Private Abu Simbel tour from Aswan by car: Skip the crowds

Three hours each way to the temples, none of it spent waiting in line with fifty other tours.

A private day tour from Aswan to Abu Simbel by air-conditioned car, departing from your hotel and returning after nine hours. You travel the Nile road with a guide who speaks your language, enter the World Heritage Site temples on your own schedule, and explore the rock carvings without the crowds that fill the standard group departures. Hotel pickup and bottled water are included. Entry fees and lunch are optional depending on the package you choose.

The experience

The drive from Aswan takes about three hours each way along the Nile, and you spend it in a private air-conditioned vehicle instead of a minibus full of strangers. Your guide meets you at the hotel and handles the route. You watch the landscape change and ask questions without raising your hand. The car is yours alone, which means the schedule bends to what you want to see and how long you want to stand in front of it.

Abu Simbel itself is two massive rock temples carved into a cliff, built by Ramesses II over three thousand years ago. The temples were relocated in the 1960s to save them from a dam, and they sit now on a plateau overlooking Lake Nasser. Your guide walks you through the carved figures and the chambers inside, explaining what each one meant and why the temples were positioned the way they were. Because you are not part of a group tour, you move at your own pace and linger where it interests you.

The nine-hour total includes the full drive and your time at the site. Depending on which package you book, entry fees and lunch can be added at checkout. If you skip them, bring your own food or eat in Aswan before you leave. Note that tours must be confirmed before 6 PM the day before, as police permission is required for this route and has to be arranged in advance.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Aswan.
• private air-conditioned car for the full day.
• a live guide in your chosen language.
• bottled water throughout the journey.

Options for this experience

4 options

Private car with driver onlyGuide in 4 languages · 04:00, 05:00, 06:00 and 07:00Private car with driver only, pickup is included

Car and tour guide onlyGuide in 4 languages · 04:00, 05:00, 06:00 and 07:00Car and tour guide only, pickup is included

Car, guide and entry feesGuide in 4 languages · 04:00, 05:00, 06:00 and 07:00Car, guide and entry fees, pickup is included

Car, guide, entry fees and lunchGuide in 4 languages · 04:00, 05:00, 06:00 and 07:00Car, guide, entry fees and lunch, 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 04:00, 05:00, 06:00 and 07:00

Book up to1d before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Camel Ride at Giza Pyramids

Is this one for you?Choose this private car option if you need flexibility to linger at the temples for photography or reflection, and can dedicate a full day to the drive from Aswan.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Arabic.

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 is about 280 kilometers south of Aswan, a drive of roughly three hours each way by car along the Nile valley road.

What are the temples at Abu Simbel, and what will I see inside them?

Abu Simbel consists of two rock temples carved directly into a cliff face by Ramesses II around 1250 BCE. The larger temple features four colossal seated statues of the pharaoh at its entrance, and inside are carved chambers and halls decorated with hieroglyphics and images of gods and royal scenes. The smaller temple is dedicated to Ramesses' wife Nefertari.

Can I add lunch and entry fees to this tour, or do I need to arrange them separately?

Entry fees and lunch are both optional and can be added when you select your package at checkout. If you do not add them, you will need to bring your own food or arrange meals separately.

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

The tour departs from your hotel in Aswan in the morning and returns after nine hours total, including the drive and your time at the temples. The exact departure time is confirmed when you book.