Aswan and Abu Simbel Overnight Tour

Pickup

Your WOW Egypt Tours representative and driver will pick you up from your hotel, Nile Cruise, Aswan Airport, Aswan Train Station, or your location in Aswan. You will be transferred by private modern air-conditioned vehicle with your private Egyptologist guide to begin your Aswan sightseeing tour.

Philae Temple

Start your tour with a visit to Philae Temple, one of the most important temples in Aswan. The temple was mainly built during the Ptolemaic period from the 3rd century BC, with later additions during the Roman period, and was dedicated mainly to the goddess Isis.

Philae Temple was originally located on Philae Island and was later relocated to Agilkia Island after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The relocation was part of the UNESCO Nubian monuments rescue campaign during the 1960s and 1970s, and the temple was moved between 1972 and 1980 to protect it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

During your visit, your private Egyptologist guide will explain the history of the temple, the relocation project, the role of Isis, and the religious importance of the site. You will reach the temple by motorboat and visit the main temple areas, including pylons, courtyards, chapels, columns, carved walls, and religious scenes connected with Isis, Osiris, and Horus.

Unfinished Obelisk

After visiting Philae Temple, continue to the Unfinished Obelisk, located in the ancient granite quarries of Aswan. The obelisk is usually connected with Queen Hatshepsut of the 18th Dynasty, around the 15th century BC, and would have been one of the largest obelisks ever made if completed.

During your visit, your guide will explain the quarrying techniques, the size of the obelisk, and why it was left unfinished after cracks appeared in the stone. The Unfinished Obelisk is about 42 meters / 138 feet long and would have weighed around 1,200 tons if completed. The site gives clear information about ancient Egyptian engineering, stone cutting, and the importance of Aswan granite in temple construction.

Lunch Time

Lunch is served at local restaurant.

Aswan High Dam

After lunch, continue to the Aswan High Dam, one of the most important modern projects in Egypt. The dam was built between 1960 and 1970 to control Nile flooding, improve irrigation, and generate hydroelectric power.

During your visit, your guide will explain the history of the Aswan High Dam, its effect on agriculture and electricity in Egypt, and its connection with Lake Nasser, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. The Aswan High Dam is about 3,830 meters / 12,565 feet long, and Lake Nasser extends for about 500 km / 310 miles southward between Egypt and Sudan. You will also learn how the dam affected archaeological sites in Nubia and why several temples, including Philae Temple and Abu Simbel Temples, were relocated.

Check-in Your Nile-View Hotel

After completing the Aswan sightseeing visits, transfer to your Nile-view hotel in Aswan for check-in. The hotel stay gives you time to rest before continuing the sunset program.

Sunset Felucca Ride on the Nile

In the afternoon, enjoy a traditional felucca ride on the Nile River at sunset. The Nile River is about 6,650 km / 4,130 miles long and was central to ancient Egyptian agriculture, transport, trade, and daily life. The felucca ride gives you time to see the Nile River, riverbanks, local boats, islands, and sunset views in Aswan.

The route depends on wind and river conditions on the day of your tour. This activity is a useful addition to the overnight program for travelers who want a quiet Nile experience in Aswan.

Dinner

Dinner is served at your hotel or local restaurant according to the tour arrangement.

Overnight

Overnight at your Nile-view hotel in Aswan.

Early Morning Transfer to Abu Simbel

Early in the morning, your WOW Egypt Tours representative and driver will pick you up from your Nile-view hotel with a breakfast box. You will start the road journey from Aswan to Abu Simbel by private air-conditioned vehicle.

Abu Simbel is located about 280 km / 174 miles south of Aswan, and the driving time is usually around 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes each way, depending on road and operating conditions. During the transfer, you will travel through the desert road south of Aswan toward Lake Nasser and Abu Simbel.

Abu Simbel Temples

Upon arrival, visit the Abu Simbel Temples, one of the most important ancient Egyptian sites in Nubia. The temples were built by Pharaoh Ramses II during the 19th Dynasty, around the 13th century BC, and are among the most recognized monuments in Egypt.

The Abu Simbel Temples were carved into the rock on the western bank of the Nile south of Aswan. Today, they stand near Lake Nasser after being relocated to higher ground during the 1960s to protect them from the rising water caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Lake Nasser extends for about 500 km / 310 miles southward between Egypt and Sudan.

Great Temple of Ramses II

Start your visit with the Great Temple of Ramses II, the larger of the two Abu Simbel temples. It was built by Ramses II during the 13th century BC and was dedicated to Ramses II himself and the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah.

The temple facade is known for its 4 massive seated statues of Ramses II, carved directly into the rock. Each statue is about 20 meters / 66 feet high and represents royal power and the importance of Ramses II as one of the most powerful pharaohs of the New Kingdom.

Inside the temple, your private Egyptologist guide will explain the main halls, side chambers, relief scenes, and religious carvings. You will see scenes connected with royal offerings, military victories, gods, and the image of Ramses II as a powerful ruler. Ramses II ruled Egypt for about 66 years during the 19th Dynasty.

The Great Temple is also known for its solar alignment. Twice a year, around February 22 and October 22, sunlight reaches the inner sanctuary and illuminates statues inside the temple, except the statue of Ptah, who was connected with the underworld. Your guide will explain the meaning of this event and its importance in the temple design.

Small Temple of Queen Nefertari

Continue to the Small Temple of Queen Nefertari, built by Ramses II during the 13th century BC and dedicated to Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. This temple is one of the important examples of a major royal temple dedicated to a queen in ancient Egypt.

The facade includes standing statues of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, with the queen shown at a similar scale to the king, which reflects her high status during his reign. The facade has 6 standing statues, about 10 meters / 33 feet high, showing Ramses II and Queen Nefertari.

Inside the temple, your guide will explain the scenes connected with Hathor, music, offerings, royal worship, and Queen Nefertari’s religious role. The temple gives important context about royal women, divine queenship, and the relationship between Ramses II, Nefertari, and Hathor.

UNESCO Relocation Project

Your guide will also explain the relocation of Abu Simbel Temples during the 1960s. The temples were moved to higher ground as part of the UNESCO Nubian monuments rescue campaign after the construction of the Aswan High Dam between 1960 and 1970 and the creation of Lake Nasser.

The relocation project is one of the most important archaeological rescue projects of the 20th century. The temples were cut into more than 1,000 large blocks, moved about 65 meters / 213 feet higher and around 200 meters / 656 feet back from their original location, then reconstructed in a new location that preserved their original appearance and orientation as much as possible.

Return Transfer to Aswan

After completing your visit to Abu Simbel Temples, return to Aswan by private air-conditioned vehicle. The return distance is about 280 km / 174 miles, and the journey usually takes around 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on road conditions.

Drop-off

After completing your Aswan and Abu Simbel Overnight Tour, you will be transferred to your hotel, Nile Cruise, Aswan Airport, Aswan Train Station, or your location in Aswan.