Abu Simbel Temples Private Tour from Aswan: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Drive across the desert to Egypt's most famous temples, then walk through chambers carved long ago into solid rock.

A private full-day tour from Aswan to Abu Simbel Temples with hotel pickup, Egyptologist guide and air-conditioned transport. You leave at 6:30 am for a three-hour drive south, spend two hours exploring the two colossal rock-hewn temples built by Ramses II in the 13th century BC, then return to your hotel by mid-afternoon. The temples were completely dismantled and rebuilt higher on the hillside when Lake Nasser's waters rose, a feat of modern engineering as remarkable as the ancient carving itself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour to Abu Simbel Temples

• Depart Aswan at 6:30 am
• Drive to Abu Simbel (3 hours)
• Guided tour of Abu Simbel Temples
• Free time at the temples
• Drive back to Aswan (3 hours)
• Return to hotel in Aswan

The experience

How do you see one of the world's most famous monuments without spending a full day on the road? This tour solves that by starting before dawn. You're picked up from your Aswan hotel around 6:30 am and driven south in a private air-conditioned vehicle. Three hours each way through the desert. The early start means you arrive when the site is quieter, before the midday crowds and heat peak. An Egyptologist guide meets you there and walks you through both temples: the Great Temple of Ramses II, fronted by four colossal seated statues carved directly into the mountainside, and the smaller Temple of Hathor beside it.

What makes Abu Simbel extraordinary is not just the scale, those statues stand 67 feet tall, but the engineering story behind them. When the Aswan High Dam was built in the 1960s, Lake Nasser's rising waters would have drowned these temples forever. Instead, they were cut into 1,000-ton blocks, moved 200 feet higher up the hill, and reassembled so precisely that the alignment remains exact. Your guide explains this modern feat alongside the ancient one: how Ramses II's workers carved these chambers and halls from solid rock without modern tools, and what the hieroglyphics and reliefs inside tell you about pharaonic power and belief. You have roughly two hours to walk through the temples at your own pace, with your guide available to answer questions. A bottle of water is provided during the trip.

The full day, from pickup to return, takes about eight hours. You're back at your hotel by mid-afternoon, leaving the rest of your day free. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as is transport in a private vehicle and the services of your Egyptologist guide. Entrance fees to the temples are not included and are paid separately at the site.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off at your Aswan accommodation.
• private air-conditioned vehicle transport for the full day.
• an Egyptologist guide fluent in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• a bottle of water during the trip.
• all taxes and service charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 03:30, the last at 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Egyptethique

Is this one for you?The eight-hour commitment (three hours driving each way, two hours at the temples) means you leave Aswan before sunrise and return by mid-afternoon, leaving your evening free. If you want to see Abu Simbel without sacrificing a full calendar day, this timing fits. If you need a shorter outing or prefer a later start, a private tour gives you the flexibility to adjust the departure time at checkout.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

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

Abu Simbel lies about 180 kilometers south of Aswan in Lower Nubia, a drive of roughly three hours each way through the desert in a private air-conditioned vehicle.

What are the two temples at Abu Simbel, and who built them?

The Great Temple of Ramses II and the smaller Temple of Hathor were both carved into the mountainside during the reign of Ramses II in the 13th century BC. Four colossal statues of Ramses II, each 67 feet tall, guard the entrance to the Great Temple.

Why were the Abu Simbel temples moved, and when did that happen?

When the Aswan High Dam was built in the 1960s, Lake Nasser's rising waters threatened to submerge the temples. They were completely dismantled into massive blocks, relocated 200 feet higher up the hill, and reassembled so precisely that their original alignment was preserved.

What time does the tour start, and when will I be back at my hotel?

Pickup from your Aswan hotel is around 6:30 am. The full tour takes approximately eight hours, so you return to your hotel by mid-afternoon.

What is included in the tour, and what do I need to pay separately?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, private air-conditioned transport, an Egyptologist guide, and a bottle of water are all included. Entrance fees to the temples are not included and are paid at the site.