Abu Simbel Temples Tour from Aswan by Road

A private Abu Simbel tour from Aswan by road, with hotel pickup and a guided visit to the temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari.

Aswan

From $80 per personLargest private group rate, confirmed in your quotation

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Duration1 day (about 3 hours of driving each way)

DestinationsAswan

Tour TypeDay Tour

Group SizePrivate

Four colossal seated statues of Ramesses II on the facade of the Great Temple at Abu Simbel

Facade of the Temple of Nefertari at Abu Simbel with statues of Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari

Osiride statues of Ramesses II inside the first hall of the Great Temple at Abu Simbel

+1 Photos

Wooden walkway leading to the Great Temple of Abu Simbel

Tour Details

Abu Simbel Temples Tour from Aswan by Road

This Abu Simbel tour from Aswan takes you by private vehicle across about 300 km of Nubian desert to the two temples Ramesses II carved into the cliff beside Lake Nasser. You are collected from your hotel, drive roughly three hours each way, and visit the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the smaller Temple of Nefertari with a guide. It is a long but straightforward day, and travelling by road keeps the schedule in your hands rather than a flight timetable. Entrance fees and road permits are included, and your guide stays with you from hotel to temple and back, so the long day is spent on the monuments rather than on logistics.
Quick facts

Duration: 1 day, with about 3 hours of driving each way
Style: Private, guided, by road
Best for: First-time visitors to Aswan, history lovers and photographers
Route: Aswan hotel pickup → Abu Simbel → Great Temple of Ramesses II → Temple of Nefertari → return to Aswan

Itinerary

Tour itinerary

Day 01Hotel pickup and the desert road to Abu Simbel

You are picked up from your hotel or Nile cruise mooring in Aswan, and settle into your private vehicle for the drive to Abu Simbel. The road runs about 300 km through open Nubian desert and takes roughly three hours each way, so you leave early enough to arrive while the morning is still cool. Driving is permitted between sunrise and sunset, and your driver takes care of the permits. You can rest, watch the landscape change and ask your guide questions about what you are about to see.

Day 02The Great Temple of Ramesses II

You arrive at the Great Temple of Ramesses II, cut into the sandstone cliff on the west bank of Lake Nasser. Four seated colossi of the king guard the façade, and the temple is dedicated to Amun-Re, Re-Horakhty, Ptah and Ramesses II himself, shown here as a god. Inside, you walk through halls whose walls record his military victories and his meetings with the gods, ending at the innermost sanctuary. Your guide explains how the temple was carved from the rock, and you have time to look closely and to photograph the façade from outside.

Day 03The Temple of Nefertari

You continue to the smaller Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor and to Ramesses II's queen. Its façade is unusual because the statues of the king and the queen stand at almost the same height, a rare honour in Egyptian royal art. Your guide tells how both temples were cut into blocks and raised to higher ground in an international rescue in the 1960s, before the rising waters of Lake Nasser could cover them. It is one of the 24 Nubian monuments saved in that campaign, and the quieter of the two temples to explore.

Day 04Return drive to Aswan

After your visit you take a break and begin the three-hour drive back across the desert to Aswan. Your guide stays with you on the road, and you can use the time to rest or to ask about anything you want to know more about, from the king's reign to the rescue of the temples. You arrive back at your hotel or cruise mooring in the afternoon or early evening, depending on how long you chose to spend at the site, and your tour ends there.

✓Tour included

Private vehicle and driver with hotel pickup and drop-off in Aswan
Licensed guide
Entrance fees to Abu Simbel
Police permits for the road

×Tour excluded

Tips and gratuities
Personal expenses

This tour

Tour highlights

Hotel pickup in Aswan and a private drive to Abu Simbel
The Great Temple of Ramesses II with its four colossal seated statues
The Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to Hathor and the queen
The story of the 1960s rescue that moved both temples above Lake Nasser

Egyptian Voyages

Why choose us

Who this tour suits
First-time visitors, couples and families who want Abu Simbel without arranging flights, and anyone who prefers a private pace to a convoy timetable.

Local planning note
Abu Simbel is roughly 300 km from Aswan and about three hours each way, and driving is allowed between sunrise and sunset, so the day starts early and finishes in the afternoon or evening. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water; shade at the site is limited.

Before you book
Confirm admission inclusions and the final price in your written quotation. Share mobility, dietary and child-seat requirements before the tour date.

About these details
The programme is based on the operator's tour description. Opening hours, prices and access rules can change, so we confirm them in your quotation.

Ready to book? Send your date, group size and pickup hotel to receive a confirmed itinerary and total price.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Abu Simbel from Aswan in one day?

Yes. Abu Simbel is about 300 km from Aswan, roughly three hours each way by road, so a private day trip from Aswan leaves early in the morning, spends time at both temples and returns in the afternoon or evening. Driving is allowed between sunrise and sunset.

How long is the drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel?

The drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel takes about three hours each way on the desert road, around 300 km. On this tour your private driver handles the road permits.

What will I see at Abu Simbel?

At Abu Simbel you visit the Great Temple of Ramesses II, with four colossal seated statues of the king on its façade, and the smaller Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to Hathor and the queen.

What should I bring to Abu Simbel?

Bring a hat, sunscreen, water and comfortable shoes, because shade at the Abu Simbel temples is limited. Dress modestly, in light clothing that suits the desert heat.

Is Abu Simbel worth the long drive from Aswan?

Abu Simbel is among Egypt's most striking monuments: two temples carved into a cliff by Ramesses II and later moved above Lake Nasser in a 1960s rescue. The day is long, but the road trip gives you a private schedule and time at both temples.