Abu Simbel Tours by Vehicle

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. our day begins in the early morning with a prompt hotel or Nile cruise pickup in Aswan, typically between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM. A professional driver and expert guide will greet you at your accommodation and escort you to a private, air-conditioned vehicle. You’ll set out before sunrise, ensuring cooler travel conditions and early arrival at the temples before large crowds gather.

   3 h

2. Towering over the desert sands near the Sudanese border, the Great Temple of Ramses II is a true marvel of ancient engineering and ego. Carved directly into the rock face, four colossal statues of the pharaoh greet you at the entrance, each over 60 feet tall. Inside, a series of intricately decorated halls reveal scenes of battle victories, divine tributes, and celestial alignments — all designed to glorify Ramses’ reign. The temple is positioned so that twice a year, the sun illuminates the inner sanctuary — a feat that continues to astonish visitors and scholars alike.

   2 h

3. Just a few steps away lies the smaller but equally impressive Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to Ramses’ beloved queen. It’s rare in Egyptian temple architecture to see a queen depicted at the same scale as a king, but here, Nefertari stands as Ramses’ equal. The richly painted interior celebrates her beauty, grace, and divine association with Hathor, the goddess of love and music. Wandering through this sacred space, you’ll feel the reverence and affection the great pharaoh held for his queen.

   1 hAdmission included

4. After exploring the temples at your own pace — with ample time for photos and insights from your guide — you'll begin the scenic 3 to 4-hour drive back through the Nubian desert. Along the way, your guide may share stories about the historic 1960s UNESCO relocation effort that saved the temples from flooding. Upon arrival in Aswan, you’ll be dropped off directly at your hotel or cruise ship, typically in the early afternoon, with a heart full of memories and a camera full of unforgettable shots.

   3 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 2 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Aswan

• Its from-price is 11% below the median of the 1751 experiences we list in Aswan.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 523 of 1751.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Aswan

Aswan is Egypt's serene southern city on the Nile, where feluccas glide between granite islands, Nubian villages and palm-fringed riverbanks.

The Nile is at its most beautiful here, broken by granite boulders and green islands. Elephantine Island holds ruins of ancient temples and colourful Nubian villages, Kitchener's Island is covered by a botanical garden, and on the west bank the Tombs of the Nobles are cut into the cliffs of Qubbet el-Hawa, while the domed Mausoleum of the Aga Khan stands on a desert hill further south.

Top-ranked sights in Aswan: Abu Simbel Temples, Philae Temple (Temple of Isis), Aswan High Dam.

See all 1751 experiences in Aswan