- Duration
- 16 hours
- Starts from
- Aswan
- Group size
- Up to 12 guests
- Difficulty
- Easy
Overview
A long private day from Cairo: fly to Aswan, drive about 3.5 hours across the desert to the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari at Abu Simbel, and fly back at night.
Abu Simbel lies in the far south of Egypt, close to the border with Sudan, and reaching it from Cairo in a day takes some commitment. We collect you from your hotel in the small hours and take you to Cairo Airport for the flight to Aswan. There your private car and guide are waiting for the drive of about three and a half hours across the open desert.
The reward is the Great Temple of Ramses II, cut into a sandstone hillside and fronted by four seated colossi of the king, each about 20 metres tall. Inside, the halls are lined with statues and carved scenes of his battles. Beside it stands the smaller temple Ramses built for his queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor.
Your guide also tells how both temples were cut into blocks and moved uphill in the 1960s to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, one of the great rescue projects of the twentieth century. After lunch you drive back to Aswan for the evening flight to Cairo, arriving at your hotel about sixteen hours after pickup.
Highlights
- The Great Temple of Ramses II
- The Temple of Nefertari and Hathor
- The story of the temples' rescue from Lake Nasser
- The desert road from Aswan to Abu Simbel
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Itinerary
- 1
Day 1
Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Aswan → Cairo
Pickup in the small hours and the early flight from Cairo to Aswan. From there it is about three and a half hours by road to Abu Simbel, where you visit the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari with your guide. After lunch you drive back to Aswan for the evening flight to Cairo, reaching your hotel about sixteen hours after pickup.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo or Giza
- Transfers to and from Cairo Airport
- Return flights between Cairo and Aswan
- Private air-conditioned car with driver between Aswan and Abu Simbel
- Licensed tour guide
- Entry fees for the Abu Simbel temples
- Lunch
Not included
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips for guide and driver
What to bring
- Passport for the flights and road checkpoints
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- A warm layer for the early start
- Snacks and water for the desert drive
Pickup & meeting point
Pickup from your hotel in Cairo or Giza in the early hours for the morning flight; the exact time is confirmed the day before.
Children up to 11 pay the child rate
Photos
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