3 Days Cairo, Luxor & Abu Simbel Private Tour from Hurghada

After an early breakfast box at your hotel, travel south with your private guide toward Abu Simbel. The journey leads you to one of the most remarkable surviving monuments of ancient Nubia.

Abu Simbel Temples

Carved into the sandstone cliffs during the reign of Ramses II, the Great Temple of Abu Simbel is dominated by four colossal seated statues of the pharaoh at its entrance. The sanctuary contains detailed reliefs portraying royal ceremonies, deities, and military victories, while the temple’s carefully planned interior reflects the religious importance of Ramses II.

Beside it stands the Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari. Its façade features monumental figures of the king and queen, an unusual representation that emphasizes Nefertari’s royal status. The temples were threatened by the construction of the Aswan High Dam and the resulting rise of Lake Nasser. An international UNESCO-led campaign relocated the monuments to higher ground, preserving Abu Simbel for future generations.

This Hurghada to Abu Simbel Trip forms one of the most distinctive parts of the wider three-day journey, taking you deep into southern Egypt before continuing north toward Luxor.

After exploring Abu Simbel, return to Aswan for lunch at a local Nile-view restaurant. In the afternoon, board your first-class train to Luxor. On arrival, transfer to your hotel in the selected category, check in, and enjoy a relaxing evening before the final day of sightseeing.

After breakfast at your hotel, meet your private Egyptologist and begin your final day exploring Luxor, the ancient city once known as Thebes and one of Egypt’s richest archaeological destinations.

Karnak Temple

Start on the East Bank at Karnak Temple, an enormous religious complex developed by successive generations of Egyptian rulers. Dedicated primarily to Amun-Ra, the complex contains monumental pylons, obelisks, statues, sanctuaries, and the famous Great Hypostyle Hall.

The hall contains 134 massive columns, with its central columns rising higher than those along the sides. As you walk through this vast sacred space, your guide will explain how the temple developed over centuries and how its architecture reflected the power of ancient Egyptian religion and kingship.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before crossing to Luxor’s West Bank.

Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings served as the royal burial ground for many New Kingdom pharaohs. More than 60 tombs and chambers have been identified in the valley, including the famous tomb of Tutankhamun.

Inside the decorated tombs, painted scenes and hieroglyphic texts illustrate religious beliefs surrounding death and the journey to the afterlife. Each burial chamber offers a glimpse into the artistic traditions and spiritual ideas of ancient Egypt.

Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

Continue to Deir el-Bahari, where Queen Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple rises dramatically against the limestone cliffs. Its three broad terraces and colonnaded design were carefully integrated into the natural landscape.

Reliefs throughout the temple depict Hatshepsut’s divine birth, royal authority, and expedition to Punt, offering insight into the reign of one of ancient Egypt’s most prominent female rulers.

Colossi of Memnon

Conclude your Luxor sightseeing with the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous seated statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Originally positioned before his mortuary temple, the statues have survived as prominent landmarks on Luxor’s West Bank.

After completing your visits, begin the private drive back to Hurghada. Relax during the journey as you leave Luxor behind, carrying memories of Cairo’s pyramids, Nubia’s temples, and the archaeological treasures of Upper Egypt.

From the pyramids of Giza and a museum in Cairo to the colossal temples of Abu Simbel and the royal monuments of Luxor, this journey brings together several of Egypt’s defining experiences within a carefully coordinated three-day route. Flights, first-class rail travel, private transportation, comfortable hotels, and expert guidance make it possible to move between these destinations without sacrificing the quality of the experience.

The tour includes two hotel nights—one in Aswan and one in Luxor, in your selected hotel category. Travel from Hurghada to Cairo and from Cairo to Aswan by domestic flight, then from Aswan to Luxor by first-class train after the Abu Simbel visit. After Luxor sightseeing, return to your hotel in Hurghada by private road transfer.