Abu Simbel Temples tour from Aswan: Three sites in one day

Drive 280 kilometers through the desert at dawn to reach Abu Simbel before the crowds

A full-day guided tour from Aswan combines Abu Simbel Temples, Philae Temple and the High Dam in a single itinerary, with pickup from your hotel or Nile cruise at 4 am. You travel 280 kilometers through the Egyptian desert, watch the sunrise over the mountains, explore the two colossal temples on the shore of Lake Nasser with an Egyptologist guide, then return to Aswan for lunch before visiting Philae Temple by motorboat and the High Dam in the afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Abu Simbel Temples2h
2. Philae Temple2h
3. Aswan High Dam1h

Abu Simbel and Aswan Highlights Tour

• Pickup from hotel or Nile cruise early morning
• Drive 3 hours to Abu Simbel temples
• Guided explanation of Abu Simbel history
• Free time to explore Abu Simbel temples
• Visit visitor center about UNESCO relocation
• Drive 3 hours back to Aswan
• Optional lunch at local restaurant
• Short motorboat ride to Philae Temple
• Explore Philae Temple and surroundings
• Visit Aswan High Dam and hydro-power stations
• Return to hotel or Nile cruise in Aswan

The experience

The early pickup (between 4 and 4:30 am) gets you on the road while it is still dark so you arrive at Abu Simbel as the sun rises over the desert. The drive takes about three hours through open landscape. Your Egyptologist guide will explain the history of the temples and the UNESCO relocation project that moved the entire cliff face to higher ground in the 1960s to prevent flooding from the High Dam. Guides cannot enter the Great Temple of Ramses II or the smaller Temple of Hathor, so your guide uses photos and illustrations to walk you through the structures and their interior artworks, then gives you free time to explore the temples at your own pace. The site sits on the edge of Lake Nasser in orange sand, and you can visit the small visitor center to see documents about the relocation before the three-hour drive back.

After returning to Aswan by 1:30 pm, you have time for lunch at a local restaurant (optional). The afternoon focuses on two Aswan landmarks: a motorboat takes you to Philae Temple, which was also relocated by UNESCO to its current island location to save it from inundation. You get free time to walk the temple grounds and its surroundings. Then you visit the High Dam, an engineering project completed in 1960 that created Lake Nasser, one of the world's largest artificial lakes. The dam's hydro-power stations supply about 10 percent of Egypt's electricity. The tour ends with a drive back to your hotel or Nile cruise.

An air-conditioned minivan or minibus handles all transport, and you receive a bottle of water during the day. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Arabic (other languages available for an extra charge). Bring a passport copy when you book. The operator needs it for government permission. Ask your hotel to pack a breakfast box the night before. The 4 am start means you will not have time to eat at the hotel.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking Egyptologist guide (Spanish and Arabic also available).
• pickup from your hotel or Nile cruise and return by air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottle of water during the tour.
• motorboat ride to Philae Temple.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:00, 04:30 and 05:00

Book up to12h before

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

GroupPrivate

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.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 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Egypt Lifetime Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to cover Abu Simbel, Philae Temple, and the High Dam in one day. The 4:30 am start gets you to Abu Simbel before crowds, then returns you by early afternoon for Aswan's other sites.

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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).

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 Aswan, and how long is the drive?

Abu Simbel lies 280 kilometers south of Aswan, a drive of approximately three hours each way through the Egyptian desert. The early morning departure means you travel while it is still dark and arrive as the sun rises.

Can I go inside the temples at Abu Simbel?

Yes, you have free time to enter both the Great Temple of Ramses II and the smaller Temple of Hathor and explore them at your own pace. Your guide cannot accompany you inside, but explains the structures and interior artworks using photos and illustrations before you enter.

What is the UNESCO relocation project the guide mentions?

When the High Dam was built in the 1960s, it would have flooded Abu Simbel. UNESCO led an international effort to cut the temples out of the cliff face and move them to higher ground, where they sit today on the shore of Lake Nasser. The visitor center at the site has documents explaining the project.

Do I need to pay for entrance to each site separately?

Yes, entrance fees to Abu Simbel Temples, Philae Temple and the High Dam are not included in the tour price and must be paid by card at each location. Your guide will help you with the process.

Is lunch included, and when do we eat?

Lunch is optional. You return to Aswan by 1:30 pm and have time to eat at a local restaurant before the afternoon visits to Philae Temple and the High Dam. Bring a breakfast box from your hotel since the 4 am pickup leaves no time for breakfast.