Day Trips in Aswan & Abu Simbel: 15 That Justify the Spend

1.Abu Simbel Temple Day Trip with Hotel Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,807 reviews · 10 hours · from $70Our pick

Travel from Aswan by air-conditioned group bus to Abu Simbel, where four huge statues guard the temple of Ramesses II. You get time to explore both temples, with optional entry tickets and guides in English, Arabic, French, German, or Spanish. Guides such as Waleed Adnan, Mido, and Ahmed Abdelwahab are praised for clear explanations, while the long road trip is the main tradeoff.

“I’m very happy with our guide Waleed Adnan,his comment of English is perfect. Being an Nubian, he has very good knowledge and insight into Nubian culture and the Ramesses II and his royal wife Nefertari Meritmut, the great buildings of Abu Simbel and their 4 significant events that has caused the damage of the second statue, the project to relocate to current position and more in depth explanations of the wall paintings inside the temples, the miracle design of the shrine to have the light shining through the ceiling during the special days of the year! The visit was fascinating and the experience was excellent. Thanks Waleed and his manager…”

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2.Abu Simbel Temple Private Guided Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 546 reviews · 15 hours · from $148

Travel from Luxor to Abu Simbel in a private air-conditioned car, meet your guide at the temple, and see the colossal statues of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. Guides such as Mustafa, Ahmed Ashraf, Hani, and Medo explain the site before lunch in Aswan. Expect a very long day, with roughly 10 to 12 hours on the road.

“The ride is pretty long (7hrs) but the driver was really knowledgeable and kind. Ahmed Achraf the tour guide explained everything really clear, we love Abu Simbel. It was once in a lifetime experience.”

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3.Private Day Tour to Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 507 reviews · from $53

Travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel in a private air-conditioned car, with pickup from your hotel or Nile cruise ship. Spend about three hours at the Ramses II and Nefertari temples. Add a local guide and lunch if you wish. Drivers such as Mahmoud and Mohammed Selah have been praised for careful service, while guide quality can vary.

“Great trip! Our driver was very polite and friendly and we really enjoyed the ride. We departed around 7am and arrived around 10:30 and there was literally no one there but us! Amazing sightseeing and organized tour.”

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4.Abu Simbel Day Tour with Private Guide and Car

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 342 reviews · 10 hours · from $95

Travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel in a private air-conditioned car, then meet your guide at the temple complex. Guides such as Mohamed, Medo, Abdul, and Ahmed Ashraf have explained the statues, carvings, and rescue of the temples. The day lasts about 10 hours, with roughly 3.5 to 4 hours of driving each way.

“Had a fun time at Abu Simbel with our guide Mohammad Abdul. He is funny and made it entertaining throughout the journey. We managed to arrive earlier than the crowd and were happy with the photos we took and what we learned about Abu Simbel and the history behind it. Would book it again!”

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5.Edfu and Kom Ombo Day Tour with Luxor Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 341 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $115

Travel by private car from Aswan to Luxor, stopping at Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple with English-speaking Egyptologist guides. Expect grand Ptolemaic architecture, unusual double sanctuaries, rural Nile views, hotel pickup, entrance fees, and door-to-door drop-off in Luxor.

“A 6am pick up in Aswan meant you'll be beating most crowds to Kom Ombo and even Edfu Temple before getting dropped off at your accommodation in Luxor. The guides were excellent in describing the hieroglyphics inside the pyramids and can't thank my driver enough for navigating the whole distance like a champ! In my opinion, no better way to go from Aswan to Luxor!”

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6.Full Day tour to Abu simbel temples from aswan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 309 reviews · from $24

Travel from your Aswan hotel or Nile cruise to Abu Simbel in an air-conditioned minibus, with pickup, return transport, water, and a group of up to 15 advertised. You can explore independently or add a guide such as Ahmed. Expect an early start, about four hours on the road each way, and separate entrance fees.

“New and comfortable bus, nice crew! Easy communication. Smooth pickup and drop off. Very good experience to Abu Simbel temple!”

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7.Best Private Day Trip To Abu Simbel From Aswan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 235 reviews · 9 hours · from $145

Travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel in a private air-conditioned car, then explore the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari with a local guide. Guides such as Samir, Zak, and Mostafa are praised for clear storytelling, photo help, and flexible pacing. Lunch, entry fees, water, hotel pickup, and return transport are included.

