Abu Simbel from Aswan
Private tourSmall groupsNo forced shopping stops
from €80 per person
Overview
Let's be upfront about this one: Abu Simbel is a demanding day. The site sits a long way from Aswan, close to the Sudanese border, and departure is very early, before sunrise — TODO: confirm — exact departure time depending on season and current road conditions. This isn't something to bolt onto the end of a trip if you're already worn out; treat it as its own day.
The payoff matches the effort. The two temples carved into the cliff face by Ramesses II — one for himself, one for his wife Nefertari — rank among the most striking monuments in Egypt. Like Philae, they were moved block by block in the 1960s to escape the rising waters of Lake Nasser, a UNESCO engineering and heritage-rescue operation your guide goes through on site, with period photos of the works.
Once there, we take the time it needs: the façade, the inside of both temples, the solar alignment of Ramesses II's temple, and the story of the rescue works. The return follows the same road, and the whole day — travel included — takes up most of your time in Aswan.
This price covers the guide and private transport
This price covers the guide's fee and private transport during the excursion (hotel pickup, travel between the sites, drop-off). It does not include entrance tickets or meals. You buy your own tickets at the official price: we take no cut on them, and we never take you into a shop.
Highlights
- The great temple of Ramesses II and its four 20-metre colossi
- The temple of Nefertari, one of the very few built at this scale for a queen
- The story of the site's UNESCO rescue in the 1960s
- An isolated site, far from the tourist density of the rest of Egypt
Schedule for the day
- Before dawn
Departure from Aswan
Pick-up at your hotel very early, before sunrise. TODO: confirm — exact departure time depending on season and current road conditions.
- En route
Drive to Abu Simbel
Several hours through the Nubian desert; expect to doze off — it's part of the trip.
- Morning
The Great Temple of Ramesses II
The façade with its four 20-metre colossi, then the inner chambers and the solar alignment that lights the sanctuary twice a year.
- Morning
Temple of Nefertari
A short walk away, the second temple dedicated to Queen Nefertari — a rarity in ancient Egypt.
- Midday
Free time on site
A chance to take photos, rehydrate, and rest before the drive back.
- Afternoon
Return to Aswan
The same road in reverse, arriving back in Aswan late in the day, after a long but memorable one.
What's included / What's not included
What's included
- Guide fee for the French-speaking Egyptologist for the full day (about 12 hours, travel included)
- Private transport throughout the excursion: hotel pickup, travel between the sites, drop-off
- In-depth historical explanations of both temples and the UNESCO rescue
- Guiding from the early departure through to your return to Aswan
- A flexible itinerary on site, with no forced shopping stop
What's not included
- Entrance tickets to the Abu Simbel site
- Meals and drinks (bring water and a snack for the road)
- Tips
The stops on the map
Meeting point
Meeting point
Your hotel in Aswan, very early in the morning — the exact time is confirmed at booking.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the tour begins. No deposit is required at booking: you settle on site, on the day of the tour.
