2 days
Are you ready to journey into the heart of ancient Egypt, minus the stress? Our all-inclusive two-day trip from Luxor to Abu Simbel and Aswan is the perfect blend of historical awe and modern-day comfort. We've meticulously crafted an adventure that handles every detail, from air-conditioned transport to your stay in a 4-star hotel, so you can focus on making incredible memories. Get ready to explore UNESCO World Heritage sites, discover local culture, and feel like a true explorerโall without a single worry.
Abu Simbel is not just an archaeological site; it's a testament to the power and genius of ancient Egypt. Here, you'll stand before two colossal rock-cut templesโthe magnificent masterpiece of Ramses II and the beautifully intricate temple of his beloved Queen Nefertari. Both were saved from the rising Nile in a monumental engineering feat, making this a UNESCO World Heritage site thatโs a powerful symbol of both ancient and modern ingenuity. Just a short journey away, Aswan invites you to experience Egypt's soul. This picturesque city is a gateway to sacred sites like the Philae Temple and a window into the vibrant Nubian culture that thrives along the Nile. With its stunning landscapes and rich history, Aswan offers a serene and unforgettable counterpoint to the grandeur of the temples.
Tourz Store Customer Rating:
5 out of 5 stars
This two-day trip to Abu Simbel and Aswan from Luxor consistently earns five-star praise for being a perfectly planned, all-inclusive, and stress-free adventure. Customers highlight the tour's convenience and comfort, particularly appreciating the overnight stay in a 4-star hotel which makes the long journey much more enjoyable than a rushed day trip. The expert Egyptologist guide is repeatedly commended for bringing the historical sites to life with fascinating knowledge and passion. Reviewers found the iconic temples of Abu Simbel and Philae breathtaking and cherished the unique cultural experience of visiting a Nubian Village and taking a peaceful felucca ride on the Nile. The tour is universally recommended as a must-do for anyone seeking a comprehensive, memorable, and expertly organized exploration of Southern Egypt.
This trip is designed to be an all-inclusive, stress-free adventure! We handle all the key logistics for you, which makes the long journey enjoyable, not rushed. We include convenient pick-up and drop-off right at your hotel in Luxor, and all transfers are in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle. Best of all, we include a comfortable overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in Aswan, so you are well-rested and ready for your early start to Abu Simbel on Day 2.
This adventure is truly comprehensive so you don't have to worry about hidden costs. The price covers:
This is a packed and perfectly planned two days! Day 1 starts around 7:00 AM from Luxor, featuring Aswan highlights like the Philae Temple and a beautiful cultural visit to a Nubian Village before settling into your 4-star hotel.
Day 2 requires an early start (around 3:30 AM) with a comfortable drive to Abu Simbel. This early timing is crucial as it allows you to arrive for a spectacular morning viewing before the midday crowds and heat, ensuring the best possible experience at the temples! Your hotel will provide a breakfast box for the journey.
Absolutely! Your adventure includes a professional, expert Egyptologist guide. They are passionate and highly rated for bringing the historical sites to life with fascinating stories, detailed explanations, and deep historical context for the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari, Philae Temple, and the Nubian Village. They are key to ensuring you have a truly rich and meaningful experience.
To guarantee comfort and relaxation between your two days of exploring, an overnight stay in a well-located and comfortable 4-star hotel in Aswan is fully included. This ensures you are refreshed and ready for the early morning visit to Abu Simbel.
The visit to the Nubian Village is a highlight for many travelers! It's a fantastic, warm experience that offers a beautiful look into the local culture along the Nile. You'll take a peaceful felucca ride on the Nile to reach the village, where you can walk among the brightly painted, charming homes, meet the kind local people, and get a genuine glimpse into their daily life and traditions. Itโs an authentic, colorful, and welcoming counterpoint to the grandeur of the ancient temples.
Aswan has so much more to offer! Besides the breathtaking Philae Temple, your tour includes a visit to the massive Aswan High Dam, which is a modern engineering marvel essential to Egypt. You'll also see the Unfinished Obelisk, which offers a fascinating peek into the ancient Egyptian stone-cutting techniques and shows you exactly how they worked with granite millennia ago. Itโs a great mix of ancient history and modern ingenuity.
Absolutely. The tour is specifically structured with an early morning start (around 3:30 AM) to ensure you have ample, unhurried time at Abu Simbel. This timing is ideal because you arrive before the intense midday heat and before the main crowds, giving you the best possible experience to explore both the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the smaller Temple of Nefertari at your own pace and truly soak in their grandeur.
