5-Day Abu Simbel Sun Festival Tour
Cairo's pyramids, Philae and a felucca at sunset, then the road to Abu Simbel on the morning the sun reaches Ramses II. Flights, hotels and entrance fees are included.
The short answer
5-Day Abu Simbel Sun Festival Tour is a 5-day, 4-night trip to Cairo, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 2 nights in Cairo and 2 in Aswan. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $1,314 per person, two sharing (Essential).
02Overview
A first look
Twice a year, around 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun travels the length of the Great Temple at Abu Simbel and lights the inner sanctuary. This tour is built so that day 4 falls on festival day. The next departures arrive in Cairo on Friday 19 February 2027, with the festival on Monday 22 February, and on Tuesday 19 October 2027, with the festival on Friday 22 October.
You spend two nights in Cairo, with a night tour and a day at the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis. Then you fly to Aswan for Philae Temple, a sunset felucca ride and two nights by the Nile. Be ready for a very early start on day 4 and a big, busy crowd at the temple. It is worth it, and we plan the whole trip around that morning.
What lingers
- 01Abu Simbel on day 4, timed for Sun Festival day around 22 February or 22 October
- 02Cairo by night with the Cairo Tower and dinner on your first evening
- 03Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis in one day with a private Egyptologist
- 04Philae Temple, then a felucca ride on the Nile at sunset
- 05Flights between Cairo and Aswan and all transfers arranged for you
- 06Two nights in Cairo and two in Aswan, with the hotel standard of your choice
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in USD, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation at the properties listed or similar.
| Comfort level | Where you stay or similar | Per person | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentialfrom $1,3143★ hotels | AswanHapi Hotel Aswan | $1,314 | |
| Comfortfrom $1,4344★ hotels | CairoJewel Sport City | $1,434 | |
| Classicfrom $1,5205★ hotels | $1,520 | ||
| Prestigefrom $1,8745★ deluxe hotels | AswanTolip Aswan | $1,874 | |
| Luxuryfrom $2,2685★ luxury hotels | CairoSt. Regis Cairo | $2,268 |
You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality. Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
5 Days / 4 Nights · Cairo · Cairo Tower · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Saqqara · Memphis
- 1
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel, about an hour away. Rest after your flight. In the evening you go out on the Cairo by night tour, which includes the Cairo Tower and dinner. It is a gentle first evening, with the city lit up around you.
- 2
A full day of about eight hours with your private Egyptologist, picked up from your hotel. You start at the Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx, with the Valley Temple. Then you drive through the countryside to the south for a lunch in a village setting. In the afternoon you see Saqqara, where the first pyramid was built, and Memphis, the first capital of a united Egypt.
A private air-conditioned vehicle, the guide and your entrance fees are included. You return to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
After breakfast you transfer to Cairo Airport for the flight to Aswan; the airline sets the flight time. A driver meets you in Aswan and takes you to your hotel. The sightseeing is arranged around your flight. You visit Philae Temple, the temple of Isis, with an Egyptologist, with transport and entrance fees included.
Later you board a felucca, the traditional sailing boat of the Nile, for a ride at sunset.
- 4
This is the day the tour is built around. In 2027 it is Monday 22 February or Friday 22 October, depending on your departure. You leave Aswan very early, by road, for the full-day trip to Abu Simbel, about three hours each way. On the festival days the rising sun reaches the inner sanctuary of the Great Temple of Ramses II. The crowd is large, so be ready for queues and heat.
Entrance fees, the guide and transport are included. We do not promise a reserved viewing spot. You return to Aswan for your second night.
- 5
After breakfast a driver takes you from your Aswan hotel to Aswan Airport for the flight to Cairo, with 23 kg of luggage and taxes included. The airline sets the flight time. In Cairo you connect to your flight home. Because there is no night in Cairo at the end, choose a late-evening or night international flight, so a delayed domestic flight does not cost you the connection.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel and two nights in an Aswan hotel, with breakfast
- Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and Aswan to Cairo, with 23 kg of luggage on the return
- All airport and hotel transfers
- Cairo by night tour with the Cairo Tower and dinner
- Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis day with lunch, a private Egyptologist and a private air-conditioned vehicle
- Philae Temple half-day tour and a sunset felucca ride in Aswan
- Full-day road trip to Abu Simbel with entrance fees, an English-speaking Egyptologist and transport
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Drinks and meals other than those stated
- A reserved viewing spot at the Sun Festival, which we do not offer
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
The Abu Simbel road trip starts before dawn, so sleep early in Aswan and keep a light layer for the cool desert morning.
- 02
Ask your guide about the sun festival dates, when sunlight reaches the inner sanctuary of the Great Temple, and plan your visit around them.
