Abu Simbel Temples tour from Aswan: Private car & guide

A morning at two colossal temples reflected in Lake Nasser, with a private Egyptologist to tell you who built them and why

A private tour from Aswan to Abu Simbel Temples by car with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entry fees and hotel pickup included. The three-hour desert drive takes you to two massive sandstone structures on the shore of Lake Nasser, where you spend three hours exploring the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari at your own pace or with your guide's narration. You return to Aswan in the late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan

• Pickup from Aswan hotel or cruise
• Drive three hours to Abu Simbel
• Explore Abu Simbel Temples for three hours
• Return three hours to Aswan

The experience

The drive out is a three-hour crossing through the desert in a private air-conditioned vehicle, with a qualified driver and a bottle of mineral water for the road. Your guide travels with you and can talk through the history as you go, or you can watch the landscape shift from the Nile Valley toward the lake. Pickup happens from your Aswan hotel or your Nile cruise ship, so there's no separate meeting point to find.

At Abu Simbel, you have roughly three hours to move through the temples at whatever pace suits you. The two structures sit on the water's edge: the Great Temple of Ramses II with its four colossal statues carved into the cliff face, and the smaller Temple of Nefertari next to it, dedicated to the love goddess Hathor. Your guide can walk you through the chambers and carvings, explaining the stories of Ramses, his wife, the gods they honored, and how the Nile's annual flooding shaped the civilization that built these places. You can also wander independently if you prefer. The temples are open-air and lakefront, so bring sunscreen and a hat.

The return journey mirrors the outbound drive: three hours back to Aswan, arriving in the late afternoon. The full day (drive, exploration, drive back) runs eight hours door to door. Your guide speaks English and can also conduct the tour in Spanish, Italian, French or one additional language if you arrange it at booking.

What’s included

• Professional Egyptologist guide in English.
• private air-conditioned car with qualified driver.
• entry fees to both Abu Simbel Temples.
• hotel or cruise ship pickup and return to Aswan.
• one bottle of mineral water.

Options for this experience

3 options

Car with driver onlyGuide in 5 languages · 05:00, 06:00, 07:00 and 08:00Car with driver only, includes pickup

Car and guide onlyGuide in 5 languages · 05:00, 06:00, 07:00 and 08:00Car and guide only, pickup is included

Car, guide and entry feesGuide in 5 languages · 05:00, 06:00, 07:00 and 08:00Car, guide and entry fees, pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:00, 06:00, 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to2h before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Luxor Private Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the temples explained by someone trained in Egyptian history rather than walking them alone, and if you prefer a private vehicle to a shared minibus. The car leaves when you're ready and stops when you want to photograph or ask questions, without waiting for a group schedule.

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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 roughly 280 kilometers south of Aswan on the shore of Lake Nasser. The private car journey takes three hours each way through the desert.

What exactly is there to see at Abu Simbel Temples?

Two ancient sandstone temples stand on the lakefront. The Great Temple of Ramses II features four colossal statues carved directly into the cliff face, with interior chambers and carvings depicting Ramses, his family, and the gods. The Temple of Nefertari, smaller and adjacent, was built for Ramses' wife and dedicated to the goddess Hathor, with its own carved figures and decorated rooms.

How much time do I actually spend at the temples?

You have approximately three hours to explore both temples. Your guide can lead you through the chambers and explain the carvings and history, or you can walk at your own pace and take photographs.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay separately?

The tour includes the private car and driver, an Egyptologist guide in English, entry fees to both temples, all transfers from your hotel or cruise ship, and one bottle of mineral water. Gratuities for the guide and driver are separate.