Since the trip is comprehensive, you won't need much! We recommend bringing comfortable shoes, as youโll be walking through large temple complexes. Given the early morning start on Day 2, a light jacket or scarf is a good idea. Also, essentials like a hat, sunglasses, and high-factor sunscreen are a must for sun protection. Don't forget your fully charged camera to capture the incredible sights!
Yes, we are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions! Since lunch is included on both days, please inform us of any specific dietary needsโsuch as vegetarian, vegan, or allergy-related requestsโat the time of booking. This allows us to make the necessary arrangements with the local restaurants ahead of time to ensure you can enjoy a delicious and worry-free meal.
Our 2-day Luxor to Abu Simbel and Aswan tour is designed as a private tour experience. This means you will have a dedicated, air-conditioned vehicle and an expert Egyptologist guide exclusively for your party. You'll enjoy the flexibility, personalized attention, and comfort that comes with a private journey, which is especially beneficial for the long drives and early starts.
Tipping is customary in Egypt and a great way to show appreciation for excellent service. We recommend budgeting a reasonable amount for a tipping kitty at the start of the trip. A common guideline for a high-quality private, multi-day tour is to budget for your guide to receive approximately $15-$25 USD per person, per day, and your driver to receive around $10-$15 USD per person, per day. It's best to pay this in a lump sum at the end in either Egyptian Pounds or clean foreign currency (like USD or EUR).
While we welcome travelers of all ages, it's important to note the nature of the trip. The early morning wake-up call (around 3:00-3:30 AM on Day 2) and the long drives (4-5 hours each way from Luxor to Aswan, and then 3 hours each way from Aswan to Abu Simbel) can be strenuous. Most archaeological sites also require a fair amount of walking on uneven terrain. However, because it's a private tour, you can set a custom, slower pace and take more rest breaks, making it highly manageable for seniors or families with children.
While your tour often includes major costs like transportation, accommodation, and some meals, it is highly recommended to bring cash in Egyptian Pounds (EGP). You will need cash for:
Although entrance tickets at major sites like Abu Simbel are increasingly card-only, cash remains king for day-to-day transactions and tips.
Your one-night stay in Aswan is typically at a highly-rated 4-star or 5-star hotel (depending on your booking package) and includes a delicious breakfast. We choose hotels that offer a comfortable rest after your long travel day and are usually located near the Nile, providing you with beautiful views and easy access to the city's charming Corniche.
For your comfort and safety on these long drives, you will travel in a modern, air-conditioned, private vehicle. This is typically a comfortable sedan for smaller parties or a minivan/minibus for larger families or groups. As this is a private tour, you will not be on a large, crowded coach. Your vehicle will be driven by a professional, licensed driver.
This detail varies by tour operator. You should check your specific tour's "Inclusions" section:
If tickets are excluded, you will need to pay the entrance fees yourself. The major sites visited are the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple, and Abu Simbel. Remember to bring cash in EGP, or a credit card, as some sites only accept card payments.
The route from Luxor to Aswan and the subsequent trip to Abu Simbel is an established tourist corridor and is considered very safe for tourists.
The ideal time to visit Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel is during the cooler winter months, particularly from October to April.
For comfort, sun protection, and cultural respect in Upper Egypt, consider the following:
Clothing:
Lightweight, loose-fitting fabrics (cotton/linen). Light colors are best for reflecting heat.
This is essential for staying cool in the intense sun.
Modesty:
Cover shoulders and knees, especially when visiting temples or local areas. Women should pack maxi dresses, long skirts, or loose pants/capris and a shawl/scarf. Men should wear trousers or knee-length shorts and shirts.
While resort areas are flexible, public and religious sites require respect.
Footwear:
Comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes or sturdy sandals.
You will be walking a lot on uneven, sandy, and sometimes dusty terrain at the temple sites.
Sun Protection:
Wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen.
The Egyptian sun is very intense, even in winter.
Layers:
A light jacket or sweater (especially in winter).
The early morning drive to Abu Simbel and evenings in Aswan can be surprisingly cool.
The standard inclusion for a 2-day Luxor-Aswan-Abu Simbel tour is usually:
Exclusions: Dinner on Day 1 and any other personal drinks/snacks are generally not included. You will need to budget for dinner in Aswan.
Yes! You will have opportunities to buy souvenirs.
Your guide can often provide advice on where and when to shop if you are interested.
Yes, almost all foreign travelers require a visa to enter Egypt.
For this type of comprehensive, multi-day tour, a dedicated guide and private transportation are standard inclusions:
While major tourist businesses may accept credit cards, cash is king in Luxor and Aswan.
