Abu Simbel from Aswan at a glance
Abu Simbel has two temples: the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the smaller temple for Nefertari and Hathor. Both were moved to save them from the reservoir behind the Aswan High Dam. The site lies a long drive from Aswan, so the trip takes a full day. Most visitors go by road, and a flight option of about 30 minutes is also offered by tour operators.
This is an independent guide, not the site of the ministry or any operator. Ticket prices below come from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities listing, read in October 2026. A separate ticket portal shows different numbers, so both are listed below.
Abu Simbel tickets in 2026
Foreign visitors, in Egyptian pounds. The ministry listing and the ticket portal do not agree, so confirm the price when you buy.
| Ticket | Ministry listing | Ticket portal |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, adult | EGP 750 | EGP 822 |
| Standard, student | EGP 375 | EGP 445.50 |
| 22 February and 22 October, adult | EGP 1,200 | EGP 1,272 |
| 22 February and 22 October, student | EGP 600 | EGP 670.50 |
| Egyptian standard / sun festival, adult | EGP 30 / EGP 60 | – |
| Egyptian standard / sun festival, student | EGP 10 / EGP 20 | – |
The portal lists free entry for children under 6 and student rates for holders of a valid ID aged 24 or younger. Do not assume half price for every child. Parking at the site, per the ministry: car or taxi EGP 25, microbus EGP 50, coaster EGP 75, bus EGP 100. Check whether a tour price includes the entrance ticket.
Our picks: Abu Simbel
A day trip by road, a group tour with entry or a private tour by flight.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private Abu Simbel tour by flight
Six hours including the return flight from Aswan, a private transfer, an English-speaking guide and the Abu Simbel entry fee. Pickup from Gharb Soheil or the islands costs $10 per person extra.
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Abu Simbel group tour with guide and entry
Ten hours in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel transfer, an English-speaking guide and the Abu Simbel entry fee. Food, drinks and tips are not included.
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Abu Simbel day trip with hotel pickup
Ten hours with hotel transfer and a driver. The Abu Simbel entry fee and an English-speaking guide are only included with the matching option.
Check availability →Abu Simbel tours from Aswan
Day trips by road and combinations with other Aswan sights, with live prices and availability.
Getting to Abu Simbel
By road or by air. Both are offered by operators in Aswan, and schedules change, so confirm yours when you book.
By road
One operator in Aswan plans about 3 hours in each direction and lets you choose a departure between 04:00 and 11:00. Another operator quotes about 280 km and 3½ hours on the road.
Convoys and paperwork
Operators describe trips that currently run without a police convoy, and one of them asks for passport copies the day before for police paperwork. This is operator practice, not an official traffic notice. Ask your operator how the trip works on your date.
By air
A flight of about 30 minutes is offered by at least one tour operator. Ask for current flight times and prices when you book.
A sample day
Three hours each way plus three hours on site adds up to roughly nine hours, before any hotel pickup. Treat this as an example program, not a guaranteed length.
What you see at Abu Simbel
The Great Temple of Ramesses II is the larger of the two. Statues stand in its pillared hall. The smaller temple, dedicated to Nefertari and Hathor, stands next to it.
Both temples were moved to protect them from the reservoir. The same dam story explains why many Nubian villages moved too. Read how the dam changed the region on our Aswan High Dam page and the history on Nubian culture.
The sun festival on 22 February and 22 October
Twice a year, the ministry's ticket offer lists two special days, 22 February and 22 October. On both dates the foreign adult ticket is EGP 1,200 on the ministry page, against the standard EGP 750.
Do not rely on a fixed minute for the light. The exact timing is not the same every year and has to be established on site. If you want to see it, ask your operator about the date, the entry rules and the timing of the day before you book.
Travel advice: what the governments say
The following is what each government published on 21 October 2026. It is not our own verdict.
- United Kingdom (FCDO): advises against all travel or all but essential travel to several areas, including parts of the Western Desert. Aswan and Abu Simbel are named as exceptions to the Western Desert area. The overall advice was last changed on 4 August 2026.
- Germany (Auswärtiges Amt): a partial travel warning, unchanged since 29 September 2026. It warns against travel to North Sinai, certain border areas and remote Sahara areas, including border regions with Sudan and Libya. These border zones can change.
- United States: Level 2, "exercise increased caution," issued on 15 July 2025. The Western Desert is "do not travel" with an exception for licensed tour operators. No separate level is given for Aswan or Abu Simbel.
Abu Simbel is not a convenient starting point for the Sudan border. The FCDO describes the situation there as unclear, with little infrastructure at Qustul and Argeen and no visa on arrival. Do not plan a side trip.
More from Aswan
Combine the trip with the sights near town, or see the Nile by water. Arriving by ship or train? See our getting there page, and Nile cruises from Luxor for that route.
Abu Simbel: frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Aswan to Abu Simbel?
One operator plans about 3 hours each way by road, another quotes about 3½ hours for roughly 280 km. A flight of about 30 minutes is offered as an option. Allow a full day.
How much is the Abu Simbel ticket in 2026?
The ministry lists EGP 750 for a foreign adult and EGP 375 for a student. A ticket portal shows EGP 822 and EGP 445.50. On 22 February and 22 October the ministry lists EGP 1,200 and EGP 600.
When is Abu Simbel open?
The ministry lists daily opening from 06:00 to 17:00. The ticket portal gives last entry as 16:00, so plan to arrive well before closing.
When is the Abu Simbel sun festival?
The ministry's ticket offer lists 22 February and 22 October as special days. The exact time of the light changes, so ask your operator and do not count on a fixed minute.
Do I need a police convoy?
Operators describe trips without a convoy at the moment, but this is not an official traffic notice, and one operator still asks for passport copies the day before. Ask your operator how your trip is organized.