Egypt · Culture

2-Day Nubian Heritage Tour to Aswan and Abu Simbel from Cairo

2 Days Round trip from Cairo Moderate pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit the Aswan High Dam and learn how it led to the relocation of Nubian communities
02 Discover Nubian history from prehistory to Coptic and Islamic influence at the Nubian Museum
03 Experience living Nubian culture in a colourful village along the Nile
04 Stand in awe at the relocated Nubian Monuments of Abu Simbel
05 Travel across Lake Nasser's region to Egypt's southernmost archaeological site

Explore Upper Egypt on a 2-day journey into Nubian heritage, tracing a culture that survived the division between southern Egypt and northern Sudan. Visit key sites including the Aswan High Dam and the Nubian Museum, then experience living Nubian traditions in a modern-day village along the Nile. The tour concludes at the magnificent Nubian Monuments of Abu Simbel, where the story of relocation and resilience continues.

Experience first-hand how Nubian culture has survived throughout the ages.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Aswan, Cairo, Abu Simbel, Lake Nasser

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Fly from Cairo to Aswan and Explore Nubian Heritage

Pick up from your Cairo accommodation and transfer to Cairo International Airport for your domestic flight to Aswan.
The tour begins with a visit to the Aswan High Dam, the long-studied solution to control the flooding of the Nile. This remarkable construction led to the displacement and relocation of the Nubian population and monuments.
During your visit to the Nubian Museum, learn about Nubian history from prehistoric times and the Pharaonic period to Coptic and Islamic influence.
After lunch in an excellent local restaurant, board a motorboat to one of the modern-day Nubian villages along the Nile, where Nubian culture, language, music, and literature are kept alive. Experience first-hand how Nubian culture has survived throughout the ages. Encounter the people, admire the colourful houses, and shop for handmade artefacts, clothes, and souvenirs.
Spend the night at a luxury 4-star to 5-star hotel in Aswan.

Day 02

Abu Simbel Excursion and Return to Cairo

Rise early at 03:00 AM, check out, and set off on a 3 to 4-hour desert journey to the southernmost archaeological site, the Nubian Monuments of Abu Simbel. Here, visit the temples commissioned by Ramses II for himself and his most beloved wife, the Nubian Queen Nefertari. Like the Nubian population, these temples were relocated in the 1960s due to the construction of the High Dam and the creation of the reservoir, Lake Nasser.
Drive back north to Aswan International Airport for your domestic flight to Cairo, where you will be met and transferred back to your Cairo accommodation.

Where this trip takes you

Abu Simbel temples, Aswan High Dam, Nubian Museum

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Cairo 4 cities · 2 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Private, air-conditioned transportation
Private English-speaking tour guide
Pick-up from and drop-off at your Cairo accommodation
Domestic return flight between Cairo and Aswan
Aswan accommodation
Lunch on both days in a good local restaurant (food only)
All fees and taxes

What's Not Included

Drinks and other meals
Tips and personal spending

What to bring

Comfortable shoes
Overnight necessities

Know before you go

It is not allowed to take photos at the Aswan High Dam.
There is a motorboat transfer included in this trip, and not all temple sections are wheelchair accessible.

Logistics