Abu Simbel Temples day trip from Aswan: Private tour with guide

Two colossal temples carved into a cliff face, saved from a flood by UNESCO and Egypt working together.

A private full-day tour from Aswan to the Abu Simbel Temples, two rock-carved masterpieces on the banks of Lake Nasser. You're picked up from your hotel early, driven south in an air-conditioned coach for three and a half hours, and guided through both temples (the great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Queen Nefertari) before the return drive to Aswan. A live guide in your language walks you through the history and symbolism of these ancient monuments.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan

• Pick up from hotel in Aswan
• Drive 3.5 hours to Abu Simbel
• Visit Abu Simbel Temples
• Drive 3.5 hours back to Aswan

The experience

If you're staying in Aswan and want to see Abu Simbel without arranging your own transport, this tour handles the logistics: a guide meets you at your hotel in the early morning, and you travel south in a climate-controlled vehicle. The drive itself is the commitment (three and a half hours each way), but it's the only way to reach these temples, which sit on the shores of Lake Nasser, deep in southern Egypt. The temples are unique both in their carved style and in their setting. They were relocated in the 1960s when the Aswan High Dam threatened to flood them, a UNESCO and Egyptian government effort that saved them from disappearing underwater.

The Temple of Ramses II, also called the Sun Temple, was dedicated to four universal gods (Ptah, Re-Her-Akhtey, Amun-Re), and to Ramesses II himself. The Temple of Queen Nefertari, dedicated to Hathor, sits beside it. Your guide explains how the two temples symbolically unite Ramesses II, Nefertari, Hathor, and the Sun God as one. Both are carved directly into the rock face, a scale and precision that reflects the grandeur of Egypt's New Kingdom. You'll spend time at both temples, with your guide providing context on their history, design and the engineering feat of their relocation.

The full day runs eight to ten hours from pickup to drop-off. Bottled water is provided during the drive. Depending on which option you choose at checkout, you can add a professional guide, entry fees to the temples, or lunch at a local restaurant. Some packages bundle these together, while others let you arrange them separately. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and children from age six are welcome.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Aswan hotel.
• private, air-conditioned coach for the full journey.
• bottled water during the drive.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or one of four additional languages.

Options for this experience

3 options

Car and guide onlyGuide in 8 languages · 9 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 08:00Duration: 10 hours. Private car and guide only option with bottled water; pickup is included.

Car, guide and entry feesGuide in 8 languages · 9 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 08:00Duration: 10 hours. Private option with car, guide and entry fees, plus bottled water; pickup is included.

Car+guide+Entry fees+lunchGuide in 8 languages · 9 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 08:00Duration: 10 hours. Private all-inclusive option with lunch and bottled water; pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 8h–10h, runs every day, 9 start times, from US$ 150 per person, with live guides in 8 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: 04:00, 04:30, 05:00, 05:30, 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30 and 08:00

GroupPrivate2 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic and ChineseOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendly

Operated by Bastet Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you're based in Aswan and want to reach Abu Simbel without renting a car or joining a shared group. The early morning pickup and long drive are built into one private itinerary, so you see both temples and return to your hotel the same day without coordinating separate transport.

Traveler reviews

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13 verified traveler reviews

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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 (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

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 long is the drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel?

The drive south from Aswan to Abu Simbel takes three and a half hours in an air-conditioned coach, and the return journey is the same length.

What are the two temples at Abu Simbel dedicated to?

The Temple of Ramses II was dedicated to the 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, and together the two temples symbolically unite Ramesses II, Nefertari, Hathor, and the Sun God.

Why were the Abu Simbel Temples moved?

The temples were relocated in the 1960s when the Aswan High Dam threatened to flood them. UNESCO and the Egyptian government worked together to save these ancient monuments from disappearing under the waters of Lake Nasser.

What's included in the tour, and what's optional?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, private air-conditioned transport, and bottled water are included in all options. A professional guide, entry fees to the temples, and lunch at a local restaurant are optional depending on which package you choose at checkout.