Abu Simbel Temple Private Day Tour: Colossal Ancient Statues

Two temples carved straight into a mountainside by Ramses II still stand exactly as he left them.

A private day tour to Abu Simbel takes you seven to nine hours from your hotel to two rock-cut temples built by Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC, near Egypt's southern border. One temple honors Ramses himself. The other was built for his wife, Queen Nefertari. You walk past colossal entrance statues and see remarkably preserved carvings inside both temples, with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Abu Simbel Temples

• Travel to Abu Simbel
• Explore Ramses II temple
• Visit Queen Nefertari temple
• Admire colossal statues
• See ancient carvings

The experience

The two temples sit carved directly into a mountainside in southern Egypt, close to the Sudanese border. Ramses II built them over 3,000 years ago as a monument to himself and to Queen Nefertari. The scale is what stops you first: colossal statues guard the entrances, and the rock-cut chambers inside hold carvings so well preserved they read like the work of a decade rather than centuries. Your guide walks you through both temples, pointing out the engineering that kept them standing and the details that reveal what each one meant to the pharaoh who built it.

Hotel pickup and drop-off bookend the day, and you travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle the whole way. Bottled water comes with you. The tour runs seven to nine hours depending on how much time you spend inside the temples and how the day unfolds. Because it is private, the pace is yours: you move through the chambers at the speed that lets you actually look, and your guide answers the questions that come up as you stand in front of the carvings.

What’s included

• All transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• bottled water.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Information

Lasts 7h–9h, runs every day at 07:30, from US$ 185 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (21 to 70 years) · Youth (12 to 20 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Happy Pharaoh Tours

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you do not need a car or arrange your own transport to reach Abu Simbel. The private vehicle collects you and returns you at the end of the day, which matters if you are staying elsewhere in the region without a rental.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 20 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

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.

What are the two Abu Simbel temples actually built for?

One temple was built by Pharaoh Ramses II to honor himself. The other was built for his beloved wife, Queen Nefertari. Both were carved directly into the mountainside in the 13th century BC as monuments to their power and their relationship.

How long does the tour take from start to finish?

The tour runs seven to nine hours total, including hotel pickup and drop-off and all travel time in the vehicle. How much time you spend inside the temples depends on how closely you want to examine the carvings and chambers.

What is included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, all transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and an English-speaking guide are included. Lunch and gratuities are not included.