You must carry small EGP notes (5, 10, 20 EGP) for this. This is the local currency and is preferred for baksheesh (tipping).
High-value tips are often appreciated in hard currency due to exchange rate stability, but EGP is also perfectly acceptable. Hand over the tip discreetly at the end of the tour.
You can often haggle better when paying in EGP. Many vendors will also accept USD or Euros, but their exchange rate may be less favorable.
Tipping (baksheesh) is an integral part of the service economy in Egypt. It is not mandatory, but it is expected for good service. Tipping is typically done at the end of the service (e.g., at the end of the day or at the end of the full 2-day trip).
Here is a common guideline for a private 2-day tour for a small group (1-4 people):
Service Provider: Recommended Daily Tip (Per Group, not per person)
Egyptologist Guide: $15 - $30 USD / $500 - $1,000 EGP per day
Private Driver: $10 - $20 USD / $350 - $700 EGP per day
For example, for your 2-day trip:
Adjust the amount based on the quality of service (punctuality, knowledge, helpfulness) and your group size.
This is a very ambitious tour, and a significant portion of your time will be spent on the road. The travel times below are approximate for one-way trips by private car/van:
This is the main transfer on Day 1. It is a straight highway drive. If your tour stops at Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples along the way (common), add 1-2 hours for each stop.
This is the long desert road drive, usually undertaken in the early morning of Day 2. You will drive back the same day.
The final transfer on Day 2, combining the Aswan-Abu Simbel-Aswan return trip with the Aswan-Luxor drive, will be a very long day.
Key Takeaway: Be prepared for very early starts (especially for Abu Simbel) and many hours in the vehicle. Utilize the driving time for resting, listening to your guide, or enjoying the desert scenery.
Aswan's setting on the Nile is legendary for its sunsets over the desert and islands.
Walk along the main river promenade (Corniche) or, better yet, hire a felucca (traditional sailboat) for an hour before sunset. Sailing among the islands and watching the sky change is an essential Aswan experience.
Mรถvenpick Hotel or Old Cataract Hotel : The terrace bars at these luxury hotels offer unparalleled, elevated views of the Nile and the desert dunes for sunset.
From your Hotel/Cruise Cabin: If your accommodation has a Nile-facing balcony or window, this is the easiest way to catch the sunrise. The Abu Simbel Temples themselves are also a famous sunrise location if your tour arrives early enough.
Connectivity is generally good in the cities, but you will have spotty service during the long drives.
Photography policies have changed and are often enforced differently depending on the specific site:
Best Practice: Always look for signs at the entrance of each site, and if in doubt, ask your Egyptologist guide, who will know the current rules.
While Egypt's major tourist sites are accustomed to international visitors, dressing modestly is a sign of respect, especially in cities like Luxor and Aswan, and will help you feel more comfortable and attract less unwanted attention.
Loose-fitting clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Long skirts, maxi dresses, linen or wide-leg trousers, and tops with sleeves (even short sleeves) are ideal.
Carry a lightweight scarf/shawl. It can be used for extra sun protection, warmth in a chilly tomb, or for instant modest coverage if you visit a local mosque (though generally not required for the ancient temples).
Lightweight, loose-fitting trousers or long shorts (knee-length). T-shirts or collared shirts.
Avoid tank tops. Short-sleeves are generally acceptable at all the ancient sites.
Comfortable, sturdy closed-toe shoes or walking sandals with good grip. You will be walking on uneven stone surfaces and dusty/sandy ground.
Sunglasses and a hat are non-negotiable for sun protection.
Luxor and Aswan are in the hotter, drier, southern region of Egypt. October is generally considered an excellent time to visit as the intense summer heat begins to break.
October:
Daytime High (Approx.): 88โFโ94โF (31โCโ34โC)
Nighttime Low (Approx.): 62โFโ68โF (17โCโ20โC)
Note: Very little to no rain. Days are sunny and warm to hot, while nights are much more pleasant. Early morning starts are very comfortable.
Key Tip: Even though it's not peak summer, the sun is intense. Prioritize light-colored, breathable fabrics (linen, cotton), wear sunscreen, and stay hydrated, especially during mid-day sightseeing.
Yes, the primary tourist route is generally safe, and organized tours significantly enhance safety and comfort.
By taking sensible precautions and trusting your instincts, you can have an incredibly rewarding and safe experience exploring the wonders of the Nile Valley.
Journey deep into the heart of ancient Egypt in just two all-inclusive daysโfrom the colossal wonder of Abu Simbel to the serene beauty of the Philae Temple and a cultural immersion in a Nubian Village, all handled with a 4-star, stress-free stay from Luxor.