Aswan Sightseeing Tour: High Dam & Philae

About this trip

Aswan's three classic sights in one day: the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk still lying in its quarry, and Philae Temple on Agilkia Island. Lunch at a local restaurant, a private car, an Egyptologist and entrance fees are included, with pickup from your hotel or ship.

The day

1. Morning

   Pickup from your hotel or Nile cruise in Aswan

   Your Egyptologist guide and driver meet you at your hotel or ship in Aswan in the morning. The sites on this tour sit south of the city, close to each other, so the drives between them are short and you spend most of the day on your feet at the monuments rather than in the car. There is water on board.

2. Morning

   The Aswan High Dam

   Built between 1960 and 1970, the High Dam ended the yearly Nile flood, gave Egypt a steady water supply and, at the time, a large share of its electricity, and created Lake Nasser, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. From the top your guide explains what the dam changed for farming, for Nubia and for the ancient temples in its path.

3. Morning

   The Unfinished Obelisk

   In the old granite quarries of Aswan lies the largest obelisk the ancient Egyptians ever attempted, often linked to Queen Hatshepsut. Had it been finished, it would have stood around 42 meters tall. A crack appeared during the work, so it was abandoned in place, and the trenches around it show how the stone was cut by hand.

4. Midday

   Lunch at a local restaurant

   A sit-down lunch at a local restaurant in Aswan, included in the price. It is a proper break out of the midday sun, and a good moment to ask your guide about what you saw in the morning before you head to the river for the last stop of the day.

5. Afternoon

   Philae Temple on Agilkia Island

   A short boat ride takes you to the island temple of Isis. You walk past Trajan's Kiosk by the water, through the two pylons and into the inner rooms, where your guide reads the reliefs of Isis, Osiris and Horus. Philae was built mostly by the Ptolemies, with Roman additions, and was one of the last working temples in Egypt.

6. Late afternoon

   Return to your hotel or Nile cruise

   After Philae you cross back to the mainland, and your driver takes you to your hotel or ship in Aswan. Your guide, the car, lunch, water and the entrance fees are all covered, so the only money you need on the day is for tips and personal extras.

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