Abu Simbel Day Trips from Aswan

Abu Simbel sits near the Sudanese border on Lake Nasser, about 280 kilometres south of Aswan, roughly three hours each way. The early start is worth it.

The temples

The Great Temple is fronted by four seated statues of Ramses II, each about 20 metres tall, with the smaller temple of Queen Nefertari beside it. Both were cut into blocks and moved to higher ground in the 1960s to escape the rising waters of the Aswan High Dam, one of the great feats of rescue engineering.

How to go

The most-booked option is a group day trip with hotel pickup and an air-conditioned coach, historically in an early convoy. Private tours let you beat the crowds, and some travellers fly the short hop from Aswan instead. Read our Abu Simbel day trip guide for the sun festival dates and full detail.