Aswan is Egypt's most easy-going city, and its excursions reflect that. Philae Temple – rebuilt stone by stone after the High Dam was completed – sits on a Nile island reached by motorboat. The Unfinished Obelisk lies in the granite quarries exactly where the masons abandoned it 3,500 years ago. And from Aswan, a dawn flight will land you at Abu Simbel before the day-trippers arrive.
Excursions from Aswan
Aswan Excursions
Philae Temple, the High Dam, Abu Simbel & felucca on the Nile
LengthFull & half day
From£24 / person
PickupHotel or Nile cruise included
GuideEgyptologist
There are 14 private excursions from Aswan, from Philae and the High Dam to a felucca at dusk, Nubian villages, Abu Simbel by road or air, and longer journeys to Kom Ombo, Edfu and Cairo. Fares begin at £24 per person, with every outing and its length listed in the table below.
The best excursion in Aswan is the one somebody else has organised for you. Our people on the ground here have done exactly that since 1988.Egypt Discovery · in Egypt from 1988
What you'll see
Aswan, stop by stop
Two or three of these stops fit into one unhurried day. Your guide chooses the combination to suit your energy, what you most want to see and the time of year.
01
Philae Temple
This is the temple of Isis, taken apart and rebuilt stone by stone on higher ground at Agilkia Island so that the rising Nile would not drown it. A motorboat takes you across, which is half the enjoyment. It was the last place in Egypt where the old religion was still practised. It is quiet and lovely, at its best in morning light.
02
Abu Simbel
Ramesses II's great work: two rock-cut temples, the larger with four 20-metre colossi at the front, carved from a cliff and moved to a new site above Lake Nasser in the 1960s. The day from Aswan is long but rewarding, by road convoy or a short flight, and it is the high point of any southern itinerary.
03
The High Dam & Lake Nasser
Built in the 1960s, it ended the Nile's yearly flood, formed the biggest reservoir on earth and set off the international effort to save Abu Simbel and Philae. The stop is short, but it explains the whole region – ancient temples and modern Egypt in a single view.
04
Felucca on the Nile
Aswan has the loveliest stretch of the Nile, and the best way to take it in is aboard a felucca, the traditional lateen-sail boat. You drift in the late afternoon past Elephantine Island, the Botanical Garden and the Aga Khan Mausoleum, hearing only wind and water. It makes a welcome change after a day of temples.
05
A Nubian village
On the far bank, the Nubian villages are painted in indigo, ochre and rose. The people have a culture older than the pharaohs, their own language and music, and a famously warm welcome. You go over by boat or camel and usually end up drinking mint tea in a family's house. This is the human side of a day in Aswan.
Every Aswan excursions
How you could fill the day
Fares are per person and are drawn from our live booking system, so each figure is current.
Every Aswan excursion at a glance
Afloat on the Nile, and Nubian villages
Aswan is happiest beside the river. Sail a felucca as the sun sets, cross by motorboat to the botanical garden on Elephantine Island, or call at a Nubian village for tea and a glimpse of everyday life.
Nubian Village Tour, Aswan
Visit a Nubian village near Aswan on a private boat crossing; included are a guided village walk, a home visit, and tea with a local family. You cross the Nile by motorboat or felucca to reach the village. We do not run coach-load excursions; we use private boats and a local Nubian guide employed through our operations, keeping groups deliberately small. Unlike large cruise-ship shore calls, our visit stays ashore longer and includes a hosted conversation with residents. Expect narrow sandy lanes, uneven steps and limited shade at midday; the visit involves modest walking and some standing.
From £50
Private Felucca Ride on the Nile, Aswan
Sail a traditional felucca on the Nile around Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island with a private local captain. We only charter traditional feluccas with local captains; we don't run group bus tours and we avoid the motorboat shuttle pattern seen from cruise ships. Unlike short motorboat trips, the felucca is sail-powered and quieter, allowing longer anchoring for swimming or photographing the Aga Khan Mausoleum from the water. Typical half-day sails are approximately 2–3 hours. Trade-offs: limited shade at midday, no flush toilets onboard, and sailing depends on wind (we can use the auxiliary motor if required).
From £24
Private Elephantine Island and Botanical Garden Boat Tour from Aswan
Half a day on the river at Aswan in your own motorboat, with a guide. You explore the ruins and Nilometer on Elephantine Island, walk through its Nubian villages, and visit the Botanical Garden on Kitchener's Island, passing the Aga Khan Mausoleum and the First Cataract rocks on the way. It takes about four hours and suits families and non-swimmers.
From £554 Hours
Abu Simbel and the far south
Abu Simbel stands a long way south on the shore of Lake Nasser. Travel by road, around three hours each way, or take the flight and keep most of the day. Both are private and set off early.
Abu Simbel by Road from Aswan (Day Tour)
Travel by road from Aswan to Abu Simbel for a visit to the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the adjacent Temple of Nefertari. The Great Temple’s façade is guarded by four seated colossi, each about 20 metres high. The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. Both temples were relocated in the 1960s to protect them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser after construction of the Aswan High Dam. The road route offers views of the desert and Lake Nasser that a flight does not. Abu Simbel entrance fees are included; hotel transfers, lunch and drinks are not included unless your booking confirmation says otherwise.
