ASWAN
SIGHTS

Kitchener's Island

This was the island home of the British General Consul Lord Kitchener who had a passion to collect all types of palms and plants which enabled him to create this unique tropical botanical garden. It can only be reached under the sails of a felucca or by motor boat making the whole experience a most enjoyable one.

Philae Island

The ancient Temple of Isis dominates Philae Island which can be seen by day or at the Sound and Light show by night. A short motor boat ride and as you step on the Island you step back in time. If you still have any energy left after visiting the Temple of Isis you can walk around the island and see the Kiosk of Trajan, the Roman Gateway and the Nilometer as well as enjoying the view.

Aga Khan Mausoleum

Take a felucca across the Nile to see the Aga Khan Mausoleum at the top of a hill giving a wonderful of Aswan and the Islands of the Nile. The Aga Khan spent every winter in Aswan and is buried in this magnificent Mausoleum along with his wife.

Saint Simeon's Monastery

In the Western Desert opposite Aswan is St. Simeon's Monastery which is best reached by boat and then camel. The monastery dates back to 700 A.D., restored in the 10th century and abandoned in the 13th century as its almost 7 meter high (22 feet) walls couldn't protect it from the constant threat of Bedouin attack.

The Unfinished Obelisk

The unfinished obelisk dates back to the 15 century B.C. and was being carved during the time of Queen Hatshepsut. A crack appeared whilst it was being worked on so it was abandoned which gives us an absolute view of how the Ancient Egyptians went about carving such a mammoth piece. Nearby is the Fatimid Cemetery with its mud-brick tombs, some dating back to the 9th century.

Aswan High Dam

The world famous High Dam was an engineering miracle when it was built and led to the creation of Lake Nasser. At 3.2 Km (2 miles) long the High Dam offers wonder views and superseded the old Aswan Dam which, though still there, is 6 Km (3.5 miles) further down river.

Elephantine Island

Elephantine Island was an ancient stronghold and is home to a Nilometer as ancient Egyptians believed it to be near the source of the Nile. Many small temples have been built on this island and there is an Archeological Museum that opened in 1912 but many items have now been moved to the newer Nubian Museum.

Tombs of the Aswan Nobles

The northern hills of the west bank of Aswan abound in rock-hewn tombs dating from the Old Kingdom to the Roman period. The tombs are decorated with vivid murals depicting scenes of everyday life, hieroglyphic biographies and inscriptions showing journeys further down into deepest Africa.

Nubian Museum

The Museum of Nubian Civilisation opened in 1997 and is home to many Nubian items that would have been lost due to the rising water level behind the new High Dam. This is both an inside and outside museum with many pieces placed throughout the museum garden. An absolute must for anyone taking our Lake Nasser cruise.

The Old Cataract Hotel 5

This has to be the most famous hotel in Aswan and is where the writer Agatha Christie stayed when she wrote Death on the Nile. A former palace this hotel has a style all of its own with wonderful views across the Nile and of the nearby Elephantine Island.

Click Here for temples to visit that are outside Aswan.

Our experienced guides and all our services are there to ensure that your holiday is tailored just for you. You will have the full services of a Touch Travel representative and appropriate guides on all visits.