Private Day Tour to Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan

Two colossal temples carved into a cliff, 3,400 years old, on a private route from Aswan

A private day tour from Aswan to Abu Simbel Temples, the 3,400-year-old complex beside Lake Nasser, traveling by air-conditioned vehicle with a qualified Egyptologist guide. You visit both the Temple of Ramesses II, dedicated to four universal gods, and the Temple of Queen Nefertari, dedicated to Hathor. Hotel pickup and drop-off, entry fees and bottled water are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan

• Travel south by private vehicle
• Visit the two temples of Abu Simbel
• Return to Aswan hotel

The experience

Eight to ten hours round-trip from Aswan, traveling south by private air-conditioned vehicle with your personal Egyptologist guide. The route covers roughly 280 kilometers each way, so most of the day is spent in transit, but the temples themselves justify the distance: Abu Simbel sits on the shore of Lake Nasser, isolated and monumental in a way few sites in Egypt are. Your guide shares the history as you drive, then walks you through both temples on arrival.

The Temple of Ramesses II dominates the site: four colossal seated figures carved directly into the cliff face, each one 67 feet tall. Inside, the temple was designed so that twice a year, sunlight penetrates the inner sanctum and illuminates the statues of the gods. The smaller Temple of Queen Nefertari sits beside it, dedicated to Hathor and the queen herself, with six standing figures across its facade. Both are masterworks of ancient Egyptian engineering, relocated in the 1960s when Lake Nasser rose behind the Aswan High Dam.

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Aswan, entry to both temples, bottled water throughout the day, and the guide's commentary in your choice of English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or several other languages. You'll need your passport details at booking. Wheelchair-accessible transport and facilities are available, and the tour suits all fitness levels, though the long drive and heat are constants.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Aswan.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• entrance fees to both the Temple of Ramesses II and the Temple of Queen Nefertari.
• a qualified Egyptologist guide in your chosen language.
• bottled water.
• all taxes and service charges.

Before you book

Lasts 8h–10h, runs every day, 6 start times, from US$ 140 per person, with live guides in 7 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 09:00

Book up to1d before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 14 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Egypt Unlimited Tours

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want the temples without sharing the vehicle or the guide's attention, and if you're willing to spend most of the day driving to reach one of Egypt's most remote and monumental sites.

Traveler reviews

4.84★★★★★★★★★★

37 verified traveler reviews

5 ★33

4 ★3

3 ★0

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

How far is Abu Simbel from Aswan, and how much of the day is spent driving?

Abu Simbel lies roughly 280 kilometers south of Aswan, making it a four to five hour drive each way. Most of your eight to ten hour tour is spent in the vehicle, with a few hours at the temples themselves once you arrive.

What are the two temples at Abu Simbel, and who were they built for?

The Temple of Ramesses II was carved into the cliff for the pharaoh and four universal gods: Ptah, Re-Her-Akhtey, Amun-Re and Ramesses II himself. The Temple of Queen Nefertari, smaller and beside it, was dedicated to the queen and to Hathor, the goddess and wife of the sun god.

Is there anything special about the way sunlight enters the Temple of Ramesses II?

The temple was engineered so that twice a year, sunlight penetrates deep into the inner sanctum and illuminates the statues of the gods inside. This alignment was intentional, a demonstration of the builders' astronomical knowledge.

Why were these temples moved, and where did they go?

Both temples were relocated in the 1960s when Lake Nasser rose behind the Aswan High Dam. They were cut from the cliff and reassembled on higher ground nearby, preserving them from flooding.