Abu Simbel Private Tour from Aswan: Sacred Temple Access

Eight hours at Abu Simbel's colossal statues and inner sanctum

A private tour from Aswan to Abu Simbel Temple in Egypt, traveling by air-conditioned vehicle with a driver and your choice of guide and meal inclusions. The tour runs eight hours round-trip and reaches the temple's monumental facade and interior chambers. You pick your option at checkout: driver only, or driver plus guide plus entry and lunch, or other combinations that suit your budget and interest.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Abu Simbel Temple

• Arrive at Abu Simbel Temple
• Explore the temple's sacred silence
• Observe ancient walls and statues

The experience

Abu Simbel sits on the Nile's western bank, four temples carved into the rock face by Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE. The two colossal statues guarding the entrance stand 67 meters high. A private vehicle with air conditioning and bottled water carries you from Aswan, and you travel with a driver included in every option. The route is roughly 280 kilometers each way, so the full day accounts for the drive time and your time inside the temple complex.

What you see depends on which option you choose at checkout. The driver-only option gets you there and back. Add a guide to have someone explain the temple's layout, the hieroglyphics, and the twice-yearly solar alignment that floods the inner sanctum with light. Entry fees are your responsibility unless you select an option that bundles them in. Lunch is available on some options but not others. Bottled water and the air-conditioned car come with every booking.

Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available if you request one. The tour suits all fitness levels, though the temple involves walking and standing inside chambers with uneven stone floors. Tipping the driver is optional and depends on your option choice.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver.
• bottled water.
• choice of guide and entry fees depending on your selected option.
• specialized infant seats available on request.

Options for this experience

5 options

Private car with driver only7 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 10:00Pickup is included

Private car with a tour guide7 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 10:00Private car with a tour guide, pickup included

Private car, guide and entry fees7 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 10:00Private car, guide and entry fees, pickup included

See 2 more options

Car+Guide+Entery fees+Lunch7 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 10:00Car, guide, entry fees and lunch, lunch in AbuSimble, pickup included

Car staying until the next day plus entry fee7 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 10:00Car staying until the next day plus entry fee, pickup included

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 10:00

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 5

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Taharka tours

Is this one for you?Pick the driver-only option if you want to explore the temple at your own pace and keep costs down. Add a guide if the history and the hieroglyphics matter more to you than saving money. Lunch is available on some options, so choose based on whether you'd rather eat at the site or bring your own food.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is inside Abu Simbel Temple that makes it worth the drive from Aswan?

Abu Simbel holds two temples: the Great Temple of Ramesses II, fronted by four 67-meter statues carved directly into the cliff, and the smaller Temple of Hathor beside it. Inside the Great Temple, a series of chambers leads to the inner sanctum, where twice a year the sun aligns to illuminate the statues of the gods seated at the far wall. The walls throughout are covered in hieroglyphics and reliefs depicting Ramesses II and the deities.

How long is the drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel, and what's included in the vehicle?

The round-trip journey takes most of the eight-hour tour, covering roughly 280 kilometers each way. Your private car is air-conditioned and comes with bottled water. A driver is included in every option. You travel in a vehicle sized for your group, not shared with other travelers.

Do I need to book a guide, or can I explore Abu Simbel on my own?

A guide is optional and depends on which option you select at checkout. The driver-only option leaves you free to walk the temple independently. Other options pair the driver with a guide who explains the temple's history, the hieroglyphics and the architectural details. Entry fees are separate unless bundled into your chosen option.

Are entry fees to Abu Simbel included in the tour price?

Entry fees are not included in the base price. You pay them separately by card at the temple. Some options bundle entry fees and lunch together, so check your option details at checkout to see what is covered.

What should I bring, and what does the tour provide?

The tour provides bottled water and an air-conditioned vehicle. Bring sun protection, comfortable walking shoes for the temple's stone floors, and a camera if you want photos. Lunch is included in some options but not others, so confirm your choice before booking.