Aswan to Abu Simbel & Luxor Private Car: A 2026 Review

Making your travels smooth, it's <Travel Lubricant>.

Today, I'm excited to share a vivid review of our journey by private car,

taking you from Aswan to Abu Simbel, and then to Luxor.

1. Aswan Private Car

Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is a renowned ancient Egyptian archaeological site located in the Nubian region of Southern Egypt,

and it's a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It consists of two massive rock-cut temples, constructed in the 13th century BC by Ramses II.

On February 22nd and October 22nd each year,

the temples are famous for a unique phenomenon where the sun's rays illuminate the statues deep inside the sanctuary.

Originally, due to the rise in the Nile River's water level caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam,

these temples faced the risk of submersion and were meticulously relocated to their current site.

From Aswan to Abu Simbel

The journey from Aswan to Abu Simbel

covers 380 km and takes approximately 3 hours by car.

Given the considerable distance, we decided to consider traveling by private car.

After searching through cafe and blog reviews,

we found Salla, who came highly recommended, especially by Korean travelers.

2. Review

Let's dive into our experience traveling from Aswan, via Abu Simbel, all the way to Luxor.

Price

After a bit of negotiation,

we settled on a total of $145 for the entire trip.

I wanted to negotiate a little more, but he wouldn't budge, so I couldn't! ㅜ

Vehicle Condition

Salla was easy to spot from a distance in his red Avante.

I was a bit worried if all our luggage would fit in the Avante's trunk,

but to my surprise, a huge suitcase and a regular-sized one fit with room to spare!

The back seat was spacious, the floor mats were clean, and there was no strange smell from the air conditioning,

making it the cleanest car we rode in throughout Egypt!

To escape Egypt's scorching sun,

he even installed sunshades, allowing us to arrive at Abu Simbel feeling cool and refreshed.

*Other vehicles are also available (e.g., Kia cars)

Aswan -> Abu Simbel

Driving from Aswan to Abu Simbel at an impressive 130 kilometers per hour,

we arrived in just 3 hours and 20 minutes!

We even stopped at a rest area along the way to grab some refreshing drinks, and

Salah even gave us a surprise chocolate bar!

After arriving at Abu Simbel and exploring the site,

Salah told us to contact him about 10 minutes before we were ready to leave, and he'd be back to pick us up.

⏰Abu Simbel Sightseeing Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Abu Simbel -> Luxor

We headed straight from Abu Simbel to Luxor, without stopping in Aswan.

Since Abu Simbel lacked shade and was quite hot,

What a thoughtful gesture from Salah—he even bought us ice cream before we departed!

It felt like a refreshing rain in the scorching heat!

Even with a stop at a rest area along the way,

and being pulled over by traffic police near Aswan, forcing us onto a national road,

the journey to Luxor still only took 6 hours and 30 minutes.

3. Pros & Cons

I had worried about driver fatigue accidents, which are unfortunately quite common during tours in Egypt,

but Salah always proactively engaged in conversation whenever he felt drowsy,

or utilized rest stops to ensure a safe journey.

You could say it was a 'con' that felt more like a 'pro' in disguise?!

4. Wrapping Up

From Aswan to Abu Simbel and then on to Luxor,

we could truly entrust our long journey to Salah, our fantastic driver, making the trip incredibly comfortable and enjoyable.

What truly stood out was the immaculate condition of the vehicle and Salah's incredibly thoughtful care.

If you're dreaming of a trip to Southern Egypt,

don't hesitate to reach out to Salah!

You'll arrive at your destination refreshed and stress-free, even after a long journey!

🔗 Buy a Fast and Seamless SIM Card for Egypt