Abu Simbel Temples tour by road: Certified guide & hotel pickup

Stand before two pharaonic temples carved into a cliff face, guided through their carved chambers and statuary.

A full-day tour from your hotel to Abu Simbel Temples by road, with certified guide in multiple languages, hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees, air-conditioned transport and police permits included. The 10-hour journey covers the round trip by vehicle. A moderate level of fitness is needed for walking through the temples and their interiors.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Abu Simbel Temples

• Hotel pick up in Aswan
• Travel to Abu Simbel by road
• Explore Ramses II temple
• Explore Queen Nefertari temple
• Return to hotel in Aswan

The experience

Your hotel pickup marks the start of a 10-hour excursion to Abu Simbel, the pair of monumental temples carved into a cliff on the Nile's western bank. One sanctuary belongs to Ramses II, the other to his wife Queen Nefertari: both built in the 13th century BCE and relocated in the 1960s to escape the rising waters of Lake Nasser. The drive itself is the framework of the day. The temples are the destination.

A certified tour guide meets you in the vehicle and travels with you throughout, speaking English, Spanish, Italian, French or one additional language. Once you arrive, the guide leads you through the carved chambers and past the colossal statues that front each temple, explaining the hieroglyphics, the layout and the history of the pharaohs who built them. Entrance fees and police permits, required for travel in this region, are handled in advance, so you move straight into the temples without paperwork delays.

The day is built around the drive and the walking inside the temples themselves. An air-conditioned vehicle shields you from the heat during transit, and the temples offer shade in their interior passages, but the full itinerary demands a moderate level of fitness and comfort with several hours in a vehicle. Specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with young children. The site is wheelchair accessible, though the terrain and interior passages have constraints worth confirming before booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entrance fees to both temples.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full journey.
• certified tour guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or one additional language.
• police permits required for the region.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:00 and 07:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 27 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Happy Egypt Travel Services

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Aswan and prefer spending most of your day in an air-conditioned vehicle rather than walking. The 10 hours are mostly driving to reach Abu Simbel's temples.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

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 far is Abu Simbel from my hotel, and how much time do I spend in the vehicle?

Abu Simbel lies in southern Egypt near the Sudanese border, roughly 280 kilometers south of Aswan. The round-trip drive takes most of the 10-hour day, with the temples themselves occupying the central portion once you arrive.

What exactly will I see inside the two temples?

Ramses II's great temple features four colossal seated statues of the pharaoh at its entrance, with interior chambers decorated in hieroglyphics and reliefs depicting his reign and military campaigns. Nefertari's temple is smaller, fronted by six standing figures (four of Ramses II and two of his queen) with a sanctuary inside dedicated to the goddess Hathor.

What's included in the price, and what should I bring or pay separately?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees, the air-conditioned vehicle, police permits and your certified guide are all included. Meals, drinks and gratuities are not, so plan to bring water and snacks or purchase them during the day.

Do I need any permits or documents to visit Abu Simbel?

Police permits are required to travel to Abu Simbel and are included in this tour. Your guide and the operator handle them before departure, so you don't need to arrange them yourself.