Egypt Tours · Style
Nile Cruise with Abu Simbel Packages
Abu Simbel is the one temple that does not sit on the Luxor–Aswan run, and a Nile cruise built to include it is how most people add it without losing the river. The standard shape sails the classic cruise for the temples between Luxor and Aswan, then reaches Abu Simbel either by the short morning flight from Aswan or, on the longer voyages, by boat across Lake Nasser to arrive at dawn. Ramesses II carved the great temple into the cliff so the rising sun would reach the sanctuary twice a year; seeing it at first light, by either route, is the reason it is worth the detour. We arrange the cruise and the Abu Simbel leg as one booking and advise on which approach fits your days.
4 matching tours
The shape
What is a nile cruise abu simbel Egypt tour?
A Nile cruise with Abu Simbel is a Luxor–Aswan cruise that adds the great rock-cut temple of Ramesses II, 280 kilometers south of Aswan near the Sudanese border. Abu Simbel is reached either by a 45-minute morning flight from Aswan as a day excursion, or by a Lake Nasser cruise that arrives by boat at dawn. The combination is usually seven to fifteen days depending on whether the temple is a flight excursion or a full lake sailing.
The river, then Ramesses II
How the cruise reaches Abu Simbel
- Days 1–2Cairo (optional)Open with the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, or fly straight to the river if the temples are your focus.
- Days 3–5Nile cruiseLuxor to Aswan: Karnak, the West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae aboard a 5-star ship.
- Day 6Abu SimbelThe 45-minute dawn flight from Aswan to the great temple and the smaller temple of Nefertari, back for lunch – or, on the longer trip, arrive by boat across Lake Nasser.
- Day 7Fly homeConnect from Aswan or Luxor for the flight home.
Want the Nubian rescue temples too? The Lake Nasser sailing reaches Abu Simbel by water and adds Kalabsha, Wadi El Seboua and Amada – we pair it with the river cruise as one booking.
PremiumAbu Simbel by Plane from Aswan Day Tour
Abu Simbel
Fly from Aswan to Abu Simbel for a guided visit to Ramesses II and Nefertari temples. Includes flights, transfers, and entry fees. Book now.
BudgetAbu Simbel by Road from Aswan (Day Tour)
Abu Simbel
Drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel by road, a 280 km transfer taking about 3.5–4 hours each way. Our Egyptologist accompanies the transfer and guides you at both temples: the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Small Temple of Nefertari. We normally depart before sunrise (around 3:00–3:30 AM) so you arrive for morning light and cooler temperatures; expect roughly two hours on site. Distinctive point of view: we prefer road transfers because they avoid airport queues and deliver a predictable schedule. Trade-offs: it is an early start and a long round trip, with limited shade at the site midday.
BudgetAbu Simbel Temples – Ramses II & Nefertari (Aswan)
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel comprises two rock-cut temples built by Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, relocated in 1964–1968 to avoid flooding from the Aswan High Dam. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and arrange private road transfers (280 km, about 3 hours 30 minutes) or short domestic flights, private guiding, and overnight stays in Abu Simbel village. The Great Temple faces east and aligns with the sun on February 22 and October 22. Distinctive view: unlike coach-shuffle day trips, we favour private transfers or flights and recommend the overnight option so clients can see the sunrise illumination with fewer crowds. Trade-offs: the site has limited shade, intense midday heat, and requires an early start or a long road transfer.
BudgetAbu Simbel Temples – Sun Festival (22 Feb / 22 Oct)
Abu Simbel
Attend the Abu Simbel Sun Festival on 22 February or 22 October and watch sunlight enter the inner sanctuary. The temples are part of the UNESCO-listed Nubian Monuments and were relocated between 1964 and 1968 during the Aswan High Dam project. Sunlight illuminates the statues of Amun-Re, Ra-Horakhty, and Ramses II; Ptah remains in shadow. Abu Simbel is about 280 km south of Aswan (≈3.5–4 hours by road) or a short scheduled domestic flight (≈40 minutes), so the festival requires dedicated logistics. We do not bundle the festival with other same-day sightseeing; it needs permits and a fixed arrival window. Expect a pre-dawn pickup, security checks, and limited shade at the site. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and arrange permits, transfers, and on-site briefings.
Practical questions
What travelers ask about this style of tour.
01Should I fly or cruise to Abu Simbel?
If the great temple is the priority, the morning charter flight from Aswan is the most efficient – 45 minutes each way, back for lunch. If you want the whole Nubian story, the Lake Nasser cruise reaches Abu Simbel by boat at dawn and adds Kalabsha, Wadi El Seboua and Amada that the flight skips. We book whichever fits your time and budget.
02Is Abu Simbel included in a normal Nile cruise?
No – the classic Luxor–Aswan cruise does not reach Abu Simbel, which lies 280 km further south. It is added as a flight excursion from Aswan or as a separate Lake Nasser sailing. This package builds that addition in, so it is part of the booking rather than an afterthought.
03How early is the Abu Simbel trip?
The flight excursion is an early start – a dawn departure from Aswan to reach the temple before the heat and the coaches, back by early afternoon. The Lake Nasser cruise is gentler: you are moored off the temple overnight and walk to it at first light. Both deliver Abu Simbel in the best light of the day.
04Why is Abu Simbel worth the detour?
It is the largest rock-cut temple in Egypt, four 20-meter seated colossi of Ramesses II carved into the cliff, and one of the great feats of ancient and modern engineering – UNESCO cut it from the rock and lifted it 65 meters to save it from Lake Nasser in the 1960s. Twice a year the rising sun still reaches the inner sanctuary. Nothing on the river run compares in scale.
From the Cairo desk
Found the shape. Now make it yours.
Every Egypt tour we run is tailor-made – your dates, your party, your pace. Send a short brief or talk to the Cairo desk direct. Replies within one working day.
– Suhaila & the Cairo team · 38 years · 6 offices · IATA #90255546