Abu Simbel from Aswan: How to Get There, Timings and Costs
In short
Most people visit Abu Simbel from Aswan as a day trip by road: about 280 kilometres and around 3.5 hours each way, usually leaving Aswan at about 5:00 am and getting back at about 1:30 pm. A private car costs around $75 per person, and a guided trip with entry tickets around $150 per person. You can also fly in about 45 minutes or stay a night in Abu Simbel. The road is closed at night.
Abu Simbel is the most famous temple in southern Egypt, but it sits far from everything else: about 280 kilometres (174 miles) south of Aswan, close to the border with Sudan. Almost every visitor comes from Aswan, and the way you do it shapes your whole day. This guide covers the options, the timings, what it costs and the rules that decide when you can travel.
The quick answer
Most people go by road on a day trip from Aswan: about 3.5 hours each way, leaving at about 5:00 am and back by about 1:30 pm. A private car costs around $75 per person, and a guided trip with tickets around $150 per person. Short on time? Fly, in about 45 minutes. Want the temples without the rush? Stay a night in Abu Simbel.
Abu Simbel from Aswan at a glance
| Option | Time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided day trip by road | About 3.5 hours each way | Around $150 per person, guide and tickets included (min. 2) | First-time visitors who want the history explained |
| Private car, no guide | About 3.5 hours each way | Around $75 per person round trip, tickets extra (min. 2) | Travellers who want flexibility and a lower cost |
| Flight | About 45 minutes each way | Varies, check fares | Short on time, or no very early start |
| Overnight in Abu Simbel | Same journey, split over two days | Car or flight plus a hotel night | A slower, quieter visit |
How far is Abu Simbel from Aswan?
Abu Simbel is about 280 kilometres (174 miles) south of Aswan by road, on the western shore of Lake Nasser. The drive takes around 3.5 hours each way through open desert, with very little on the way. That means about seven hours in the car for the round trip, so it is a full morning even before you see the temples. There is no public transport to Abu Simbel for visitors, so the choice is a private car, an organised trip or a flight.
By road: the classic day trip
Going by road is how most people visit. The usual day looks like this:
- About 5:00 am: leave Aswan.
- Mid-morning: arrive at Abu Simbel and spend 1 to 2 hours at the two temples.
- About 1:30 pm: back in Aswan.
The very early start is set by Nile cruise schedules: passengers need to be back on board before the boat sails. If you are staying in a hotel in Aswan and have no sailing to catch, you can leave later, at about 7:00 am, and travel without the rush.
The road is closed at night
The road between Aswan and Abu Simbel is closed to travel from sunset until about sunrise. You cannot drive there in the evening or come back after dark, so plan the whole trip within daylight hours. The only exception is the sun alignment on 22 February and 22 October (see below).
Guided trip or private car?
Both go by road and take the same time. The difference is what is included.
- Private car: a sedan with a driver, around $75 per person for the round trip, minimum two people. There is no guide and entry tickets are not included, so you buy them at the site and explore on your own.
- Guided trip: around $150 per person, minimum two people, with an Egyptologist guide and entry tickets included. A guide explains the carvings and the story of the temples as you walk through.
If you want the guided version arranged for you, our partner site runs a private Abu Simbel tour from Aswan at around $150 per person, with the guide and tickets included.
By plane
The flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel takes about 45 minutes, against around 3.5 hours by road. Flying saves you roughly five hours of driving over the day and the pre-dawn start. The trade-off is cost: fares and schedules vary, so check them when you plan. Flying suits travellers who are short on time, or anyone who finds long drives difficult.
Staying a night in Abu Simbel
You can also split the trip and sleep in a hotel in Abu Simbel. You still make the same journey by road or air, but without the rush to fit everything into one morning, and you can see the temples at a quieter time of day. It is a good choice if you have an extra night in your plan and want more than a quick visit.
Tickets and opening hours
According to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Abu Simbel is open every day from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. One ticket covers both temples, and most visitors spend 1 to 2 hours there.
Tickets at the site are card only, so bring a bank card. You can also buy them in advance on the official website.
| Ticket (foreign visitors) | Normal days | 22 February and 22 October |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 750 EGP | 1,200 EGP |
| Student | 375 EGP | 600 EGP |
Check prices before you go
Egypt’s monument ticket prices change from time to time. Confirm the current price on the official site before you travel.
