Can I visit Abu Simbel on a day trip from Aswan?

Yes. Abu Simbel is around three hours from Aswan by road, or a short flight. Most day trips leave very early to reach the temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari before the crowds, returning to Aswan by afternoon. It's a long but unforgettable day, and the highlight of any southern itinerary.

What can you see in Aswan itself?

Aswan's own highlights – Philae Temple (reached by motorboat), the High Dam, the granite quarries with the Unfinished Obelisk, and a felucca sail past Elephantine Island and the Nubian villages – make a relaxed full day without leaving the city. It's Egypt's most easy-going destination.

How much does a Aswan excursion cost?

Private excursions in Aswan start from £24 per person, with the exact rate depending on the itinerary, group size and season. Every Discovery Tours Egypt excursion is private and all-inclusive: a licensed Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, and all listed entry fees. There are no hidden add-ons at the sites.

Are your Aswan excursions private?

Yes. Every excursion we run is fully private – just your party, your own Egyptologist guide and your own driver. Nothing is shared with strangers, and the pace, stops and timing are tailored to you on the day.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off at your Aswan hotel (or Nile cruise dock, where relevant) are included at no extra cost. Your guide meets you in the lobby; if your plans change, the local office that arranged the excursion can adjust it on the day.

When is the best time to visit Aswan?

October to April is the most comfortable season, with warm days and cool evenings ideal for sightseeing. May to September is hotter, so excursions start early to beat the midday heat – and you'll often find fewer crowds and lower prices. We run excursions in Aswan year-round.

Is it safe, and are families welcome?

Yes on both counts. We've operated in Egypt since 1988 from offices nationwide, with 24/7 in-country support, and excursions run with our own vetted guides and drivers. Families are very welcome – guides adjust the pace and content for children, and we can arrange car seats and shorter itineraries.

Excursions from Aswan

Aswan Excursions

Philae Temple, the High Dam, Abu Simbel & felucca on the Nile

LengthFull & half day

From£45 / person

PickupHotel or Nile cruise included

GuideEgyptologist

By the Egypt Discovery desk · Reviewed 28 September 2026

Aswan is Egypt's most easy-going city, and its excursions reflect that. Philae Temple – rebuilt stone by stone after the High Dam was completed – sits on a Nile island reached by motorboat. The Unfinished Obelisk lies in the granite quarries exactly where the masons abandoned it 3,500 years ago. And from Aswan, a dawn flight will land you at Abu Simbel before the day-trippers arrive.

The best excursion in Aswan is the one you don't have to organise yourself. We've been arranging them, in this country, since 1988.

Discovery Tours Egypt · since 1988

What you'll see

Aswan, in the order that makes sense

A full day comfortably covers two or three of the stops below – your guide tailors the mix to your pace, interests and the season.

Philae Temple

The temple of Isis, dismantled and rebuilt stone by stone on higher Agilkia Island to save it from the rising Nile – you reach it by motorboat, which is half the pleasure. The last place in Egypt where the old religion was still practised. Calm, beautiful, and best in the morning light.

~2 hrsReached by boat

Abu Simbel

Ramesses II's masterpiece – two rock temples, the great one fronted by four 20-metre colossi, cut from a cliff and famously relocated above Lake Nasser in the 1960s. It's a long but unforgettable day from Aswan, by road convoy or short flight. The headline of any southern itinerary.

full day~3 hrs each way

The High Dam & Lake Nasser

The 1960s engineering feat that tamed the Nile's flood, created the largest reservoir on earth, and triggered the great rescue of Abu Simbel and Philae. A short, contextual stop that ties the whole region's story together – ancient temples and modern Egypt in one view.

~45 minPhoto & context stop

Felucca on the Nile

Aswan is the most beautiful stretch of the river, and the felucca – the traditional lateen-sailed boat – is how to feel it. A late-afternoon sail past Elephantine Island, the Botanical Garden and the Aga Khan Mausoleum, with nothing but wind and water. The antidote to a temple-heavy day.

