Aswan and Abu Simbel Overnight Tour from Luxor by Train

Pickup

Your WOW Egypt Tours representative and driver will pick you up from your hotel, Nile Cruise, Luxor Airport, Luxor Train Station, or your location in Luxor. You will be transferred by private modern air-conditioned vehicle to Luxor Train Station for your VIP train to Aswan.

VIP Train from Luxor to Aswan

Take the VIP train from Luxor to Aswan. The train journey usually takes around 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on train schedule and operating conditions.

The train route follows the Nile River Valley between Luxor and Aswan, passing through one of the main historical routes of Upper Egypt. This route connects ancient temple towns, agricultural areas, Nile-side cities, and important sightseeing regions between Luxor and Aswan.

Upon arrival at Aswan Train Station, your private Egyptologist guide and driver will meet you to begin your Aswan sightseeing tour.

Philae Temple

Start your Aswan sightseeing with a visit to Philae Temple, one of the most important temples in Aswan. The temple was mainly dedicated to the goddess Isis and dates mostly to the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, especially from the 4th century BC to the Roman period.

Philae Temple was originally located on Philae Island and was later relocated to Agilkia Island between 1972 and 1980 after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The relocation was part of the Nubian monuments rescue campaign, which helped protect major temples from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

During your visit, your private Egyptologist guide will explain the history of Philae 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.

The Unfinished Obelisk would have measured about 42 meters / 138 feet long and weighed around 1,200 tons if finished. 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 site gives clear information about ancient Egyptian engineering, stone cutting, and the importance of Aswan granite in temple construction. It also helps explain how large obelisks and stone monuments were prepared before being transported to temples across ancient Egypt.

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.

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. During your visit, your guide will explain the history of the dam, its effect on agriculture and electricity in Egypt, and its connection with Lake Nasser.

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 during the Nubian monuments rescue campaign.

Check-in Your Nile-View Hotel

After completing the main Aswan sightseeing visits, transfer to your Nile-view hotel in Aswan for check-in. The hotel is selected with a Nile view when available according to the confirmed booking category and room availability.

Sunset Felucca Ride

Enjoy a sunset felucca ride on the Nile in Aswan. The felucca ride gives you time to see the Nile River, riverbanks, local boats, islands, and sunset views in Aswan.

The Nile River is about 6,650 km / 4,130 miles long and was central to ancient Egyptian agriculture, transport, trade, and daily life. In Aswan, the river landscape includes islands, granite rocks, local boats, and views connected with Nubian life and southern Egypt.

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

Dinner

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

Overnight

Overnight at your Nile-view hotel in Aswan.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner

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

Visit Abu Simbel Temples, one of the most important ancient Egyptian temple sites in southern Egypt. The temples were built by Pharaoh Ramses II during the 19th Dynasty in the 13th century BC and are located near Lake Nasser.

The Abu Simbel Temples were relocated in the 1960s during the UNESCO Nubian monuments rescue campaign to protect them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The relocation project is one of the most important archaeological rescue operations of the 20th century.

The temples were cut into large blocks, moved to higher ground, and reconstructed in a new location that preserved their original appearance and orientation as much as possible. This gives important context about Nubian monuments, modern archaeology, and the effect of Lake Nasser on ancient sites in southern Egypt.

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 in the 13th century BC during the 19th Dynasty and was dedicated to Ramses II himself and the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah.

The facade includes four seated colossal statues of Ramses II, each about 20 meters / 66 feet high. These statues represent royal power and the importance of Ramses II as one of the most powerful pharaohs of the New Kingdom.

During your visit, your private Egyptologist guide will explain the temple’s history, its political and religious purpose, and the role of Ramses II in the 19th Dynasty. You will see the main hall, statues, carved battle scenes, offering scenes, side chambers, and the sanctuary connected with the famous solar alignment phenomenon.

The Great Temple is known for its solar alignment, when sunlight reaches the inner sanctuary twice a year 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 six standing statues, about 10 meters / 33 feet high, showing Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. The queen is shown close in size to the king, which reflects her high status during his reign and makes the temple different from many other royal monuments.

During your visit, your guide will explain the temple’s religious meaning, Hathor worship, royal representation, and the importance of Nefertari in royal and religious scenes. Inside the temple, you will see scenes connected with offerings, Hathor, music, worship, and Queen Nefertari’s religious role.

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.

During the return transfer, your guide or driver will assist with the route back to Aswan after completing the Abu Simbel temple visit.

Drop-off in Aswan

After completing your Aswan and Abu Simbel Overnight Tour from Luxor by Train, you will be transferred by private air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel, Nile Cruise, Aswan International Airport (ASW), Aswan Train Station, or your location in Aswan.

Meals: Breakfast