Private Abu Simbel Temple Day Trip with Guide from Luxor

The Great Temple of Abu Simbel

The Great Temple of Abu Simbel was carved into a sandstone cliff in the 13th century BC by Ramses II, and its facade is among the most striking sights in Egypt. Four seated statues of the king, each about twenty metres high, guard the entrance, with smaller figures of his family at their feet. The temple was dedicated to the gods Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty and Ptah, and to the king himself, and it was designed to impress travellers arriving from the south.

Inside, the temple runs deep into the rock, past a hall of tall pillars shaped like the king and walls carved with scenes of his military campaigns, to the innermost sanctuary. Twice a year, around 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun reaches the sanctuary and lights the statues on the back wall, a feat of ancient planning that your guide explains. On a private visit you can stay in front of the facade and inside the hall as long as you wish.

The Small Temple of Hathor and Nefertari

Beside the great temple, the Small Temple of Abu Simbel was built for Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. Its facade carries six standing statues, each about ten metres tall, showing the king and his queen at the same scale, which was unusual in ancient Egyptian art. It is a graceful contrast to the monumental scale of the larger temple.

Inside, the reliefs show the queen honouring the gods and being honoured in turn, in bright and delicate colours that have survived remarkably well. The visit takes less time than the Great Temple, but it is a very pleasant part of the day. Your guide explains the symbols and the story behind the queen, and you can take your time for photographs.

How the temples were moved

Abu Simbel is as famous for its rescue as for its age. When the Aswan High Dam was built in the 1960s, the rising waters of Lake Nasser threatened to submerge the temples. In an international effort led by UNESCO, between 1964 and 1968 the temples were cut into huge blocks, lifted and rebuilt on higher ground, about sixty-five metres above their original position and 200 metres back from the water.

The hill behind the temples is artificial, built to hold the reassembled blocks and to recreate the original alignment with the sun. Your guide shows you the dome that supports the structure and explains how the project preserved the monument for the future. Knowing this makes the visit even more impressive, as you realise that you are standing in front of a remarkable engineering feat of the 20th century.

Lake Nasser and the Nubian setting

Abu Simbel stands on the western shore of Lake Nasser, deep in the region of Nubia, near the border with Sudan. The lake, formed behind the Aswan High Dam, is among the largest man-made lakes in the world, and the colour of the water against the desert sandstone makes a spectacular setting for photographs. The landscape is remote and quiet, and the temples seem to rise out of the sand.

The journey also shows you a different Egypt from the Nile Valley: long desert roads, wide horizons and a quiet, open sky. Plan to take a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, as there is very little shade at the site. The best time to visit Abu Simbel is from October to April, when daytime temperatures are manageable, and an early arrival means softer light on the facade.

The journey from Luxor and the early start

Many visitors ask how to get to Abu Simbel from Luxor. The temple lies far to the south, and the journey is long, which is why this private Abu Simbel day trip begins at 4:30 a.m. and lasts about fifteen hours. We collect you from your hotel on the East Bank of Luxor, and your private transport and guide look after the whole day, including lunch.

A private journey makes a long day far more comfortable: you travel with your own party, rest when you wish and arrive without worrying about timings or tickets. Your entry ticket to the temples is included. If you are staying on the West Bank, pickup can be arranged as an add-on, and a guide in French, German or Spanish can be requested at extra cost.