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PRIVATE DAY TOUR · ASWAN TO ABU SIMBEL
Stand before the colossal statues of Ramses II with your own Egyptologist and a private air-conditioned vehicle.
Visit the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor and Queen Nefertari on our private Abu Simbel tour from Aswan. This approximately nine-hour excursion brings together private road transport, an English-speaking Egyptologist and admission to the temple complex.
We collect you from your Aswan hotel, Nile cruise or another confirmed meeting point and take you south through the desert toward Lake Nasser. At Abu Simbel, you explore the two temples, examine their monumental façades and carved interiors, and learn how the monuments were moved to protect them from rising water.
With Egypt Luxury Trips, your transport, guiding and temple admission are arranged together. After the visit and time for photographs, you return by private vehicle to your confirmed drop-off point in Aswan.
≈ 9 hours
Total tour duration
≈ 3 hours
Drive each way
Private
Air-conditioned vehicle
Included
Entrance fees and Egyptologist
Your Abu Simbel Day Trip at a Glance
| Tour detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Tour format | Private day tour by road |
| Route | Aswan → Abu Simbel → Aswan |
| Overall duration | Approximately nine hours |
| Driving time | Approximately three hours each way |
| Transportation | Private air-conditioned vehicle |
| Guide | Professional English-speaking Egyptologist |
| Main visits | Great Temple of Ramses II; Temple of Hathor and Queen Nefertari |
| Admission | Abu Simbel entrance included |
| Pickup and return | Aswan hotel, Nile cruise or confirmed meeting point |
| Refreshments | Bottled water included |
What Makes This Private Abu Simbel Tour Worth Considering?
The day focuses on the Abu Simbel temple complex, giving you a clear itinerary rather than combining several separate destinations. You travel from Aswan, visit both principal temples and return to Aswan after your sightseeing.
Your Egyptologist accompanies the experience, connecting what you see with the monuments’ royal imagery, religious significance and modern relocation. The same guide stays with the tour, providing continuity throughout the journey.
The private air-conditioned vehicle is another practical part of the experience. With approximately three hours of driving in each direction, transportation accounts for a substantial portion of the day. Knowing this before you travel helps you decide whether the road excursion suits your plans.
Abu Simbel Tour from Aswan Itinerary
Follow the day from your private pickup in Aswan to your return, one stop at a time.
1. Private Pickup and Departure from Aswan
Your day begins at your Aswan hotel, Nile cruise or another confirmed meeting point. Meet your Egyptologist and settle into your private air-conditioned vehicle for the drive south.
As you travel through the desert landscape, your guide introduces Abu Simbel, the temples you will visit and their setting beside Lake Nasser. This provides context before you reach the monuments, helping you recognise the main features during your visit.
We arrange an early departure with the aim of reaching the site before the main group buses from Aswan. Your exact pickup time is confirmed when you enquire about your travel date.
2. Arrive at the Abu Simbel Temple Complex
On arrival, take in the relationship between the temples, the desert and Lake Nasser. The colossal seated figures of Ramses II dominate the Great Temple’s façade, giving your visit an immediate sense of the monument’s scale.
There is time to appreciate the exterior and take photographs before continuing your exploration. Your guide introduces the complex and explains how its principal monuments relate to one another.
3. Explore the Great Temple of Ramses II
The Great Temple is a central part of your Abu Simbel temples tour from Aswan. Its royal statues, carved battle scenes, ritual reliefs and sanctuary spaces reveal different aspects of Ramses II’s representation.
Your Egyptologist explains how these images express royal authority and religious identity. The visit gives you the opportunity to look beyond the temple’s famous façade and examine the details within its halls.
You also learn about the temple’s solar alignment, one of its distinctive architectural features. This forms part of the explanation of the monument; the itinerary does not promise that you will witness the illumination during your visit.