The sun festival: 22 February and 22 October
Twice a year, the rising sun shines straight through the entrance of the Great Temple and lights up the statues in the inner sanctuary. It happens on 22 February and 22 October and lasts about 20 minutes; on 22 October 2025 it ran from 6:54 to 7:16 am.
On these two days the night road rule is relaxed and trips from Aswan leave around midnight, so visitors can be inside the temple area for sunrise. Expect big crowds and higher ticket prices.
What you see at Abu Simbel
The site has two temples cut into the rock, both built by Ramses II:
- The Great Temple: four seated statues of Ramses II, each about 20 metres (66 feet) high, guard the entrance. Inside, halls lined with statues and carvings lead to the sanctuary the sun reaches on the festival days.
- The Small Temple: dedicated to the goddess Hathor and to Nefertari, Ramses II’s queen, whose statues stand on the facade alongside his.
Both temples were moved in the 1960s, block by block, to higher ground. They would otherwise have been lost under Lake Nasser, the reservoir created by the Aswan High Dam, and their rescue was part of the UNESCO campaign to save the monuments of Nubia.
Which option should you choose?
- First visit and you want the history explained: a guided trip by road.
- On a budget, or happy to explore alone: a private car, buying tickets at the site.
- On a Nile cruise: the early road trip, timed to get you back before the boat sails.
- Short on time, or no 5:00 am start: fly.
- An extra night to spare: stay in Abu Simbel.
- In Aswan on 22 February or 22 October: the midnight trip for the sun festival, if you don’t mind the crowds.
Want help fitting Abu Simbel in?
Abu Simbel takes most of a day, so it needs a place in your plan. Tell us your dates and we’ll suggest the best way to add it to your time in Aswan.
Deciding how long to spend in the south? See Luxor vs Aswan for how many nights to plan, and how to get from Luxor to Aswan for the journey between the two cities. For more on the region, see our Luxor & Aswan guide.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Abu Simbel from Aswan?
About 280 kilometres (174 miles) south of Aswan by road, around 3.5 hours each way. By plane the flight takes about 45 minutes.
Can you do Abu Simbel as a day trip from Aswan?
Yes, and most people do. Day trips by road usually leave Aswan at about 5:00 am and are back at about 1:30 pm. If you are not tied to a Nile cruise schedule, you can leave later, at about 7:00 am.
Why do Abu Simbel trips leave so early?
The road between Aswan and Abu Simbel is closed to travel from sunset until about sunrise, so the whole trip has to fit into daylight. Nile cruise passengers also need to be back on board before the boat sails, which is why the usual departure is about 5:00 am. Leaving early also means you reach the temples before the midday heat.
How much does a trip from Aswan to Abu Simbel cost?
A private car (sedan, minimum two people) costs around $75 per person for the round trip, without a guide or entry tickets. A guided trip with an Egyptologist and entry tickets included costs around $150 per person, minimum two people. Entry tickets on their own are 750 EGP for foreign adults. Prices change, so check before you travel.
How much is the Abu Simbel entry ticket?
According to Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, a foreign adult ticket costs 750 EGP and a foreign student ticket 375 EGP. On the sun alignment days, 22 February and 22 October, prices rise to 1,200 EGP for adults and 600 EGP for students. The site is open from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. Tickets are paid by card only at the site, or you can buy them online on the official website.
Is there a public bus from Aswan to Abu Simbel?
No. There is no public transport to Abu Simbel that visitors can use, so you need a private car, an organised trip or a flight.
How long do you need at Abu Simbel?
Between one and two hours. Most visitors spend about 1 to 1.5 hours at the site, which is enough for both temples, whatever time they leave Aswan.
Is it better to fly or drive to Abu Simbel?
Driving is the usual choice and costs less. Flying from Aswan takes about 45 minutes and saves around five hours on the road in total, but fares and schedules vary. It suits travellers who are short on time or do not want a very early start.
When is the Abu Simbel sun festival?
On 22 February and 22 October each year, the rising sun shines deep into the Great Temple and lights up the statues in the inner sanctuary for about 20 minutes. On these two days, trips from Aswan leave around midnight so visitors can be at the temple for sunrise.
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