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Abu Simbel is about 280 km south of Aswan. The simplest way to visit is to leave Aswan early by road, allow around two hours for the two temples and keep the rest of the day flexible. If you are combining Abu Simbel with a Nile cruise, plan the excursion around your time in Aswan.
How do you get to Abu Simbel from Aswan?
- Private car: allow around 3 to 4 hours each way, depending on traffic, stops and your pickup point. Arrange your pickup in advance and agree on how long you will have at the temples.
- Shared excursion: an option if you are happy with a fixed pickup and return time. Ask how much time you get at the site and whether admission and guiding are included.
- Flight: check whether flights operate on your dates before planning around them. Allow time for airport transfers and check-in, and check how you will get between Abu Simbel Airport and the temples.
How much time should you allow?
Set aside roughly two hours at the site to visit both temples and walk between them. If you are returning to Aswan by road, allow most of the day for the round trip, including pickup and stops. An early start gives you more time at the site before the heat builds. Bring water, sun protection and comfortable shoes.
What will you see at Abu Simbel?
Start at the Great Temple of Ramesses II, with its four colossal seated figures. Then walk to the smaller temple dedicated to Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. Both temples were moved to higher ground to save them from rising water and form part of the UNESCO-listed Nubian Monuments.
How do you fit Abu Simbel into a Nile cruise itinerary?
If you are staying in Aswan, give Abu Simbel its own day and visit Philae or explore the city on another day. If your cruise starts or ends in Aswan, confirm when you board or disembark before arranging the excursion. Our Aswan travel guide can help you plan the rest of your stay.
On our 8-day Cairo, Nile cruise and Abu Simbel tour, the visit is included on day 7. After four nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, you travel by road from Aswan to Abu Simbel and return to Cairo by air, either from Abu Simbel or via Aswan, depending on flight availability. Your last night is in Cairo.
For site information, see the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities guide to Abu Simbel and the UNESCO listing for the Nubian Monuments.
Abu Simbel temples photo — Mohamed Suttra, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0.
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