“First off, the company were great with contact and were flexible with us changing the collection location. The driver was absolutely fantastic, Mohammad Walid (Doda?) collected us in a brand new car and went we’ll out of his way throughout the day to ensure we had a great experience. He explained what life is like in Aswan, stopped multiple times for snack and bathroom stops and our ride felt safe and comfortable the full way. Our guide was knowledgable and answered all of the questions we had, without rushing us through at all. He even took the time to explain Abu Simbel in the airconditioned space so we wouldn’t get…”

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8.Full Day Tour to Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 218 reviews · from $22

Travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel by air-conditioned shared shuttle, with pickup at 4:00 am, a maximum of 15 people, and roughly two hours at the temples. A guide may meet you there, with names such as Ahmed Ashraf, Ahmed Abdeen, or Aida appearing among the guide options. Entrance fees are extra, and some Aswan districts cost an additional $10 for pickup.

“Hamada and Yusein were amazing. Prompt and no fuss pick up. Small group. UK, Ireland, Japan, Aus, Poland. Tour exactly as described ans Abu Simbel temple was beyond words.”

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9.8-Day Tour of Cairo, Luxor and Aswan with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 204 reviews · 8 days · from $1,400

You’ll see Egypt’s essential ancient sites with private guides, drivers, meals, flights, and four nights aboard a Nile cruise. Expect pyramids and Saqqara in Cairo, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, and Abu Simbel. Daily WhatsApp updates from the tour coordinator help keep this fast-moving trip on track.

“Very well planned by our guide Mr Mustafa was very knowledgeable and took extra time to make sure we were comfortable ,he provided us an ample supply of cold water to keep us hydrated cause it was very hot”

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10.Private 9-Day Tour package to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan by flight

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 193 reviews · from $920Top rated

This private nine-day Egypt tour links Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan by car, plane, and Nile cruise. You travel with private Egyptologist guides, including guides such as Rambo, Wael, and Amr on some departures. The package covers hotels, a five-star full-board cruise, most meals, internal flights, Abu Simbel, a felucca ride, and a Luxor balloon flight. Entrance fees remain extra.

“This was a great tour that included everything we wanted to see in Egypt. Marena messaged us the plan before each day and was flexible with requests and adjustments to make sure we got to do everything we wanted to. Our hotels, cruise, cars, drivers, and guides all exceeded expectations. Highly recommend this tour!”

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11.Abusimble Day Tour from Aswan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 144 reviews · from $35

Travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel in an air-conditioned shared vehicle, leaving around 4 a.m. After the roughly three-hour drive, you’ll visit the temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, with about 90 minutes to two hours on site. A local Egyptologist provides an introduction before you explore independently.

“It's a very early morning start, but I managed to easily get from Elephantine to pick up point. The drivers were helpful and guide was very informative. I enjoyed this trip.”

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12.8-Day Tour of Cairo, Luxor and Aswan with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 132 reviews · from $1,200

You spend eight days seeing Egypt’s essential sights with private guides, included meals, flights, and five-star lodging. The route covers Giza, Saqqara, Islamic and Coptic Cairo, Luxor’s temples and tombs, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Abu Simbel, and Philae. Merena, the tour coordinator, helps manage transfers and daily arrangements.

“I am incredibly satisfied with the overall quality of this trip. The destination was marvelous, full of rich history and breathtaking landmarks. Marena's attention and promptness in responding to our requests were exceptional—she is both helpful and diligent in addressing every need. The operator's planning was impeccable, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience. Overall, this trip is highly recommended!”

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13.Shared Half-Day Tour to the Nubian Village

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 124 reviews · 3 hours · from $20Best value

Join a shared three-hour outing from Aswan with hotel pickup, a motorboat ride along the Nile, and a guided walk through Nubian Village. Guides such as Mo, Mustafa, Ahmed, Mary, and Heba are praised for clear English and local insight. Expect colorful homes, tea, crafts, school visits, crocodiles, shopping, and optional camel rides.

“we really enjoy the camel ride. our boat driver was very nice and helpful. The nubian village itself was only a touriste thing with shops everywhere.”

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14.Abu Simbel Private Full-Day Tour from Aswan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · from $75

Travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel in a private air-conditioned car with Wi-Fi, snacks, and bottled water. A local Egyptologist guide explains the temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari, along with their 1964 relocation. Pickup is available from east bank hotels and cruise ships. Entrance fees are extra.

“We had a most excellent day with Mr. Hani -- perhaps the highlight of our trip was the long car ride from Aswan to Abu Simbel, and back, discussing all sorts of aspects of Egyptian life, culture and history. We touched on everything from food to music... even dancing a bit in tRead more”

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15.Aswan Day Tour Visiting Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk and High Dam in Aswan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 98 reviews · from $65

Visit Aswan’s High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk quarry, and island-set Philae Temple on a private 4-hour tour with an Egyptologist guide. Pickup is available from hotels, cruise ships, and the airport. Guides such as Emad, Maryam, Mohamed, and Nermien are praised for clear explanations and flexible service.

“Very good tour, a must for all in Aswan. Visiting the High Dam you’ll learn about the recent history of the Nile, Philae temples are great! The unfinished obelisk is a must see!”

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