Private Aswan Day Tours and Abu Simbel

Aswan is Egypt at its most relaxed: granite islands in the river, feluccas under sail, Nubian villages on the west bank, and the Temple of Philae on its island south of the town. It is also the starting point for Abu Simbel, the great temples of Ramses II near the Sudanese border. Our Aswan day tours are private, with your own English-speaking guide and an air-conditioned car for your party only.

Below we compare our Aswan tours and prices, explain the choice between flying and driving to Abu Simbel, and suggest how to spend one or two days in Aswan. For every way to see Abu Simbel, including the packages that already include it, see our Abu Simbel tours page.

Our Private Aswan Day Tours and Prices

Prices are per person; where three prices are shown, the price falls as more of you share the guide and the car.

Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk

The Aswan Day Tour covers the three classic sights. The Temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis, was moved stone by stone to Agilkia Island when the dams raised the river, and you reach it by a short boat ride. The High Dam shows the scale of modern Egypt’s control of the Nile, with Lake Nasser stretching south, and the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in the granite quarry where it cracked, shows how the ancient builders worked. Our Aswan travel guide covers the town and its islands.

Abu Simbel From Aswan: By Air or by Car?

The temples of Abu Simbel lie far to the south of Aswan, close to the border with Sudan. There are two ways to reach them in a day:

Both versions include a guided visit to the Great Temple of Ramses II and the smaller temple of Queen Nefertari, dedicated to Hathor. By road, the early start means you arrive at the temples in the cooler morning. The temples were also moved in the 1960s to save them from Lake Nasser, an achievement your guide will explain on site.

A Nubian Village by Boat

The Nubian village tour takes you by boat past the islands of the First Cataract to a village on the west bank, with its brightly painted houses, for a glimpse of Nubian life and hospitality. It is an easy half day and pairs well with the Aswan Day Tour.

Philae by Night

The Philae Sound and Light Show returns to Agilkia Island after dark, when the temple is lit and the story of Isis and Osiris is told with narration and music. Admission to the show and transfers from your Aswan hotel are included.

How to Spend One or Two Days in Aswan

• One day. The Aswan Day Tour in the morning and the Nubian village in the afternoon, or the Philae show in the evening.
• Two days. Add Abu Simbel, by road with an early start or by air.
• More time. Slow down: a felucca around Elephantine and Kitchener’s Islands, the Botanical Garden, or tea on the terrace of the Old Cataract.

Aswan Tours Before or After a Nile Cruise

Most Nile cruises start or end in Aswan, and Philae and the High Dam are usually part of the cruise itinerary. Abu Simbel and the Nubian village are the most popular extras, and our dahabiya cruises end in Aswan, which makes it a natural place to add a night. See our Nile cruises page for the cruises themselves.

What Is Included in Our Aswan Tours

• All transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Private sightseeing as listed on the tour page
• An English-speaking guide for your party only
• Service charges and taxes

Good to know

• Entrance tickets are not listed in the published inclusions for most tours, so confirm with us when you book
• Optional extras not listed in the program
• Tips for your guide, driver and boatman

Why Book Your Aswan Tours With Delta Tours Egypt

We are a family-run operator based in Cairo and have been arranging travel in Egypt since 1974. Our Aswan tours run every day, we collect you from your hotel or ship, and our team is on WhatsApp throughout your stay. For the rest of your trip, see our Luxor day tours, our Cairo day tours, or ask for a tailor-made itinerary.