- 03
Inside the Abu Simbel temples photography rules apply, so listen to your guide before you raise your phone or camera.
- 04
At Philae, hire the short boat crossing in the late afternoon for the gentlest light on the temple walls.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel standard when you book. Ask us about an extra night in Cairo at the end, which we recommend, or extra nights in Aswan or Luxor.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want to stand at Abu Simbel when the sun reaches the inner sanctuary, plus the pyramids and Philae in a short trip. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who are fine with an early start, crowds and walking on uneven stone.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who dislike very early starts or crowds, need step-free access to every site, or cannot manage about three hours in a vehicle each way.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Day 4 is planned for the Sun Festival, around 22 February and 22 October
- Cairo, Philae and Abu Simbel in five days with both flights booked
- Entrance fees and Egyptologist guiding on sightseeing days
Things to Consider
- A very early start and about three hours on the road each way on day 4
- Large crowds at the temple and heat; no reserved viewing spot
- No last night in Cairo, so choose a late international flight
Where it fits
A short, focused trip for travelers whose priority is Abu Simbel on festival day. For a slower pace, add a night in Cairo at the end.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Abu Simbel trips are a day tour from Aswan on any date. This tour is built around the two festival dates and adds Cairo, Philae and both flights. Hotel standard is your choice; the sightseeing does not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day tour timed for the Abu Simbel Sun Festival
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Aswan hotels, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Cairo Tower · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Saqqara · Memphis · Aswan · Philae Temple · Nile · Abu Simbel
- Includes
- 2 nights in Cairo and 2 in Aswan hotels with breakfast · Flights Cairo to Aswan and Aswan to Cairo · Cairo by night tour with dinner · Giza, Saqqara and Memphis day with lunch · Philae Temple and a sunset felucca ride · Full-day Abu Simbel trip with entrance fees
- Best for
- Travelers who want Abu Simbel on Sun Festival day · First-time visitors · History-focused travelers
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Cairo International Airport (CAI), Arrivals HallMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any required travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- A warm layer for the very early start on day 4
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag and a camera
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- A warm layer or light jacket for the early morning and the felucca at dusk
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
Children & families
Children are welcome, but think about day 4: it starts very early, with about three hours on the road each way and a big crowd at the temple. Every child takes a seat in the vehicle and on the flights, so transport and guiding are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entrance tickets are free for children under 6 and full price from 6. Hotel prices depend on the child's age and the room used, so we give you the exact figure when you tell us the age at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour involves walking on uneven stone and sand at the pyramids, Saqqara, Memphis, Philae and Abu Simbel, with steps and little shade. Reaching Philae involves a boat, and the felucca has no ramp. Day 4 means about three hours in a vehicle each way, starting very early, and a large crowd at the temple. It can be hot and busy. We cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us your needs when you book and we will tell you honestly which parts are suitable.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The tour uses two domestic flights and long road days, and vehicle types vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is led by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo and Aswan, so much of the money you spend stays where you travel. The felucca is a sailing boat. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle and to keep their hands off painted walls and carvings.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01When is the Sun Festival and which dates does this tour run?
The sun reaches the inner sanctuary of the Great Temple of Ramses II twice a year, around 22 February and 22 October. We plan the tour around these dates each year. The next departures arrive on Friday 19 February 2027 (festival Monday 22 February, leave Tuesday 23 February) and Tuesday 19 October 2027 (festival Friday 22 October, leave Saturday 23 October).02How early is the start on festival day, and how busy is it?
Very early. The drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel is by road and takes about three hours each way, so you leave in the middle of the night. The crowd at the temple is large and it can be hot later in the day. We do not promise a reserved viewing spot or a festival ticket.03Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you the connection. This tour has no last night in Cairo: on day 5 you fly from Aswan to Cairo and connect. Choose a late-evening or night international flight, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections. We can add a night in Cairo if you would rather be safe.04Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Aswan on day 3 and from Aswan to Cairo on day 5 are booked for you and included, with 23 kg of luggage on the return flight. The airline sets the times. International flights are not included.05Is the Abu Simbel day tiring?
It is a full day with about three hours on the road each way, a very early start and a big crowd. Most guests find it worth it. Bring a warm layer for the early hours, water and a hat.06Which hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are the same at every standard.07Do I get a guide at the sites?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport are included on the sightseeing days. On day 2 the guide and vehicle are private.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks other than those stated, meals not listed in the itinerary, and extras such as the inside of the Great Pyramid.09Can I do this tour on other dates?
Yes, the sightseeing runs on any date. But the sun only reaches the inner sanctuary around 22 February and 22 October, so those are the dates the tour is built around.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-512864
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 2 Aswan
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers