The long road south

Abu Simbel Day Trip from Aswan

Ramses II's rock temples on Lake Nasser, three and a half hours south of Aswan.

About 10 hours · Abu Simbel · Private

Starting priceUSD 115Per person at the lowest group rate; solo travellers and couples pay more.Your written quote confirms the price for your party, dates and choices.

Nothing is booked until you accept a written quote
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The four seated colossi of Ramesses II on the facade of the Great Temple at Abu Simbel.

Duration: About 10 hours
On the road: About 3.5 hours each way by road
At the sites: Ask us: time at the temples depends on your departure slot
Format: Private
Pace: Moderate

Before you choose

Is this the right tour for you?

This Abu Simbel day trip from Aswan takes you to the two temples Ramses II cut into the rock above Lake Nasser, near Egypt's southern border. They were built to impress anyone arriving from the south with the power of the king.

The drive from Aswan takes about three and a half hours each way through the desert. Departures run daily between 5 am and 9 am. The earliest start reaches the temples first; a later start trades the dawn light for a quieter visit as the morning groups leave. Tell us which you prefer.

At the Great Temple, four colossal seated statues of Ramses II guard the entrance, and inside, the halls lead to a sanctuary aligned with the sun. Beside it stands the smaller temple of Hathor, built for Queen Nefertari. Your guide explains both, and the story of how UNESCO cut the temples into blocks and rebuilt them on higher ground in the 1960s, when the Aswan High Dam flooded their original site.

Seven hours of the day are spent on the road. That is the price of Abu Simbel by land, and it is worth knowing before you book.

Our advice

Seven hours of road for the temples: worth it, but choose your departure time on purpose rather than by default.

Consider instead: Short of time? Flying from Aswan to Abu Simbel saves most of the road. Ask us.

5 stops

How the day runs

The long drive south is part of the point. Abu Simbel stands in Lower Nubia, where Ramesses II cut two temples into a cliff above the Nile at a time when Egyptian rule reached as far as the Fourth Cataract. It is the third chapter of how Egypt kept reimagining eternity, power carved into a cliff, and a monument that survived only because it was taken apart and rebuilt higher.

05:00–09:00
Pickup in Aswan
Collection from your hotel or cruise at your chosen time.
05:00–09:00
Drive south
About three and a half hours through the desert, beside the lake whose rising waters forced the temples to move.
05:00–09:00
Great Temple of Ramses II
The colossi, the halls and the sun-aligned sanctuary. Look down at the pedestals: the king's name stands above rows of foreign captives.
Abu Simbel: Two temples cut into a cliff above the Nile, taken apart and rebuilt higher to save them.
05:00–09:00
Temple of Hathor and Nefertari
The smaller temple beside it, dedicated to Hathor and to Nefertari, whose statues on the facade stand as tall as her husband's.
05:00–09:00
Return to Aswan
About three and a half hours back to your hotel or boat.

The story behind these places

The details

What is included

Highlights

The Great Temple of Ramses II
The temple of Hathor and Nefertari
The UNESCO rescue of the 1960s
Lake Nasser

Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Entrance fees to the Abu Simbel temples
Round-trip air-conditioned transfer
Professional English-speaking guide
Taxes and service charges

Not included

Tips
Travel insurance
Personal expenses

Places you visit

Abu Simbel
Great Temple of Ramses II
Temple of Hathor and Nefertari
Lake Nasser

Transport: Round trip by air-conditioned vehicle
Departure: Daily, between 5:00 am and 9:00 am
Meeting point: Your Aswan hotel or Nile cruise
Guide languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Best time to go: A later departure for fewer people; the earliest one for the morning light
Entrance tickets: Included: Abu Simbel temples
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund.
Your price: Set in your written quote for your party, dates and pickup, with the payment and cancellation terms.

Questions

Before you ask

How long is the drive to Abu Simbel?

About three and a half hours each way from Aswan, so roughly seven hours on the road in a 10-hour day.

What time should I leave?

Departures run between 5 am and 9 am. The earliest arrives with the first light; a later slot usually means fewer people at the temples.

How much does it cost for my group?

Prices are per person and fall as the group grows: 1 person $200; 2–4 people $120 each; 5–7 people $117 each; 8–10 people $115 each. All prices are in US dollars.

What should I wear?

Light, modest clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Shoulders and knees covered is the safe choice at every site; bring a hat, sunscreen and water.

Deluxe Trips Egypt

Ask for this tour, for your dates.

Send your dates and party size here. We reply with a written quote: the price for your party, what is included and the terms. Nothing is booked until you accept it.

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