Aswan & Abu Simbel

The loveliest stretch of the Nile: sail a felucca around Elephantine Island and the botanical garden island, visit Philae Temple and the colorful Nubian villages, and set off before dawn for Abu Simbel.

Aswan lies in the far south of Egypt, in the region of the First Cataract of the Nile. It was ancient Egypt's southern gateway and a center of granite quarrying, and it is the heart of Nubian culture. Here the Nile is broken up by small islands of black granite and bordered by golden dunes, and it is considered the most beautiful stretch of the river. The city spreads along the Corniche on the east bank, with the souk, the Nubian Museum and the Old Cataract Hotel; in the river lie Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island Botanical Garden; on the west bank are the Tombs of the Nobles, the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan and the Monastery of St. Simeon. South of the city are the Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple near the Old Dam, the Aswan High Dam, and Kalabsha Temple on Lake Nasser. About 45 km north are Kom Ombo Temple and the Daraw camel market; about 280 km south, Abu Simbel is usually visited as a day trip leaving before dawn, or you can fly. Climate: extremely dry; October to April is best, with daytime highs of about 23–30℃; from May to September temperatures often exceed 40℃, so sightseeing should be scheduled for early morning and evening. Getting there: Aswan Airport has flights to and from Cairo; trains (including sleepers) run from Cairo and Luxor; a classic option is a 3–4 night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way. In the city you can take taxis, use Uber, or cross the river by ferry. Suggested stay: 2–3 days (including one day for Abu Simbel). Note: admission prices are quoted in Egyptian pounds and change often, so consider a Luxor/Aswan combined pass; agree on prices for boats, camels and horse carriages beforehand; respect residents of the Nubian villages and ask permission before photographing people.

Top sights

• Temple of Kom Ombo – A rare “double temple” on the Nile, dedicated to both the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, with a crocodile museum attached.
• Philae Temple (Temple of Isis) – An Isis temple on a small island in the Nile. Relocated during the Aswan Dam project, it is known as the 'Pearl of the Nile.'
• Abu Simbel Temples – Twin rock-cut temples carved by Ramesses II, guarded by four 20 m colossal statues. They were once cut into blocks and moved upward to esca…
• Nubian Village (Gharb Soheil) – A Nubian village on the west bank of the Nile in Aswan, with brightly colored houses, handicrafts, and guesthouses where you can hold a bab…
• Unfinished Obelisk – A colossal obelisk still lying in a granite quarry, which would have stood about 42 m tall and weighed about 1,100 tons, making it the larg…
• Aswan High Dam – The Nile dam completed in 1970, with Lake Nasser, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world, on one side and the Nile on the other.
• Elephantine Island – An island in the Nile opposite central Aswan, the gateway to Egypt's southern frontier in ancient times, home to the Temple of Khnum ruins…
• Nubian Museum – An award-winning museum that presents thousands of years of Nubian history and culture, and also tells the story of the rescue of temples d…
• Kitchener's Island (Aswan Botanical Garden) – A botanical garden island west of Elephantine, reached by felucca, where you can wander among tropical plants from around the world.
• Tombs of the Nobles (Qubbet el-Hawa) – Rock-cut tombs of Old and Middle Kingdom nobles on the cliffs of the west bank of the Nile, with views of all of Aswan and the river from t…
• Monastery of St. Simeon – The 7th-century Coptic monastery ruins in the desert on the west bank of the Nile, among the best-preserved early monasteries in Egypt.
• Mausoleum of Aga Khan III – A pink granite mausoleum on a hill on the west bank of the Nile, modeled on Fatimid-era Cairo tombs and a signature silhouette of the Aswan…
• Temple of Kalabsha – The largest freestanding temple in Nubia, relocated to a site on the shores of Lake Nasser, with the rock-cut Temple of Beit el-Wali and th…
• Aswan Souq (Sharia as-Souq) – A market street running parallel to the Nile Corniche, filled with spices, hibiscus, Nubian handicrafts, and dates.
• Sofitel Legend Old Cataract – A legendary Victorian-style hotel that opened in 1899, where Agatha Christie wrote parts of Death on the Nile.
• Sehel Island (Famine Stela) – A granite island in the First Cataract region of the Nile, where more than 200 ancient inscriptions are carved into the rocks, the most fam…
• Daraw Camel Market – One of Egypt's largest camel markets, where camels from Sudan are traded in an unfiltered, authentic scene.
• Temple of Edfu – The best-preserved ancient Egyptian temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus, with a 36 m tall pylon and nearly intact roofs and inner san…

Where to eat

• Solaih Nubian Restaurant – A Nubian restaurant on Bigeh Island directly facing the Philae Temple, run by the local community and recreating tradit…
• El Dokka – A family-run restaurant on a Nile island, opened in 1993 and famous for its Nubian BBQ and clay pot stews.
• Al Masry Restaurant – An old-school local grill house near the Aswan Souq, where kofta skewers and stuffed pigeon are highly recommended, wit…
• Nubian Dreams – A Nubian-style terrace restaurant next to the Elephantine Island ferry dock, famous for its camel meat tagine and Nubia…

Itineraries

• Classic Cairo & Nile River Cruise – Three nights in Cairo plus a four-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan, followed by Abu Simbel—the standard route for first…
• Sleeper Train & Felucca Journey Across the Nile – Two sleeper train journeys and a night on a felucca, covering Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor to save on accommodation while of…
• Grand Panorama Loop of Egypt – Cover Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, the Red Sea, and Alexandria, featuring overland temple routes and the historic Mediterranean…