Abu Simbel day trip from Aswan: two ancient temples

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Free cancellation

1/17

Duration9h–11h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Two colossal temples carved into the desert, nine hours from your Aswan hotel

This day trip from Aswan takes you by air-conditioned coach to Abu Simbel, where two ancient temples stand as masterpieces of New Kingdom Egypt. Hotel pickup begins at 4 am, and an English-speaking guide leads the small group through the Temple of Ramesses II—dedicated to four universal gods and to the pharaoh himself—and the Temple of Nefertari, built for the queen and the goddess Hathor. Both temples were relocated by UNESCO and the Egyptian government to save them from flooding. The tour runs nine to eleven hours and includes the vehicle, fuel and parking; entrance fees are paid separately.

9h–11h

Step-by-step itinerary

Abu Simbel Excursion from Aswan

Pick up from hotel in Aswan
Travel by air-conditioned coach to Abu Simbel
Visit the Temples of Ramsses II and Nefertari
Return to hotel in Aswan

The Experience

Pickup from your Aswan hotel starts between 4 and 4:30 am, and the modern air-conditioned coach carries a small group south toward Abu Simbel. The drive itself is the day's frame—a long stretch of desert that makes the temples' isolation part of what they are. Your English-speaking guide travels with you, so the journey and the site itself are narrated as one experience rather than a stop you navigate alone.

The Temple of Ramesses II dominates the site: four colossal seated figures of the pharaoh guard the entrance, and inside, the temple opens to chambers dedicated to Ptah, Re-Her-Akhtey, Amun-Re and Ramesses II himself. The smaller Temple of Nefertari sits nearby, built for the queen and the goddess Hathor, and the two temples work together symbolically—Ramesses II, Nefertari, Hathor and the sun god unified in stone. Both were carved into the mountainside and then, in the 1960s, cut apart and reassembled higher up the cliff to escape the rising waters of Lake Nasser. That rescue is part of their story now.

The return journey to Aswan follows the same route, with the coach dropping you back at your hotel. Entrance fees to the temples are not included in the tour price and are paid on arrival. Specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with very young children, and the tour suits all fitness levels—though the early departure and the length of the day are worth planning around.

What’s included

Air-conditioned coach with fuel and parking included.
English-speaking guide throughout the day.
hotel pickup and return to your Aswan accommodation.
specialized infant seats available upon request.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by GuideLouxor

Is this one for you?The early 4 am departure is what makes a full day at both temples possible without rushing—the long drive and the site itself fit into a single excursion, so you see Ramesses II's colossal temple and Nefertari's smaller shrine without splitting the visit across two days or hiring a private car.