4. Visit the Temple of Hathor and Queen Nefertari
Continue to the neighbouring Temple of Hathor and Queen Nefertari. Smaller than the Great Temple, it introduces another dimension to the complex through its association with the queen and the goddess Hathor.
The exterior includes equal-height representations of Ramses II and Nefertari. Your guide explains this feature and introduces the temple’s dedication before you examine its façade and interior details.
Visiting both temples allows you to appreciate their individual character while understanding their place within the same archaeological setting.
5. Learn How Abu Simbel Was Relocated
Your visit also covers the modern rescue of the monuments. During the 1960s, the temples were dismantled and reconstructed on higher ground to protect them from the rising waters associated with Lake Nasser.
Your Egyptologist explains this relocation and how it shaped the site you see today. Alongside the ancient architecture, this account adds a preservation story to your understanding of Abu Simbel.
After time for final photographs and questions, return to your private vehicle.
Abu Simbel is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, which is one reason the relocation story is a highlight of the visit.
6. Return to Your Aswan Drop-Off Point
The excursion finishes with the road journey back to Aswan. We return you to your hotel, Nile cruise or another confirmed drop-off point.
The complete day takes approximately nine hours, including the outward drive, temple visit and return journey.
Abu Simbel in Pictures
What Is Included and Excluded
Included
Our private Abu Simbel tour from Aswan includes:
- Pickup and return in Aswan.
- Private air-conditioned transportation.
- Abu Simbel admission.
- A professional English-speaking Egyptologist guide.
- Bottled water.
- Taxes and service charges.
Excluded
The following items are excluded:
- Meals.
- Personal expenses.
- Optional activities.
- Tipping.
Planning Your Private Road Tour
Allow for the Full Journey
This is an approximately nine-hour excursion, with a drive of around three hours each way. The road journey is an essential consideration when deciding how the tour fits into your time in Aswan.
The overall duration should not be interpreted as nine hours at the temples. It includes transportation and the associated tour arrangements.
Confirm Your Pickup Point
Pickup is available from an Aswan hotel, Nile cruise or another confirmed meeting point. When submitting your enquiry, tell us where you will be staying so we can discuss the appropriate arrangements.
Discuss Your Requirements Before Confirming
Use the enquiry form to share your intended travel date and any specific requirements. Our team can explain the tour details and discuss the journey with you before you make a decision.
Ready to see Abu Simbel with your own Egyptologist?
Share your travel date and pickup point, or browse more private Aswan day tours.
What Travelers Say About Egypt Luxury Trips
Read recent traveler reviews from TripAdvisor before you plan your Abu Simbel day trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Abu Simbel tour from Aswan take?
The tour takes approximately nine hours overall. Driving accounts for around three hours each way, with the remaining time covering the temple visit and associated arrangements.
Is this a private or shared tour?
This is a private tour with private air-conditioned transportation between Aswan and Abu Simbel.
Are Abu Simbel entrance tickets included?
Yes. Admission to Abu Simbel is included, along with transportation, an English-speaking Egyptologist, bottled water, and taxes and service charges.
Can you collect me from my Nile cruise in Aswan?
Yes. Pickup and return can be arranged from your Nile cruise, Aswan hotel or another confirmed meeting point.
Which temples will I visit?
You visit the Great Temple of Ramses II and the neighbouring Temple of Hathor and Queen Nefertari.
Is an Egyptologist included?
Yes. A professional English-speaking Egyptologist accompanies the experience and explains the monuments and their relocation.
What time does the tour depart?
We plan an early departure with the aim of arriving before the main group buses. Your exact pickup time is confirmed for your travel date.
Are meals provided?
No. Meals are excluded. Bottled water is included.
Plan More of Your Aswan and Abu Simbel Trip
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Enquire About Your Abu Simbel Tour from Aswan
Explore both principal temples at Abu Simbel with private return transport, admission and an Egyptologist arranged together.
Fill out the enquiry form to get more information about the tour, check the available details and discuss your journey with the Egypt Luxury Trips team.
