Abu Simbel private day tour from Aswan: Two ancient temples

Drive three hours south to stand before two temples carved into a mountainside, then spend the afternoon inside them.

A private day tour from Aswan to Abu Simbel temples, approximately eight hours, with hotel pickup and a professional English-speaking guide. You travel by air-conditioned vehicle to the two temples (the great Sun Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Queen Nefertari), and spend around three hours exploring them before returning to Aswan. Entry fees and all transfers are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Abu Simbel Temples2h · entry included
2. Lake Nasserpassing by

Abu Simbel temples day tour

• Pickup from hotel in Aswan
• Drive 3 hours to Abu Simbel
• Visit Abu Simbel Temples
• Explore Temple of Ramses II
• Explore Temple of Queen Nefertari
• Return drive to Aswan

The experience

The tour starts with an early pickup from your hotel in Aswan. A professional guide meets you in a private air-conditioned vehicle and drives south for about three hours to reach Abu Simbel, passing through the landscape that leads to one of ancient Egypt's most remote sites. The drive itself covers the distance to Lake Nasser, the vast man-made reservoir created by the Aswan High Dam.

At Abu Simbel, you spend around three hours with the two temples. The Temple of Ramses II, also called the Sun Temple, was dedicated to four universal gods: Ptah, Re-Her-Akhtey, Amun-Re, and Ramesses II himself. The Temple of Queen Nefertari, dedicated to Hathor, stands beside it. Both temples reflect the grandeur of Egypt's New Kingdom (1550–1080 BC). The Egyptian government and UNESCO worked together to save these temples from flooding caused by Lake Nasser's creation, and they remain masterpieces of ancient Egyptian architecture and engineering.

After your time at the temples, you return to Aswan by the same route, arriving back at your hotel in the late afternoon. The entire day is handled as a private tour: your guide, your vehicle, your pace through the sites. Bottled water is provided during the journey, and all entry fees are covered in the price.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• hotel pickup and drop-off transfers.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• bottled water.
• all entrance fees and taxes.

Before you book

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

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transport

Operated by CRUISE ERA

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling alone or with a small group and want the flexibility of a private vehicle and guide for the entire day. The three-hour drive each way means you're not rushed through the temples, and having your own transportation lets you set the pace at Abu Simbel itself.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): 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 far is Abu Simbel from Aswan?

Abu Simbel is approximately three hours' drive south of Aswan. The journey covers the route to Lake Nasser, one of the world's largest man-made lakes.

What are the two temples at Abu Simbel dedicated to?

The Temple of Ramses II was dedicated to four universal gods (Ptah, Re-Her-Akhtey, Amun-Re), and to Ramesses II himself. The Temple of Queen Nefertari was dedicated to Hathor, the wife of the Sun God, symbolically bringing together Ramesses II, Nefertari, Hathor and the Sun God as one.

How much time do you spend at the temples?

You spend around three hours at Abu Simbel exploring both temples before the return drive to Aswan.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional English-speaking guide, bottled water, and all entrance fees and taxes.

Is the tour accessible for people with mobility needs?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Transportation options are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.