Abu Simbel day trip from Luxor: Private Egyptologist tour

A full day at the temples, with travel time in a climate-controlled vehicle

A private day trip from Luxor to Abu Simbel temples near Lake Nasser, departing early morning with a qualified Egyptologist guide and returning the same day. The tour includes round-trip transport by air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, and guided explanation of the temples' UNESCO relocation before free time to explore the interiors at your own pace. The drive takes approximately three hours each way. You spend around two hours at the site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private day trip to Abu Simbel

• Depart Luxor early morning
• Drive approximately three hours to Abu Simbel
• Guided tour with Egyptologist
• Learn history and relocation of temples
• Free time to explore temples
• Drive back to Aswan
• Transfer to train station or airport

The experience

The day starts before dawn (departure from your Luxor hotel around 5:15 AM), so you reach Abu Simbel while the site is still manageable. Your Egyptologist guide travels with you in an air-conditioned vehicle for the roughly three-hour drive south toward Lake Nasser. On arrival, the guide walks you through the history of the temples and explains how the entire cliff face was dismantled and rebuilt higher up in the 1960s when the lake was flooded, a feat of modern engineering that saved Ramses II's monuments from submersion. Guides cannot enter the temple interiors, so your guide uses photos and illustrations to walk you through the structures and their decoration before you have free time to explore both the Great Temple of Ramses II and the smaller Temple of Hathor on your own.

The temples themselves are among Egypt's most intact ancient sites: most visitors find the scale and detail of the carved interiors striking. The four colossal pharaohs carved into the cliff face are visible from a distance. The temples sit on the edge of Lake Nasser in desert landscape. You'll have roughly two hours to walk through the chambers, see the decorated walls, and move at your own speed. After free time, the drive back to Aswan takes another three hours, with a stop at the train station or airport if you're continuing onward to Cairo or staying in Aswan.

All transport, the guide, parking, fuel and driver fees are included in the price. Bring water and sun protection. The site offers little shade, and the desert heat is intense even in cooler months. Entrance fees to the temples are not included and must be paid separately at the gate.

What’s included

• Round-trip transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Luxor.
• a qualified Egyptologist guide speaking English (French and German also available).
• parking fees and fuel.
• all service charges and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 30 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Luxortourguide

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want a guide to explain the temples' history and relocation before exploring the interiors at your own pace, and you're willing to start before sunrise to make the long drive manageable within a single day from Luxor.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How early do I need to wake up for the Abu Simbel trip from Luxor?

Hotel pickup happens around 5:15 AM so the vehicle can reach Abu Simbel while visitor numbers are still lower. The early start means you're back in Luxor or Aswan by late afternoon or early evening.

Can I go inside the Abu Simbel temples with the guide?

Guides are not permitted inside either the Great Temple or the Temple of Hathor due to visitor volume, but your Egyptologist explains the interiors using photos and illustrations before you enter and explore freely on your own for roughly two hours.

What is the story behind Abu Simbel's relocation?

When Lake Nasser was created by the Aswan High Dam, the rising water would have submerged Abu Simbel. UNESCO coordinated the dismantling and rebuilding of the entire cliff face and temples higher up the hillside in the 1960s, preserving one of Egypt's most important monuments.

How long is the drive from Luxor to Abu Simbel?

The drive is approximately three hours each way by air-conditioned vehicle, with the return journey stopping at Aswan train station or airport if you need onward transport to Cairo or elsewhere.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay separately?

Transport, the Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, parking, fuel and driver are all included. Entrance fees to the temples must be paid separately at the gate. Food, drinks and gratuities are also not included.

What should I bring for a day at Abu Simbel?

Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat: the site sits in open desert with minimal shade. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for the temple interiors and the walk from the car park to the entrances.