Egypt · UNESCO Heritage Sites

The Temples of Abu Simbel by Bus From Aswan

8 Hours Round trip from Pickup service provided in Aswan. Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit the UNESCO-listed temples of Abu Simbel
02 Travel by bus from Aswan through the desert landscape
03 Learn the history of the site from an Egyptologist guide
04 See the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor
05 Enjoy free time to explore the temples at leisure
06 Take in views over Lake Nasser and the surrounding desert
07 Visit the small visitor’s center to learn about the UNESCO relocation

Travel from Aswan to one of Egypt’s most remarkable ancient sites on this full-day trip to Abu Simbel. Set on the edge of Lake Nasser, these monumental rock-cut temples are famed for their colossal scale, intricate carvings, and extraordinary rescue and relocation as part of the UNESCO-listed Nubian Monuments.

With insights from an Egyptologist guide, learn about the history of the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor before exploring the site at your own pace. Admire the dramatic desert setting, discover the story behind the temples’ relocation, and enjoy time to visit the small visitor’s center before returning to Aswan.

As one of the few Ancient Egyptian sites that largely escaped damage from past invaders, the interiors of the Abu Simbel temples are astounding.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Aswan, Abu Simbel, Lake Nasser

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

The Temples of Abu Simbel by Bus From Aswan

Itinerary

Temples Abu Simbel Bus

Depart Aswan to journey 280 kilometers to the stunning rock-carved temples of Abu Simbel. Relocated to the west banks of Lake Nasser, the temple complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the “Nubian Monuments.” On arrival, take a short walk to the temple entrance, where your Egyptologist guide will explain the history of the site. Hear details of the UNESCO-led relocation of the entire cliff face to higher ground, and how the temples were only discovered by accident in 1813. Due to the large number of visitors, guides are not permitted inside the Great Temple of Ramses II or the smaller Temple of Hathor. However, by using photos and illustrations your guide will explain the structures and their interior artworks before giving you some free time to enter the temples and explore at leisure. As one of the few Ancient Egyptian sites that largely escaped damage from past invaders, the interiors of the Abu Simbel temples are astounding. The scale of the buildings and their detailed decorations leave most visitors in awe. The experience is further enhanced by the scenic location on the edge of Lake Nasser in the orange sands of the desert. After visiting the temples, benefit from some time for a short visit to the small visitor’s center to see documents relating to the UNESCO relocation before the drive back to Aswan.

The route