Aswan · Upper Egypt · Private day tours
From granite quarries and island temples to Nubian villages and Abu Simbel, choose the Aswan day tour that fits your time on the Nile.
Aswan day tours offer several different ways to explore southern Egypt: a motorboat journey to Philae Temple, a visit to a Nubian family home, a desert route to St Simeon Monastery, or a full-day excursion to Abu Simbel. The right choice depends on what you want to experience and how much time you have.
Our shorter Aswan excursions include a three-hour Nubian Village visit and an approximately four-hour tour combining Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. For Abu Simbel, we offer separate road and flight itineraries. You can also experience Philae after dark through an evening Sound and Light Show with private transfers.
At Egypt Luxury Trips, each itinerary has its own inclusions and transport arrangements. The guide below helps you compare those differences before sending an enquiry. If you are still deciding where to go in Upper Egypt, our Visit Aswan Egypt guide gives a wider overview.
6
Aswan experiences to choose from
2–9 hrs
From the Sound and Light Show to Abu Simbel by road
2
Abu Simbel options: by road or by plane
Pickup
From your Aswan hotel or Nile cruise on several itineraries
Compare Our Aswan Day Tours
| Experience and time | Visits and format |
|---|---|
| Philae Temple, High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk About 4 hours | Granite quarries, High Dam and Philae Temple. Private guided tour. |
| Nubian Village by Motorboat About 3 hours | Nile journey, Gharb Soheil and a family-home visit. Private motorboat and local guide. |
| St Simeon Monastery and Tombs of the Nobles Half day; timing confirmed on enquiry | Qubbet el-Hawa, camel ride and monastery. Private tour. |
| Philae Sound and Light Show About 2 hours | Evening boat crossing and illuminated temple presentation. Group show with private road transfers. |
| Abu Simbel by Road About 9 hours | Great Temple of Ramses II and Temple of Hathor and Nefertari. Private vehicle and Egyptologist. |
| Abu Simbel by Plane About 6 hours, depending on flight schedules | Both Abu Simbel temples. Regular airline flights with private local arrangements. |
These are approximate itinerary durations. Pickup times and, where applicable, flight or show schedules need confirmation for your travel date.
Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk
For an Aswan sightseeing tour covering three contrasting attractions, this approximately four-hour itinerary brings together ancient stone-working, modern engineering and an island temple complex.
We collect you from your Aswan hotel or Nile cruise and travel by private air-conditioned vehicle to the Unfinished Obelisk. At the ancient granite quarries, your guide explains the stone-cutting techniques associated with the monument.
The route continues to the High Dam, where the visit introduces its relationship with flood control, irrigation and electricity generation. You then travel by motorboat to Agilkia Island for Philae Temple.
The temple visit includes the Temple of Isis, the Temple of Hathor, the Kiosk of Trajan and surrounding structures. After exploring the complex, you return by boat and private vehicle to your accommodation.
What is included and excluded?
Included: Aswan hotel or Nile cruise pickup and return, private air-conditioned transportation, entrance fees and the return motorboat journey, a professional English-speaking guide, bottled water, taxes and service charges.
Not included: meals, personal expenses, tipping and additional attractions.
If you want these three visits arranged within one excursion, explore our Philae Temple Aswan Tour. For more on the dam and the quarry, read our Aswan High Dam tour guide.
Nubian Village Tour by Motorboat
This approximately three-hour experience combines time on the Nile with a visit to Gharb Soheil.
After pickup from your Aswan hotel or cruise, you transfer to the river and board a private motorboat. The journey passes through the First Cataract landscape, with rocky islands and views along the West Bank.
Depending on the views along the route, you may see landmarks such as Elephantine Island, the Botanical Garden and the Aga Khan Mausoleum. These are sightseeing views from the boat, rather than separate visits included in the itinerary.
At Gharb Soheil, the focus shifts to the village’s colourful houses, local market and community life. You visit a Nubian family home and enjoy tea, coffee or karkade before returning by motorboat.
What is included and excluded?
Included: a local guide, private motorboat, pickup and return, the listed refreshments, bottled water, taxes and service charges.
Not included: meals, village purchases, additional activities and tipping.
For travellers comparing Aswan boat tours, the distinction matters: this itinerary uses a motorboat, not a felucca. Its main destination is Gharb Soheil, rather than an onshore tour of Elephantine Island. See the full Nubian Village Motorboat Tour page for details.
St Simeon Monastery and the Tombs of the Nobles
This private half-day excursion connects two different parts of Aswan’s heritage through a route involving a Nile crossing, hillside access and a camel journey.
You begin with a private motorboat crossing to the West Bank, then climb toward the rock-cut Tombs of the Nobles at Qubbet el-Hawa. Your guide selects from the tombs open on the day; the itinerary does not guarantee a fixed list.
From the tombs area, you continue by camel across the sandy landscape toward St Simeon Monastery. The visit explores the fortified Coptic complex before you return to the river and cross back.
Good to know
The stairway and camel section are important considerations when choosing this tour. If anyone in your party has mobility concerns or would prefer a different arrangement, include those details in your enquiry so we can discuss what may be possible.
What is included and excluded?
Included: pickup and return, motorboat transportation, the camel ride, entrance fees, taxes and service charges.
Not included: meals, personal expenses, tipping and additional services.
Read more on the St Simeon Monastery Aswan tour page.
Philae Sound and Light Show
The Philae Sound and Light Show offers an evening experience built around narration, lighting and projections within the temple complex.
We collect you from your Aswan hotel or Nile cruise by private air-conditioned vehicle and transfer you to the boat landing. A motorboat takes you to Agilkia Island, where the presentation recounts Philae’s history and the story of Isis and Osiris.