~1.5 hrsBest late afternoon

A Nubian village

Across the river, the Nubian villages are a wash of indigo, ochre and rose – a culture older than the pharaohs, with its own language, music and famously warm hospitality. Visited by boat or camel, usually with mint tea in a family home. The human heart of an Aswan day.

~2 hrsBy boat or camel

Every Aswan excursions

Ways to spend the day

Every private, fully-guided excursion we run here – hotel or Nile-cruise pickup included, priced in GBP, all-in.

Aswan: High Dam, Philae Temple & Unfinished Obelisk Day Tour

This private day tour visits the Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple on Agilkia Island and the Unfinished Obelisk quarry. Philae is part of the 'Nubian Monuments' UNESCO World Heritage Site; the temple was relocated to Agilkia during 1972–1980. The Unfinished Obelisk was intended to reach about 42 metres and would have weighed roughly 1,200 tonnes. We don't run group-bus tours; the visit is by private car, with a short motorboat transfer and one of our Egyptologists. Unlike quick cruise-boat calls, our schedule allows more time ashore to inspect inscriptions and quarrying marks. Standard site fees, motorboat crossing and transfers are included; gratuities are not. Expect limited shade on Agilkia Island, strong sun at midday and uneven ancient stone underfoot. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator.

From £1501 Days

Philae Temple Sound and Light Show, evening excursion from Aswan

Philae Temple stands on Agilkia Island in the Nile near Aswan and is dedicated chiefly to the goddess Isis. This evening excursion includes the sound and light show, which illuminates the temple complex while narration introduces its history. We arrange hotel pickup and drop-off in central Aswan and the Corniche area, with transfers by air-conditioned vehicle and a return motorboat crossing to the island. One of our Egyptologists accompanies the visit and provides historical context. The temple’s present setting is on Agilkia Island: its monuments were moved there from Philae Island during the UNESCO-led campaign to save Nubian monuments before the Aswan High Dam reservoir flooded the original site.

From £561 Days

Abu Simbel by Plane from Aswan, Day Tour

Abu Simbel lies about 280 km south of Aswan, where the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Small Temple of Nefertari face Lake Nasser. This full-day excursion uses a domestic flight of about 40 to 50 minutes each way, followed by a guided visit with an English-speaking Egyptologist. Allow roughly two to three hours at the temples, subject to flight and security timings. The monuments form part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. Compared with the 3.5 to 4-hour road journey each way, flying leaves more of the day for the site. Services are provided by Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator.

From £418

Abu Simbel by Road from Aswan (Day Tour)

Travel by road from Aswan to Abu Simbel for a visit to the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the adjacent Temple of Nefertari. The Great Temple’s façade is guarded by four seated colossi, each about 20 metres high. The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. Both temples were relocated in the 1960s to protect them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser after construction of the Aswan High Dam. The road route offers views of the desert and Lake Nasser that a flight does not. Abu Simbel entrance fees are included; hotel transfers, lunch and drinks are not included unless your booking confirmation says otherwise.

From £811 Days

Philae Temple Half-Day Tour, Aswan

This half-day tour visits Philae Temple on Agilkia Island, accessed by a short motorboat from Aswan. Our Egyptologist guide explains the Temple of Isis, Roman-era additions, and the site's relocation during the 1972–1980 UNESCO campaign. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator we provide private or small-group departures, transfers from central Aswan and flexible morning or afternoon timings. Unlike large coach excursions that queue at the quayside, our departures aim to reduce waiting time. Typical on-site time is about two hours; total door-to-door is approximately three hours depending on traffic. Expect uneven ancient stone, steps and limited shade at midday; the short boat crossing is unavoidable. Standard site entrance fees are included unless stated otherwise.

