Aswan

Option 1  Dahabiya Sailing starts in Aswan.

Visit Philae temple. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk. Visit the High Dam where we have great views to the Nubian Lake (Lake Nasser) and the Nile River below.  Noon: check into the Dahabiya. Lunch and sailing. Dinner and overnight on board in Daraw.

We take a boat to visit Philae, giving you a picturesque approach to the site. During the 1960s the monuments on this island were relocated from the original Philae island nearby so they would not be flooded because of 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). The temple was converted into a Christian church.  Visit the Unfinished Obelisk. Obelisks are four-sided, tapered monuments which were called tekhenu by the Ancient Egyptians. It is estimated that the unfinished obelisk would have measured 42 meters (138 feet) and weighed 1,089 tonnes (1,200 tons), which would have made it the largest obelisk constructed by the ancient Egyptians.

Visit the High Dam and enjoy views of the Old Aswan Dam and the Nubian Lake (Lake Nasser). Seeing the High Dam and lake adds to your understanding of how the changing flow of the Nile has influenced Egyptian history.  The dam was built to control the flooding of the Nile, increase water storage for irrigation, and generate hydroelectricity. It was a controversial plan because the dam would flood the lands of the Nubian people and cover remains of previous societies including several important ancient Egyptian temples.  However, the large area flooded caused the relocation of more than 100,000 people. Many archaeological sites were submerged.

Check in to the dahabiya, begin your Dahabiya Nile Sailing experience.

Aswan and Nubia highlights

Quotation in USD - Per Person in a group of --- 1 2 3 4 5 6
  • Tours.
  • Transfers.
  • Tour Guide fees.
  • Meals (as mentioned)
  • Boat rides
  • Bottled water during the trip
  • Felucca ride
  • Entry Fees General tickets as mentioned (Today Price)
 138 90 78 71 64 62

 

Not Including:

  •  Overland accommodation.
  •  Flights. Once you give us the travel date, will give the price and book for you.
  • Drinks during included meals
  • Optional tours
  •  Tipping
  • Any other thing not mentioned in the included section.

Notes:

  •  Dressing code is conservative while visiting Mosques, Churches, villages, or areas with mainly local communities.
  • The above prices are subject to change; if a high inflation rate happens as a result of government practices, currency rate change, or economic problems.

Option 2 Dahabiya Sailing ends  in Aswan.

Check out from the Dahabiya after breakfast. 

Visit Philae temple and the Unfinished Obelisk and the High Dam.  

Lunch. Visit Elephantine Island archeological site and the Nubian Village. 

Felucca ride in the Nile River to view the following: The Nobles tombs – Agha Khan Mausoleum – the Plantation Island and the Old Cataract hotel. 

The tour duration 7 – 8 hours

We take a boat to visit Philae, giving you a picturesque approach to the site. During the 1960s the monuments on this island were relocated from the original Philae island nearby so they would not be flooded because of 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).

We visit the Unfinished Obelisk. Obelisks are 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). There is ongoing debate about who commissioned the obelisk. It is estimated that the unfinished obelisk would have measured 42 meters and weighed 1200 tons, which would have made it the largest obelisk constructed by the ancient Egyptians. 

Visit the High Dam and enjoy views of the Old Aswan Dam and the Nubian Lake (Lake Nasser). Seeing the High Dam and lake adds to your understanding of how the changing flow of the Nile has influenced Egyptian history.  The dam was built to control the flooding of the Nile, increase water storage for irrigation, and generate hydroelectricity. The plan spread some controversy because the dam would flood the lands of the Nubian people and cover remains of previous societies including several important ancient Egyptian temples.  The large area flooded caused the relocation of more than 100,000 people. Many archeological sites were saved, but many others were submerged.

Lunch.

Visit Elephantine Island archeological site, one of the most unique sites in upper Egypt because here you can see across 4,000 years of Egypt’s history, from 3,000 BC until late Mediaeval times (12th to 14th centuries). Remains on the island range from prehistory, including the oldest temple in Egypt.