After the show, you return by motorboat and private vehicle to your accommodation. The complete excursion takes approximately two hours.
The show is a group presentation. Private road transfers are included, but a private Egyptologist-guided temple tour is not. The package includes the show ticket, return motorboat transportation, bottled water, taxes and service charges. Meals, additional services and tipping are excluded.
Choose this experience for its evening presentation; choose the daytime Philae itinerary if you want the guided temple visit combined with the High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk. Full details are on the Philae Sound and Light Show page.
Abu Simbel Day Trips from Aswan
Both Abu Simbel itineraries visit the Great Temple of Ramses II and the neighbouring Temple of Hathor and Queen Nefertari. The main differences are transportation, overall duration and the arrangements required for the journey. For background on the monuments, see our Abu Simbel temples facts guide, or read how the private road tour with return transfers works.
Abu Simbel by Road
The private road tour takes approximately nine hours, including around three hours of driving each way.
You travel from Aswan in a private air-conditioned vehicle with a professional English-speaking Egyptologist. After visiting both temples and allowing time for photographs, you return to your confirmed drop-off point in Aswan.
What is included and excluded?
Included: pickup and return, private transportation, Abu Simbel admission, guiding, bottled water, taxes and service charges.
Not included: meals, personal expenses, optional activities and tipping.
Abu Simbel by Plane
The flight itinerary takes approximately six hours overall, subject to domestic flight schedules. Flying time is approximately 40 minutes each way, but airport procedures, local transfers and sightseeing also form part of the excursion.
The flights operate as regular airline services; they are not private aircraft. Flight availability and final timings must be confirmed for your chosen date.
What is included and excluded?
Included: return flights, private air-conditioned local transfers, meet-and-assist service, an English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and bottled water.
Not included: meals, personal expenses, optional activities, tipping and services not specifically listed.
Aswan Day Tours in Pictures
A few of the temples, boats and riverbank views you may see on an Aswan day tour.
Which Aswan Day Tour Should You Choose?
If your time is short
The Philae, High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk tour takes about four hours, and the Philae Sound and Light Show about two hours in the evening.
For local culture
The Nubian Village motorboat tour takes about three hours, while the St Simeon Monastery tour is a half-day route with a camel ride.
For the great temples
Choose Abu Simbel by road (about nine hours) or Abu Simbel by plane (about six hours, subject to flight schedules).
Visiting Aswan from Luxor
If you are staying in Luxor, our Luxor–Aswan day tour is a separate itinerary with a different starting point.
This approximately 16-hour excursion travels south by private vehicle, visiting Edfu, Kom Ombo and the Crocodile Museum before continuing to Aswan’s High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple.
Lunch is included. You return from Aswan to Luxor by first-class seated train, followed by a transfer to your Luxor hotel. This is a substantial day of travel and sightseeing, so it should not be confused with a shorter Aswan city tour or a departure from Aswan. See the Luxor Aswan day tour page for details.
If you would rather see Aswan as part of a longer journey, compare our 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor and 4-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan.
What Travellers Say About Egypt Luxury Trips
Read recent guest reviews from Tripadvisor before you choose your Aswan excursion.
Aswan Day Tours: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Our private combined itinerary includes all three in approximately four hours, with Aswan pickup and return, entrance fees and the motorboat journey to Philae.
Prices are provided on request because they depend on the excursion, your travel date and the number of travellers. Send your preferred tour, date and group size through the enquiry form and our team will confirm the pricing for your arrangements.
Several itineraries explicitly include pickup from an Aswan hotel or Nile cruise, including the Philae sightseeing tour, the Nubian Village visit and the Philae evening show. Provide your accommodation or cruise details so the meeting arrangements can be confirmed.
Inclusions depend on the excursion. The Philae sightseeing tour includes entrance fees and its return boat journey. The evening experience includes the show ticket and return motorboat transportation. Check the inclusion list for your chosen itinerary rather than assuming every tour has the same package.
The road tour takes approximately nine hours, including around three hours of driving each way, in a private vehicle with an Egyptologist. The flight itinerary takes approximately six hours overall, with flying time of about 40 minutes each way on regular airline flights. Flight availability and final timings must be confirmed for your date.
The show is a group presentation with private road transfers. A private Egyptologist-guided temple tour is not included, so choose the daytime Philae itinerary if you want a guided visit of the temple.
The St Simeon Monastery tour involves a stairway and a camel ride, so describe any mobility concerns when you enquire and we will discuss what may be possible. Other itineraries have their own pacing and terrain, so ask about the tour you prefer.
No. Our Aswan-to-Luxor cruise lasts three nights and four days, and the Luxor-to-Aswan cruise lasts four nights and five days. They are separate multi-day journeys with accommodation and the stated full-board meal arrangements.
Discuss Your Aswan Tour
Start with the experience you most want to include: Philae and the city sights, a Nubian Village visit, the West Bank monastery route, an evening show or Abu Simbel.
Fill out the enquiry form with your travel dates, number of travellers, preferred tour and hotel or Nile cruise details. Our Egypt Luxury Trips team can provide more information, confirm the available arrangements and pricing, and discuss how the excursion fits into your journey.
Keep Planning Your Upper Egypt Trip
- Visit Aswan, Egypt: find the right tour for your journey
- Aswan High Dam tour with Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk
- Abu Simbel to Aswan: private road tour with return transfers
- Aswan Luxor tour: 3 nights on the Nile with a private guide
- Luxor Aswan tour from Cairo: 4-night Nile cruise guide
- Aswan to Cairo distance: how far is it and how to travel
