your guide picks you up from your Aswan hotel and drives south for three hours in a modern air-conditioned vehicle. The two temples of Abu Simbel sit on the banks of Lake Nasser, about 280 kilometers from Aswan. The Temple of Ramses II, also called the Sun Temple, was built to honor four universal gods (Ptah, Re-Her-Akhtey, Amun-Re), and Ramses II himself. The Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor, was built for Ramses II's wife. Both temples were carved into the mountainside and stand as masterpieces of New Kingdom architecture, their scale and detail reflecting the grandeur of ancient Egypt.

You spend around three hours at the temples with your guide, who explains the history and symbolism of the carvings and chambers. The two monuments were originally built on the riverbank but would have been submerged by the Aswan Dam reservoir. In the 1960s, UNESCO and the Egyptian government undertook a massive engineering project to cut the temples into blocks, move them to higher ground, and reassemble them: a feat that saved them from the flood. Your guide walks you through both temples and the story of their rescue. Bottled water is provided throughout the day, and the return drive to Aswan takes another three hours.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return in Aswan.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers.
• English-speaking Egyptologist guide.
• entrance fees to both temples.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• all taxes and service charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 08:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Operated by ALL SEASONS TOURS

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language, so if you're comfortable in any of those, you'll follow the commentary without translation delays. The private car means you set the pace at the temples and skip the large group convoys that depart from Aswan on the same route.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

How far is Abu Simbel from Aswan, and how long is the drive?

Abu Simbel is about 280 kilometers south of Aswan. The drive takes around three hours each way by air-conditioned vehicle, making the full tour about nine hours including your time at the temples.

What can I see inside the temples at Abu Simbel?

The Temple of Ramses II contains chambers carved deep into the mountainside, decorated with carvings and hieroglyphics honoring the pharaoh and the four universal gods. The Temple of Nefertari, smaller and adjacent, is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Ramses II's wife. Your Egyptologist guide explains the symbolism and history of both as you walk through them.

Why were the Abu Simbel temples moved?

The temples were relocated in the 1960s to save them from flooding caused by the Aswan Dam. UNESCO and the Egyptian government cut the monuments into massive blocks, moved them to higher ground, and reassembled them: a major engineering project that preserved these ancient structures for visitors today.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes hotel pickup and return in Aswan, an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees to both temples, all transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and all taxes and service charges. Tips are not included.