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Africa / Egypt

Aswān.

Places to go. A little room to wander.

A local view near Aswān, Egypt
A local view near Aswān, Egypt. Photograph by Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP.

THE SHORTLIST

A few places worth your time.

01Outdoors · DAY 1 IDEA

Aswān

Elephantine Island: Nubian Villages & Aswan Museum

Nubian villages of Siou and Koti occupy this island. Also home to the famous Nilometers and the Temples of Sati, Khnum (ancient rams-head god) and Pepinakht-Heqaib. Movenpick resort is on the island. Also, be careful of unsolicited tours from locals, which will result in a request for baksheesh. There is regular boat taxi to Elephantine Island run by the locals for LE5 for one return crossing for tourists (you usually pay LE5 to go and don't pay to come back).

Allow about 60 minutes · planning estimate

Map Source
02Outdoors · DAY 1 IDEA

Aswān

Aswan Botanical Gardens

Lord Kitchener, who owned the 6.8-hectare island in the 1890s converted it to a botanical garden. Filled with birds and hundreds of plant species and palm trees. Accessible by motor boat (LE200 for two people, which can be haggled down to LE100), via a felucca tour, or via a rowboat from Elephantine island (ask a local near where boats are lying on the western shore).

Allow about 60 minutes · planning estimate

Map Source
03Culture · DAY 1 IDEA

Aswān

Monastery of St Simeon

The history of the monastery of St. Simeon dates back to the 7th century, and survived long as a Christian stronghold of southern Egypt until destroyed by Saladin in 1173. While still in use it housed 300 monks, and could in addition receive up to 100 pilgrims at a time. The monastery was surrounded by a 10 metre high wall, and doubled as a fortress. Apparently, the monastery did not return to its original use after Saladin's destruction. To get here, ride a camel or walk from the Tombs of the Nobles.

Allow about 90 minutes · planning estimate

Map Source
04Culture · DAY 2 IDEA

Aswān

Unfinished Obelisk

The largest known ancient obelisk, carved directly out of bedrock. If finished it would have measured around 42 m (120 feet) and would have weighed nearly 1,200 tons. Unfortunately, a crack developed and the project was abandoned. This quarry also supplied the stone for the statue of Ramses II at Memphis. There is a short video about obelisks shown by a man who demands tips. This site would be of interest to the most dedicated Egyptophiles, but maybe not to others.

Allow about 90 minutes · planning estimate

Map Source
05Culture · DAY 2 IDEA

Aswān

The Low Dam

It was a wonder in its time, the largest masonry dam in the world, but its water capacity soon became insufficient and led to the construction of the High Dam 6 km upstream. The Nile forms a lake behind the Low Dam with small islands; the main sight is the Philae Temple. This was initially left in place, but flooding became more common as the Low Dam was progressively raised; the site was seldom accessible and the flooding damaged the temple decorations.

Allow about 90 minutes · planning estimate

Map Source

A note before you go. Start with Elephantine Island: Nubian Villages & Aswan Museum, then decide whether Aswan Botanical Gardens deserves a separate visit rather than rushing both. The suggested days are an editable grouping, not a timed tour. Visit allowances exclude transfers, meals and queues; confirm the exact entrance and current visiting arrangements for The Low Dam before setting off.

Reference material retrieved 2026-10-19. Suggested days and time allowances are editorial starting points. Check the linked visitor information for opening hours, access, and reservations.

BEFORE YOU SET OFF

A more practical kind of plan.

Getting your bearings

Aswan is compact enough to negotiate primarily on foot. For the sights on the river islands or on the West Bank, you must cross the river by motor boat or felluca. The public ferry to Elephantine Island is LE5 for foreigners (LE1 for Egyptians, Nov 2018). The ferry to the West Bank is also LE5 for foreigners and LE1 for locals. For Philae, the High Dam, and the unfinished obelisks, you can take a taxi, tuk-tuk or a horse-drawn carriage.

Build a route that makes sense

Elephantine Island: Nubian Villages & Aswan Museum and Aswan Botanical Gardens are about 0.4 km apart in a straight line. Use the route link to compare the actual streets or transport connections before putting both in the same morning; the measurement is not a walking distance or a transfer estimate.

A LITTLE STRUCTURE. ROOM FOR DISCOVERY.

Your Aswān plan.

Add a few stops, choose your days, and leave space between them.

My saved trips
Location, map & reference details

Find your bearings.

Country
Egypt
Area
Aswan
Time zone
Africa/Cairo
Coordinates
24.0908, 32.8994

Geographic reference: GeoNames, CC BY 4.0.

Aswān

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Visitor information & sources

Reference credits & reuse

This city guide includes selected, abridged material by Wikivoyage contributors, adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. The adapted guide text is available under the same license; photographs and website design retain their separate terms. Selected and abridged reference descriptions; operational prices and timetables omitted. Elsewhere added the shortlist, geographic grouping and planning notes.

Reference material retrieved 2026-10-19. It is community-edited background, not firsthand reporting or a live opening-hours service.

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