Fly to Aswan at dawn, Abu Simbel by late morning, back in Cairo that night
Abu Simbel is 1,200 km from Cairo, almost at the Sudanese border, and there is no quick way to do it from the capital. But if your trip is Cairo and nothing else, and Abu Simbel is the one thing you refuse to leave Egypt without seeing, it can be done in a day. We collect you from your hotel in the dark for the first flight to Aswan. You land around sunrise, where your licensed Egyptologist and private driver are waiting at the airport — no queue, no taxi, no waiting around. From there it is about three and a half hours south across the Nubian desert, open country almost the whole way, with Lake Nasser appearing on your left as you get close. You have your time at the Great Temple of Ramses II — the four seated colossi cut into the cliff face, the hall of pillared statues, the reliefs of the Battle of Kadesh — and at the smaller temple Ramses built for Nefertari beside it.
No coach schedule, no group to wait for. Then the drive north to Aswan and the evening flight back to Cairo. We will be straight with you about this one. It is around fourteen hours and most of them are spent moving. If you have a night to spare, flying to Aswan and staying over is a better trip in every way, and we will tell you so when you ask. But if the choice is this or not seeing Abu Simbel at all, people do it, and we have yet to meet one who regretted it.
Your driver collects you from your hotel in Cairo or Giza in the small hours and takes you to Cairo International Airport for the first flight south. The exact time depends on the schedule for your date, which we confirm with your booking.
You land in Aswan around sunrise. Your licensed Egyptologist and private driver meet you inside the airport and you are on the road within minutes — no transfer desk, no waiting for a group to assemble.
About three and a half hours across the Nubian desert, with a stop on the way for a break, tea and a toilet. Bottled water is in the vehicle. It is open country almost the entire way, and Lake Nasser comes into view on the left as you approach Abu Simbel.
Your Egyptologist takes you through the Great Temple of Ramses II and the smaller temple of Nefertari and Hathor beside it, at your own pace. Before leaving, walk round the back of the artificial hill. The entire complex was cut into more than a thousand blocks in the 1960s and rebuilt here, sixty meters higher, to escape the rising waters of Lake Nasser — and from behind you can see exactly how it was done.
The drive north to Aswan, then the evening flight to Cairo, where your driver is waiting at the airport to take you back to your hotel.
Children under 3 years: Free of charge Children from 3 to 5 years: 25% of the selected adult price Children from 6 to 11 years: 50% of the selected adult price Children aged 12 years and above: Adult price
Pay on the day of your tour. Cash and credit card accepted. No advance payment required — reserve now and pay on your tour date.
All prices are shown in USD. Prices may vary during peak travel periods including Christmas, New Year and Easter Holidays.
Everything you need to know before booking Abu Simbel from Cairo by Flight.
Around fourteen hours, from a pickup in the dark to a late return to your hotel. Roughly four of those are in the air or at airports, seven in the vehicle, and two to three at the temples. It is a long day and we would rather you knew that now than discovered it at three in the morning.
Abu Simbel has a very small airport with only a handful of flights, and the schedule rarely allows a same-day return from Cairo. Flying to Aswan — which has flights all day, every day — and driving the last stretch is the version that actually works, and it costs less.
Probably, if you can spare one. Flying to Aswan, staying over and going down the next morning is a far gentler trip and you see more of Egypt for it. This tour exists for people whose itinerary genuinely has no spare night.
With two flights and seven hours of driving in one day it matters. If the outbound flight is delayed enough to make the day unworkable, we tell you before you leave your hotel and you choose: move the tour to another date, or take a full refund. If something changes once you are travelling, your guide deals with it on the ground.
No — there is no spare time in this one. If you want Aswan as well, the two-day version with a night there does both properly, and works out cheaper per hour of your holiday than squeezing them into one day.
think carefully. A three o'clock start, seven hours in a vehicle and a late return is a great deal for a small child or for anyone who tires easily. For families we usually suggest the two-day version, and we will say so honestly when you ask.
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel
Add this tour to a longer private itinerary — combine it with Nile cruises, other cities and transfers, all designed around you.
