- Duration
- 12 hours
- Starts from
- Aswan
- Group size
- Up to 12 guests
- Difficulty
- Easy
Overview
A full day from Aswan with an Egyptologist: about three and a half hours across the desert to the rock temples of Abu Simbel on Lake Nasser, time to explore both, and back in the afternoon.
Abu Simbel lies far to the south, close to the Sudanese border, and the road there runs almost straight through empty desert. We pick you up from your hotel in Aswan before dawn and drive about three and a half hours, watching the sun come up over the sand and, if you're lucky, a mirage shimmering on the horizon.
The Great Temple of Ramses II is cut into the cliff, its entrance guarded by four seated colossi of the king, each about 20 metres tall. Inside, your Egyptologist guide talks you through the reliefs of the Battle of Kadesh and leads you back to the sanctuary. Next door, the Small Temple is dedicated to Hathor and to Nefertari, Ramses' favourite queen, whose statues on the façade stand as tall as his, a rare honour.
You'll also hear how, in the 1960s, an international rescue effort cut both temples into blocks and rebuilt them on higher ground above Lake Nasser. After time to explore and take photographs by the lake, you drive back to Aswan, arriving around 12 hours after pickup.
Highlights
- The four colossi of Ramses II at the Great Temple
- Reliefs of the Battle of Kadesh
- The Small Temple of Hathor and Nefertari
- Views over Lake Nasser
- Sunrise over the desert on the drive south
Itinerary
- 1
Day 1
Aswan → Abu Simbel → Aswan
Pre-dawn pickup in Aswan and about three and a half hours' drive across the desert. A guided visit to the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Small Temple of Nefertari includes time by Lake Nasser. The drive back brings you to your hotel in Aswan around 12 hours after pickup.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Aswan
- Shared small-group tour in an air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Licensed Egyptologist guide
- Entry tickets to the Abu Simbel temples
Not included
- Lunch
- Drinks
- Tips for guide and driver
What to bring
- A neck pillow for the drive
- A warm layer for the pre-dawn start
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Snacks and water for the road
Pickup & meeting point
Pickup from your hotel in Aswan before dawn; the exact time is confirmed the day before.
Children up to 11 pay the child rate
Photos
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