Abu Simbel Temples & Nubian Village Tour with Private Guide

Abu Simbel's colossal temples, moved stone by stone to escape the flood, with your guide explaining how.

A private day tour from Aswan to the Abu Simbel Temples (two vast rock-cut monuments built by Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC and relocated to a lakeside setting in Nubia) with your own English-speaking Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned transport, and a motorboat visit to a Nubian village. You spend around two hours at the temples exploring the Great Temple dedicated to Ramses II and the smaller Temple of Hathor, then sail to Soheil Island to visit a Nubian family and walk the village.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Abu Simbel Temples2h
2. Nubian Villages3h

Visit Abu Simbel and Nubian Village

• Pick up from hotel or Nile Cruise
• Drive 3 hours to Abu Simbel
• Explore Abu Simbel Temples with guide
• Drive back to Aswan
• Optional lunch in Aswan
• Motorboat to Nubian Village
• Visit Nubian family and have welcome drink
• Walk around village and learn about Nubian life
• Sail back and transfer to hotel or Nile Cruise

The experience

The Abu Simbel Temples sit three hours south of Aswan by car, and your guide picks you up from your hotel or Nile cruise in the early morning for the drive in comfort. The two temples (the Great Temple and the Temple of Hathor) are carved directly into the rock face and face Lake Nasser, the reservoir created when the Aswan High Dam was built. When the dam's construction threatened to flood the original site, UNESCO and the Egyptian government undertook one of history's largest archaeological rescues, cutting the temples apart and moving them to higher ground. Your Egyptologist walks you through the fine details of the rock-cut carvings and statuary, explaining the engineering feat that saved them and the history of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari, to whom the temples are dedicated.

After around two hours at the temples, you return to Aswan for an optional lunch break, then head to the Nile for the second part of the day. A motorboat takes you out to Soheil Island, where you visit one of the Nubian families living in the village. You're welcomed with tea or hibiscus, walk around the settlement, and talk with residents about their daily life and traditions. Your guide explains how the community maintains its culture, including the school where children learn the Nubian language. The boat returns you to the city for drop-off at your hotel or cruise ship.

The full day runs eleven hours from pickup to return, so plan to start early and finish in the late afternoon. Bring a breakfast box prepared by your hotel, as the drive begins before most restaurants open. Entrance fees to Abu Simbel must be paid by credit card or visa at the site. The motorboat and all transport are included in the price.

What’s included

• All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle with pickup and drop-off from your Aswan hotel or Nile cruise.
• a professional English-speaking Egyptologist guide.
• motorboat transport to the Nubian village on Soheil Island.
• bottled water during the drive.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 06:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 10

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt Super Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both Abu Simbel and the Nubian Village in one day with private transport and an Egyptologist guide, rather than splitting the experience across two separate outings.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5).

How far is Abu Simbel from Aswan, and how long does the drive take?

Abu Simbel lies about 280 kilometers south of Aswan, a three-hour drive each way in an air-conditioned vehicle. The round-trip journey accounts for most of the eleven-hour day.

What happened to the Abu Simbel Temples when the Aswan High Dam was built?

The temples originally stood at a lower elevation and would have been flooded when the dam created Lake Nasser. UNESCO and the Egyptian government dismantled both temples and relocated them to higher ground, a massive engineering project completed in the 1960s to preserve them.

How much time do you spend actually at the Abu Simbel Temples?

You spend around two hours at the temples with your guide, who walks you through the Great Temple dedicated to Ramses II and the smaller Temple of Hathor dedicated to his wife Nefertari, explaining the carvings, statuary and the history of their construction in the 13th century BC.

What is included in the motorboat visit to the Nubian village?

The motorboat takes you to Soheil Island to visit a Nubian family, where you receive a welcome drink of tea with mint or hibiscus, walk around the village, and learn about daily life and traditions from residents and your guide. The boat ride back to Aswan is included.

What do I need to bring or prepare for this tour?

Ask your hotel to prepare a breakfast box to take with you, since the pickup happens early before most restaurants open. Wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Entrance fees to Abu Simbel must be paid by credit card or visa at the site. Lunch in Aswan is optional and at your own cost.