© Dahabiya Nile Sailing Egypt 2025
Aswan, formerly known as Swenett, is a magical city in southern Egypt. The name Aswan is derived from the ancient Egyptian word “Soun,” which means “market” or “souk.” Aswan got its name from being a strategic gateway to the south. It was the primary source of granite used for obelisks and sculptures in ancient times.
Aswan is well-known for its stunning Nile Valley scenery, significant archaeological sites, and serene atmosphere. Its weather is mild all year, making it an ideal winter destination.
The city offers spectacular views and attractions for felucca sailing on the Nile (Egyptian sailboat). The river flows gently from Lake Nasser, passing through several islands surrounded by black granite and greenery.
The term obelisks refers to four-sided, tapered monuments which were called tekhenu by the Ancient Egyptians. The term obelisks comes from the Greek word obeliskos (diminutive of obelos-a spit). More than half of the remaining ancient obelisks are outside of Egypt, having been prized by other civilizations, including the Romans (13 are located in Italy). The Roman emperor Augustus first used the obelisk as proof to the Roman people that Egypt had been conquered, and subsequent emperors continued this practice.
There is an ongoing debate about who commissioned the obelisk. It is sometimes attributed to Hatshepsut, but more likely was built by the Kushite king Taharqa (690 to 664 BC) or by Nectanebo II (360–342 BC or 380 – 362 BC). It was destined to match the first pylon gate at Karnak temple, which is a similar height (the north tower is about 21.7 meters (71 feet) and the south 31.65 meters (104 feet); if it had been completed it would probably have been between 38 and 40 meters (124.5 and 131 feet). It is estimated that the unfinished obelisk would have measured 42 meters (138 feet) and weighed 1088.5 tonnes (1200 ton), which would have made it the largest obelisk constructed by the ancient Egyptians. It was left unfinished, possibly due to political instability or the Persian invasion.
The site has taught us about the innovative methods and the tools used to carve out obelisks and free them from the surrounding stone, including the use of small balls made of dolerite, which is harder than granite, and some of these balls can still be found around the site.
Visiting the dam and lake adds to your understanding of how the changing flow of the Nile has influenced Egyptian history. The dam height is 111 meters (364 feet) and the length is 3,830 meters (12,565.5 feet), with a width at the base of 980 metres (3,215 feet). The capacity of the lake is 132 cubic km (31.5 cubic miles) and its surface area is 5,250 square km (2,027 square miles), making it an impressive sight in itself.
The dam was built to control the flooding of the Nile, increase water storage for irrigation, and generate hydroelectricity. While the annual Nile floods make land along the river more fertile, their variability could also result in crop failure. With substantial growth in the population, controlling the impact of the Nile on agriculture has become increasingly important for the security of food and cotton crops.
The plan to build the dam was controversial because it would flood the lands of the Nubian people and cover the remains of previous societies, including several important ancient Egyptian temples. Plans to build a dam near Aswan were made as early as the 11th century, but it was long considered too difficult. Construction of the first dam was begun by the British in 1898 and it was opened in 1902.
The push to build the high dam began following the 1952 revolution, in line with plans to increase industrialization in Egypt. Political jousting between Egypt and the USA, UK, and Russia over arms deals and Egypt’s recognition of China saw potential funding for the dam from the USA and UK refused. Eventually, Russia offered a low-interest loan for the construction, and the Moscow-based Hydroproject Institute and Egyptian engineers designed the dam.
As construction of the dam began in 1960, a rescue operation also began under UNESCO. Abu Simbel was moved so it would not disappear beneath the waters of the lake created by the dam, an extraordinary feat of engineering. In 1964, after completion of the first stage, the filling of the reservoir commenced. In 1970, the High Dam was completed, and in 1976, the reservoir reached capacity.
The dam brought relief from floods and drought, and increased agricultural production, employment, and hydro-electricity. However, the large area flooded caused the relocation of more than 100,000 people, and these people still look back in sadness at the loss of their homes and the land of their cultural traditions. Many archaeological sites were submerged. Coastline erosion, soil salinity, and health problems have also been associated with the changes the dam brought. The dam remains controversial because of these costs, many of them intangible costs to communities and the environment rather than financially measurable costs.
Your dahabiya experience ends in Aswan, but this is definitely not the end of historic sites and cultural experiences we can share with you. Aswan has many significant archaeological sites close to the modern city, which can be reached by smaller boats or by land, and is also your first step to sites in the far South, including the temples of Philae and Kalabsha and, with a longer drive, the temples of Abu Simbel. For those interested in more recent construction and how the changing flow of the Nile has influenced Egyptian history through to today, the High Dam can be visited on the trip to Abu Simbel.
If you have time only for sightseeing closer to the city, the Nubian Museum and the Unfinished Obelisk give you further insights into the multifaceted history of this area and into how monuments and edifices were made.
Aswan’s Nubian culture is an aspect of Egypt that everyone should have an introduction to. We can walk through the villages and also visit Animalia House Museum, which is an excellent place to learn about Nubian culture and the changes that came about with the building of the High Dam.
There are other leisurely ways to explore Aswan that we can include, from a visit to the souq to sandboarding. When you are booking your Dahabiya tour, please ask us about the many options around Aswan that can really add to your memorable experience here.
We take a boat to the island, giving you a picturesque approach to the site. During the 1960s, the monuments on this island were relocated from the original Philae island so they would not be flooded due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Philae includes many structures, mostly dating to the Ptolemaic era (332–30 BC). The most prominent of these is a temple dedicated to Isis, begun by Ptolemy II Philadelphus. This temple was one of the last ancient Egyptian temples to remain active until Emperor Justinian I (527–565 AD) ordered the closure of all non-Christian temples. The temple was converted into a Christian church. There also is a temple dedicated to Hathor built by Ptolemy VI Philometor (180–145 BC) and emperor Augustus of Rome (30 BC–14 AD) and the elegant Kiosk of Trajan (98–117 AD).
Note: most tours include Philae, which we visit during the day, but some include the sound and light show in the evening. See your chosen itinerary for your time of visit.
This archaeological site is one of the most unique in upper Egypt because here you can see across 4,000 years of Egypt’s history, from 3,000 BC until late Medieval times (12th to 14th centuries). Remains on the island range from prehistory, including the oldest temple in Egypt, through the Old Kingdom, the Ptolemies and Romans, to the Islamic Kingdom. There are the remains of a Christian monastery, a Jewish temple, remains from the Islamic Medieval period, and the foundation of a mysterious, experimental pyramid that is possibly the oldest pyramid in the world, believed to be built by Imhotep before the step pyramid at Saqqara.
In the past, the island was important in protecting Egypt’s southern border. It was a cult centre of the god Khnum, although the temple was destroyed and only remnants remain, including a granite gateway. Satis Temple is a restored temple in the north of the island, built during the reigns of Hatshepsut and Tuthmose III. We visit the colonial villa and small field museum, and the Nilometer, which was used to measure the rise of the Nile waters before the building of the dams at Aswan, and see inscriptions on rocks that record kings and governors who ruled here.
The Animalia House Museum is an excellent place to learn about Nubian culture and the changes that came about with the building of the High Dam.
a leisurely boat trip with views of the Nobles tombs, Agha Khan Mausoleum, and Plantation Island. As you sail, you will also see the Old Cataract hotel; its illustrious guests have included Agatha Christie, who set some of her novel “Death on the Nile” at the hotel, and it featured in the excellent Egyptian television series “Grand Hotel”, which you may have seen on Netflix.
© Dahabiya Nile Sailing Egypt 2025