Private Abu Simbel Tour from Aswan: Three Options, Your Pace

280 kilometers of desert, three ways to see the temples

A private full-day tour from Aswan to Abu Simbel Temples with three booking options: driver-only transfer, guided tour, or all-inclusive with entrance tickets. The approximately 280-kilometer journey takes around three hours each way through the Nubian Desert with rest stops, and you travel in a modern air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from anywhere in Aswan. Choose the experience that matches your interests and budget.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private full-day Abu Simbel tour

• Drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel
• Visit Abu Simbel Temples
• Drive back to Aswan

The experience

The drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel covers roughly 280 kilometers across the Nubian Desert, taking around three hours each way with stops along the route. You travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from your hotel or any location in Aswan, and the same vehicle returns you at the end of the day. This setup means no waiting for a group to assemble, no fixed departure time that doesn't match your schedule, and no sharing the journey with strangers.

Abu Simbel Temples stand as Pharaoh Ramses II's monument to himself and Queen Nefertari: colossal statues, carved reliefs, and architecture that earned the site UNESCO World Heritage status. What you do there depends on which option you book at checkout. The driver-only option gets you to the temples and back. You explore independently. Add a licensed guide and someone walks you through the site, explaining the carvings and history in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or one of 42 other languages. The all-inclusive package includes both the guide and entrance tickets, so you arrive ready to walk straight in without stopping at a ticket window.

Transparent pricing means no surprise charges at pickup or the end of the day. The local Aswan-based team handles the logistics: experienced drivers, professional scheduling, comfortable rest stops through the desert. Families, couples, and groups all book the same way: you choose your vehicle and guide level, confirm your pickup location, and the rest is arranged.

What’s included

• Private transportation with door-to-door pickup and drop-off anywhere in Aswan.
• modern air-conditioned vehicle for the full journey.
• rest stops along the 280-kilometer route.
• licensed guide services available in your choice of language.
• entrance tickets to Abu Simbel Temples included in the all-inclusive option.
• flexible scheduling to match your preferred pace.

Options for this experience

3 options

Vehicle-Only Private TourGuide in 51 languages · 5 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 09:00Lasts 7 hours, with a private air-conditioned transfer from Aswan to Abu Simbel and a professional driver. A guide and entrance tickets are not included. Private Vehicle Transfer: a modern private air-conditioned transfer in a Sedan/SUV (up to 3 guests), Minivan (up to 5), or Van (up to 7 guests). Pickup is included.

Tour with a Licensed GuideGuide in 51 languages · 5 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 09:00Lasts 8 hours. A private Abu Simbel tour with a licensed guide, and the driver is included. Entrance tickets are not included. Learn the history during your pickup, which is included.

Abu Simbel tour, all-inclusiveGuide in 51 languages · 5 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 09:00Lasts 9 hours. A private Abu Simbel experience that includes a driver, a licensed guide, and entrance tickets, with no hidden costs and a full cultural focus. All-Inclusive Private Transfer: a modern private air-conditioned transfer in a Sedan/SUV (up to 3 guests), Minivan (up to 5), or Van (up to 7 guests). 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 day5 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 09:00

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Bangla, Burmese, Cantonese, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Filipino, Finnish, Greek, Gujarati, Hakka Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Japanese, Javanese, Korean, Kurdish, MNP, Malay, Malayalam, Marathi, Norwegian, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Swedish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Wu Chinese and Xiang Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Eyes of Egypt

Is this one for you?Pick the driver-only option if you prefer to explore the temples independently and save on guide costs; choose the guided tour if you want context and history without paying for entrance tickets separately; book all-inclusive when you want everything arranged and included, with no stops for tickets or decisions once you arrive at the site.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, Bangla, Chinese, Wu Chinese, Slovak, Serbian, Swedish, Korean, Kurdish, Cantonese, Tamil, MNP, Gujarati, Czech, Telugu, Punjabi, Thai, Polish, Hebrew, Danish, Javanese, Xiang Chinese, Chinese, Malay, Pashto, Filipino, Croatian, Hungarian, Hakka Chinese, Ukrainian, Urdu, Malayalam, Marathi, Greek, Finnish, Burmese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Japanese, Persian, Romanian, Dutch, Norwegian, Russian and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

How long is the drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel?

The journey takes approximately three hours each way to cover the 280 kilometers through the Nubian Desert, with rest stops included along the route.

What are the three booking options for this tour?

You can book a private vehicle only (driver handles transport), add a licensed guide for commentary and context at the temples, or choose all-inclusive with both guide and entrance tickets included.

Can I arrange pickup from my hotel?

Yes, door-to-door pickup is included and available from anywhere in Aswan. You choose your location at checkout.

What is Abu Simbel and why is it famous?

Abu Simbel Temples are monuments built by Pharaoh Ramses II, featuring colossal statues and intricate carvings dedicated to himself and Queen Nefertari. The site holds UNESCO World Heritage status and ranks among Egypt's most iconic attractions.

Is the vehicle air-conditioned?

Yes, you travel in a modern air-conditioned vehicle throughout the desert journey for comfort on both the outbound and return drives.