From £43

Aswan High Dam & Unfinished Obelisk, Half-Day Tour

This private half-day (approx. 3–4 hours) tour visits the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk with one of our Egyptologists. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we arrange private transfer from Aswan hotels or the Nile port. We don't run large coach groups; using a private car lets you set the pace and avoid fixed coach timetables common on cruise-ship excursions. Expect a clear contrast: the High Dam is 20th-century concrete engineering, while the Unfinished Obelisk shows ancient stone-working in situ. Trade-offs: the dam area has limited shade at midday and the quarry requires walking on uneven rock and steps.

From £49

Nubian Village Tour, Aswan

Visit a Nubian village near Aswan on a private boat crossing; included are a guided village walk, a home visit, and tea with a local family. You cross the Nile by motorboat or felucca to reach the village. We do not run coach-load excursions; we use private boats and a local Nubian guide employed through our operations, keeping groups deliberately small. Unlike large cruise-ship shore calls, our visit stays ashore longer and includes a hosted conversation with residents. Expect narrow sandy lanes, uneven steps and limited shade at midday; the visit involves modest walking and some standing.

From £50

Aswan to Kom Ombo, Edfu & Luxor – Day Tour

A private road transfer from Aswan to Luxor with guided stops at Kom Ombo and Edfu. Kom Ombo lies about 50 km north of Aswan (roughly 50 minutes by road). Our driver collects you in Aswan and you travel by private, air-conditioned car along the Nile-side highway. We do not run coach-group itineraries on this route – you travel privately with timing flexibility and fewer fixed stops than cruise-based excursions. Expect a long day: total driving is approximately 3–4 hours, so visits at each temple are necessarily limited. Standard site entrance fees are included; premium extras (private boat rides, premium tombs) and gratuities are excluded. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator.

From £2051 Days

Private Felucca Ride on the Nile, Aswan

Sail a traditional felucca on the Nile around Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island with a private local captain. We only charter traditional feluccas with local captains; we don't run group bus tours and we avoid the motorboat shuttle pattern seen from cruise ships. Unlike short motorboat trips, the felucca is sail-powered and quieter, allowing longer anchoring for swimming or photographing the Aga Khan Mausoleum from the water. Typical half-day sails are approximately 2–3 hours. Trade-offs: limited shade at midday, no flush toilets onboard, and sailing depends on wind (we can use the auxiliary motor if required).

From £24

Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples Day Trip from Luxor

Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the Temple of Kom Ombo on a private excursion from Luxor. Edfu’s temple is among the best-preserved ancient temples in Egypt, with monumental pylons and carved reliefs. Kom Ombo stands beside the Nile and is dedicated to Sobek and Haroeris, also known as Horus the Elder. A licensed Egyptologist explains the architecture and religious imagery at both sites. Unlike an unguided visit, this excursion includes an Egyptologist to put the carvings and temple layouts in context. We arrange private transport, pickup and drop-off at your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise, entrance tickets and lunch at a local restaurant.

From £98

Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples Day Trip from Luxor

Visit the temples of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo on a road-based excursion from Luxor. At Esna, the Temple of Khnum stands below modern street level, with its surviving hypostyle hall known for carved columns and a decorated ceiling. Edfu’s temple is dedicated to Horus, while Kom Ombo has paired sanctuaries associated with Sobek and Horus the Elder. Our private licensed Egyptologist guide can explain the buildings and their reliefs as you explore. Unlike brief stops on some Nile cruise itineraries, this excursion visits all three named temples in one day. Lunch is served at a local restaurant.

From £106

Know before you go

The practical bits

What to wear

Cover shoulders and knees for mosques and churches. Closed, comfortable shoes – you'll cross uneven stone and sand.

Tipping

Around £2–4 a day for your guide is standard, and a little for the driver. Never obligatory – your excursion price is complete.

Heat & water

Carry 1.5L minimum. Sites are in full sun by 10am – the early start isn't just about crowds, it's about comfort.

Cameras & fees

A few sites charge a separate camera fee at the gate; some interiors are extra. Standard site entry is always included.

Questions we hear most