Visit the Nubian village . From about 7,000 BC, communities evolved from African Nile Valley civilisations to form the Nubian, Ancient Egyptian and Kushite civilizations. There are several Nubian communities near Daraw.  Nubian civilization is one of the oldest in the Nile River valley. Nubians are a distinct ethno-linguistic group indigenous to southern Egypt and northern Sudan, but Nubians in Egypt who were displaced by the construction of the High Dam near Aswan now mostly live north of Lake Nasser. Although Nubians are historically and culturally distinct from other Egyptians, they have long been interconnected with Egypt. While many Egyptian pharaohs colonized Nubia at various times, Nubian pharaohs from the Kingdom of Kush ruled Ancient Egypt in the 7th Century BC.

The day ends with a felucca ride on the Nile River, a leisurely boat trip with views of the Nobles tombs, Agha Khan Mausoleum, Plantation Island and the Old Cataract hotel, which features in several movies and TV series.  

Option 2 Dahabiya Sailing ends in Aswan updated

Quotation in USD- per person in a group of 1 2 3 4 5 6
148 97 85 78 71 67

Including:

- Tours.

- Transfers.

- Tour Guide fees.

- Meals (as mentioned)

- Boat rides

- Bottled water during the trip

- Felucca ride

- Entry Fees General tickets as mentioned (Today

Price)

Not Including:

- Drinks during included meals

- Optional tours

- Tipping

- Any other thing not mentioned in the included section.

Notes

- Pick up times are estimate times (to be confirmed by our local operator)

- Above quotation is based on hotels located in Central areas, to be updated once we have your

accommodation details

- The dress code is conservative while visiting Mosques, Churches, villages or areas with mainly

local communities.

- Transfers in Sedan cars for 1 or 2 People. (in case a van requested extra cost is added).

- The above prices are subject to change; if a high inflation rate happens as a result of government

practices, currency rate change or economic problems.

Option 3  Abu Simbel by car (flights are available according to availability when requested)

Early morning travel to Abu Simbel (about 3 hours drive each way) and visit the temples of  Ramesses II and Nefertari. Drive back to Aswan. Tour duration 9-10 hours.  

Travel to Abu Simbel by road and visit the temples. 280 km (174 miles) south of Aswan and close to the border of Egypt and Sudan is the town of Abu Simbel. We travel here to visit two massive rock-cut temples, the colossal statues on their facades are among the best known images of ancient Egypt.

In 1968 the temples were moved from their original location to avoid them being submerged due to construction of the Aswan High Dam. They were moved 64 meters (210 feet) above and 180 meters (590.5 feet) West of their original site. Both temples were commissioned by Ramesses II. The second temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari, wife of Ramesses II. Abu Simbel was admitted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.  Drive back to Aswan.

Optional activities:  (please notify us beforehand of optional tours you would like)
  • The Nubian Museum. 
  • Animalia house museum. 
  • Lunch or dinner in a local Nubian Family house. 
  • Camel ride to Saint Simon Monastery. 
  • Visit Plantation Island. 
  • Motor boat ride through the Nile Cataract.  
  • Philae temple sound and light show. 

Option 3 Abu Simbel by car (flights are available according to availability when requested) updated

Quotation in USD- per person in a group of 1 2 3 4 5 6
192 115 104 91 80 73

Including:

- Tours.

- Transfers.

- Tour Guide fees.

- Bottled water during the trip

- Entry Fees General tickets as mentioned (Today

Price)

Not Including:

- Meals and Drinks

- Optional tours

- Tipping

- Any other thing not mentioned in the included section.

Notes

- Pick up times are estimate times (to be confirmed by our local operator)

- Above quotation is based on hotels located in Central areas, to be updated once we have your

accommodation details

- The dress code is conservative while visiting Mosques, Churches, villages or areas with mainly

local communities.

- The above prices are subject to change; if a high inflation rate happens as a result of government

practices, currency rate change or economic problems.

- Transfers in Sedan cars for 1 or 2 People. (in case a van requested extra cost is added).

- There's flights available from Aswan to Abu Simbel and return for an extra cost. Ask for the

upgrade to flight option instead of travelling overland.
Go back to Itineraries page
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