Aswan Day Tour: Abu Simbel & Nubian Highlights

This Aswan day tour is built around the extraordinary temples of Abu Simbel and the gentle, colourful world of Nubia that surrounds them. It is the deep south of Egypt at its best — monumental stone carved for a pharaoh, and the living Nubian culture that still thrives along the banks of Lake Nasser and the Nile — all with a private Egyptologist guiding you.

The temples of Abu Simbel

The highlight of the day is Abu Simbel, about three hours south of Aswan. Here Ramesses II carved two temples straight into the mountainside in the thirteenth century BC. The Great Temple is guarded by four colossal seated statues of the pharaoh, each more than twenty metres high, and its inner halls are covered with scenes of his reign, above all the Battle of Kadesh. Beside it, the smaller Temple of Nefertari honours Ramesses’ queen and the goddess Hathor — a rare temple dedicated to a royal woman.

A rescue that made history

When the Aswan High Dam created Lake Nasser in the 1960s, both temples were about to vanish beneath the rising water. In a remarkable feat of engineering they were cut into more than a thousand pieces and rebuilt on higher ground, inside an artificial hill that recreates their original setting. Your guide will explain how it was done and where the joins lie.

The Nubian south

Aswan has always been Egypt’s gateway to Nubia, and the region’s distinctive culture — its bright painted houses, its own language, its music and crafts — gives the whole area a character quite different from the rest of the country. Your guide can tell you about Nubian traditions and history as you travel, and point out the sights along the way.

How the day works

You are collected from your Aswan hotel or cruise boat early for the drive south in a private air-conditioned vehicle, with your driver and a licensed Egyptologist. At Abu Simbel you have plenty of time to explore both temples before the return journey. Bottled water, entrance tickets and the guide are included.

Good to know

The early start is necessary because of the distance, but it means you reach the temples in the best morning light. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a hat and sun protection, and carry some cash for lunch and tips. Photography is allowed outside the temples; inside, a separate photo permit may apply, which your guide will explain.