Most visitors see Abu Simbel on a rushed day trip from Aswan: a very early start, a short visit among the crowds and a long drive back. An Abu Simbel overnight trip from Aswan changes everything. You sleep by Lake Nasser, watch the Sound & Light show on the temples and visit them at sunrise, when the light is at its most beautiful. In this guide we explain how the 2-day trip works, what it costs and why our price is one of the best you will find.
Why stay the night in Abu Simbel?
- Sunrise at the temples: the first light on the giant statues of Ramses II is one of the most magical moments in Egypt.
- Fewer crowds: you visit before the day-trip buses and convoys arrive from Aswan.
- The Sound & Light show: in the evening, the history of Ramses II and Nefertari is projected onto the temple façades.
- Less time on the road in one day: the drive is split over two days, so the trip is much more relaxed.
Prices: two options, from €150 per person
- Standard – €150 per person: private car with driver for both days, entrance tickets to the temples, lunch on both days and a guide speaking your language (English or French) for the temple visit. You book your own hotel.
- Hotel + Sound & Light – €255 per person: everything in the Standard option, plus one night in Abu Simbel with dinner and breakfast and the Sound & Light show ticket.
The minimum booking is 2 people. For groups, message us on WhatsApp and we will give you a special group price. Drinks with lunch, tips and personal expenses are not included.
How do our prices compare?
Before setting our price, we compared the Abu Simbel overnight tours from Aswan listed on well-known booking websites and agencies in September 2026. The ones we found with the hotel and the Sound & Light show started from about €265 up to around €600 per person, and several of them did not include lunch.
Our Hotel + Sound & Light option costs €255 per person, lower than every offer we compared, and it also includes lunch on both days and a private car just for your group. If you prefer to choose your own hotel, the Standard option starts at only €150 per person. Prices elsewhere change with the season and exchange rates, so always compare what is included, not only the headline price.
Your 2-day itinerary
Day 1: Aswan to Abu Simbel and Lake Nasser
Pick-up from your hotel in Aswan and a drive of about 3.5 hours across the Nubian desert in your private car. Lunch in Abu Simbel, check-in at your hotel and time to relax by Lake Nasser. In the evening, the Sound & Light show at the temples (Hotel + Sound & Light option), then dinner and the night in Abu Simbel.
Day 2: Sunrise at the temples and return to Aswan
Early morning guided visit of the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Nefertari at sunrise, before the crowds. Breakfast, lunch in Abu Simbel, then the drive back to your hotel in Aswan in the afternoon.
What will you see?
The Great Temple of Ramses II
Four colossal statues of the pharaoh, each about 20 metres high, guard the entrance. Inside, the halls are covered with scenes of the Battle of Kadesh. The whole temple was cut up and moved higher in the 1960s to save it from the waters of Lake Nasser.
The Temple of Nefertari
Built by Ramses II for his favourite wife and dedicated to the goddess Hathor, it is one of the rare temples where a queen is shown at the same size as the king.
Tips for your trip
- Bring a warm layer: early mornings and desert nights can be cool, even when the days are hot.
- Carry your passport: it can be checked on the road between Aswan and Abu Simbel.
- Sun protection: a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are essential.
- Take some cash for drinks, tips and small extras.
Frequently asked questions
Is the guide with us for both days?
Your guide is with you for the visit of the temples. The rest of the trip is with your private driver.
Can I come from Hurghada?
Yes. Add our private transfer from Hurghada to Aswan (€80 per person) before the trip, or combine it with a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan.
Can I cancel my booking?
Yes, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the trip.
Book your Abu Simbel overnight trip
Mon Hurghada is a local team in Hurghada. Book your Abu Simbel 2-day trip from Aswan, or message us on WhatsApp and we will help you plan your journey.
