Come to Abu Simbel for the views, stay for the lunch
The 3-hour van ride to Abu Simbel from Aswan is remarkably smooth and not exhausting. Once at Abu, our driver connected us with an official guide who gave a rudimentary overview of the temple complex. The lunch afterwards was wonderful and giant, one of our best meals in Egypt. We're so glad we went the extra kilometer to Abu Simbel.
Stephen_D · يناير 2026 · عبر Viator
This is one tour nobody...
This is one tour nobody should miss the temple and Lake Nasr are spectacular and will make for life memories
ANILM_Y · يناير 2026 · عبر Viator
What an experience!!!!
The trip to Abu Simbel from Aswan was perfect in every aspect. The guide was knowledgable and helped us navigatenthe site smoothly, pointing out important details of the temple and the reliefs. The driver was careful while driving through a mild sand storm. He was also attentive. Thank you to Emo tours for providing an experience of a lifetime.
Maria_V · يناير 2026 · عبر Viator
Private tours are recommended over bus tours if possible.
Being a large sedan, I was able to spend a comfortable ride of nearly six hours round trip. The guides who responded to us there were also very good people and they explained it to me attentively. It was also a very satisfying tour because it was a private tour, so we had just over two hours to see the ruins.
Anonymous · يناير 2026 · عبر Viator · مترجم
Fair Price for private Tour
We booked only driver. The car was new and clean. The driver was driving very carefully as well. The Emo tour had a great communication with us about the driver and the pick up time. During the tour, the driver was very quiet assuming due to language barrier. Everything went well and smoothly.
MASOUMEH_H · يناير 2026 · عبر Viator
Don't go early! 7am departure is the best option.
Ignore anyone who tells you that you should head out at 4am or 5am. We left at 7am as all private tours, tour busses, and cruise ship passengers were leaving. We literally had the place to ourselves!
Abu Simbel is a MUST SEE in Egypt. It's the most impressive site in Egypt, and I think it was more stunning than the Pyramids of Giza.
I think this loses stars because I regretfully booked with Emo Tours, which I didn't realize was so bad until I spent time in Egypt and met other travelers with bad experiences like us. The guide just wants to take you shopping and to sell you more tours, and they don't take no for an answer. It was our mistake not to trust our guide about the Emo Tours scams in Cairo.
I highly recommend this style of tour to Abu Simbel! Just do yourself a huge favor and book someone other than Emo Tours.
Jillian_W · يناير 2026 · عبر Viator
Nice trip
We would recommend the tour. The agency did not contact us through WhatsApp in advance as it is often the case, but our driver, Shikou, was there on time. Thanks to him, the way to Abu Simbel and back was super interesting and smooth and we did not feel the time pass. We felt secure and taken care of. We give 4 instead of 5 stars because the experience with the guide at the temple was deceiving. We met the guide there, he was knowledgeable, but gave explanations to us in 15 min max. It is true there is not a lot of time at Abu Simbel but we think there is enough to make for example a one hour, more detailed guided tour. We therefore think it is not worth paying more for this option with the guide if you wish to obtain deeper information about the temple.
Anna_S · يناير 2026 · عبر Viator
Uncomfortable driver...
We booked the driver only option. Driver arrived on time and the car was clean and new. Great.
The driver didn't speak a word -not even a greeting. When we stopped at a rest place, he parked, got out without a word. Nothing. Got himself a coffee. No explanation of toilet location/ fee, departure time... nothing.
We arrived safely and enjoyed the temples.
When leaving, he just got in the car, no door opening, no eye contact, not a word...and off we went.
Definitely better than a talking-machine-driver, but it was VERY uncomfortable.
VERY.
Eoghan_B · يناير 2026 · عبر Viator
AVOID : GUIDE WILL NOT BE WITH YOU !!!!
First : no confirmation of pick up was provided and we had to get in touch with Emo tour to get confirmation.
Second : the driver was waiting quite stupidly without any sign letting us know he was waiting for us as they were numerous other cars waiting for tourists. We had to go to him to finnaly realize it was him. This made us loose about 30mn at 6:00am !!!
Third : On the temple site, we were given a guide that showed us a series of pictures and then left us alone telling us to come back to him after seeing the small temple; but whan we got back, he was busy with another group and told us to wait for 10mn !!!
Then, upon exiting the site, no sign of the driver or of the "Emo Tour Manager" we saw on arrival. I had to go around the parking lot but the driver was not there. After 20 mn, the "manager" showed up and called the driver. When I complained, he replied aggressively "that the way with Emo Tour"!!!
707antoine · يناير 2026 · عبر Tripadvisor
Disappointing “private” tour
Abu Simbel review
We booked a private tour with guide. What we got could barely be called that. Positives, the driver’s car was very nice and clean. Unfortunately there were not enough seatbelts for all of us, and the driving was very fast and aggressive. When we got to Abu Simbel, our “guide” had to finish with 1 group, then met with us to give his 5 minute speech outside the temples before sending us off and doing the same for the next group. In no way would I consider this a guide. I would have more details with a quick google search. It was very disappointing and not at all what I thought I would be getting when booking. Abu Simbel is great, but I wanted an actual guide to take us around and tell us about it and the history and that is most definitely not what I got.
jsteiner24 · يناير 2026 · عبر Tripadvisor