From £811 Days
Abu Simbel by Plane from Aswan, Day Tour
Abu Simbel lies about 280 km south of Aswan, where the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Small Temple of Nefertari face Lake Nasser. This full-day excursion uses a domestic flight of about 40 to 50 minutes each way, followed by a guided visit with an English-speaking Egyptologist. Allow roughly two to three hours at the temples, subject to flight and security timings. The monuments form part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. Compared with the 3.5 to 4-hour road journey each way, flying leaves more of the day for the site. Services are provided by Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator.
From £418
Longer outings from Aswan
Each of these leaves from Aswan: by road to the temples at Kom Ombo and Edfu, on a fuller route that takes in Esna and may end in Luxor, or by air to Cairo to see the Pyramids.
Aswan to Kom Ombo, Edfu & Luxor – Day Tour
A private road transfer from Aswan to Luxor with guided stops at Kom Ombo and Edfu. Kom Ombo lies about 50 km north of Aswan (roughly 50 minutes by road). Our driver collects you in Aswan and you travel by private, air-conditioned car along the Nile-side highway. We do not run coach-group itineraries on this route – you travel privately with timing flexibility and fewer fixed stops than cruise-based excursions. Expect a long day: total driving is approximately 3–4 hours, so visits at each temple are necessarily limited. Standard site entrance fees are included; premium extras (private boat rides, premium tombs) and gratuities are excluded. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator.
From £2051 Days
Private Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples Day Trip from Aswan
A private day's drive north from Aswan, returning the same evening. You visit the double temple of Sobek and Horus at Kom Ombo and its crocodile museum, then the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. You have an Egyptologist guide, your own car and lunch, and you are back in Aswan by about 16:00.
From £799 Hours
Private Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna Temples Day Trip from Aswan: Finish in Luxor or Aswan
A private day by road north from Aswan, taking in three temples that stand beside the Nile: Kom Ombo, the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the Temple of Khnum at Esna. You choose how the day ends. Either you are dropped in Luxor, or the car brings you back to Aswan. An Egyptologist guide stays with your party, and lunch is included.
From £8910 Hours
Fly from Aswan to Cairo for the Day, Privately Guided: Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum
Fly from Aswan to Cairo and back in a single day. You see the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, have lunch, then spend the afternoon in the Grand Egyptian Museum, with a private Egyptologist guide and car in Cairo. Return flights are included and are confirmed once we have checked seats for your date.
From £64216 Hours
Temples and the High Dam
Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk form the classic half day, and each can be taken separately. Kalabsha with the Nubian Museum makes a calmer morning, and an evening show lights Philae after dark.
Aswan: High Dam, Philae Temple & Unfinished Obelisk Day Tour
This private day tour visits the Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple on Agilkia Island and the Unfinished Obelisk quarry. Philae is part of the 'Nubian Monuments' UNESCO World Heritage Site; the temple was relocated to Agilkia during 1972–1980. The Unfinished Obelisk was intended to reach about 42 metres and would have weighed roughly 1,200 tonnes. We don't run group-bus tours; the visit is by private car, with a short motorboat transfer and one of our Egyptologists. Unlike quick cruise-boat calls, our schedule allows more time ashore to inspect inscriptions and quarrying marks. Standard site fees, motorboat crossing and transfers are included; gratuities are not. Expect limited shade on Agilkia Island, strong sun at midday and uneven ancient stone underfoot. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator.
From £1501 Days
Aswan High Dam & Unfinished Obelisk, Half-Day Tour
This private half-day (approx. 3–4 hours) tour visits the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk with one of our Egyptologists. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we arrange private transfer from Aswan hotels or the Nile port. We don't run large coach groups; using a private car lets you set the pace and avoid fixed coach timetables common on cruise-ship excursions. Expect a clear contrast: the High Dam is 20th-century concrete engineering, while the Unfinished Obelisk shows ancient stone-working in situ. Trade-offs: the dam area has limited shade at midday and the quarry requires walking on uneven rock and steps.
From £49
Philae Temple Half-Day Tour, Aswan
This half-day tour visits Philae Temple on Agilkia Island, accessed by a short motorboat from Aswan. Our Egyptologist guide explains the Temple of Isis, Roman-era additions, and the site's relocation during the 1972–1980 UNESCO campaign. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator we provide private or small-group departures, transfers from central Aswan and flexible morning or afternoon timings. Unlike large coach excursions that queue at the quayside, our departures aim to reduce waiting time. Typical on-site time is about two hours; total door-to-door is approximately three hours depending on traffic. Expect uneven ancient stone, steps and limited shade at midday; the short boat crossing is unavoidable. Standard site entrance fees are included unless stated otherwise.
From £43
Philae Temple Sound and Light Show, evening excursion from Aswan
Philae Temple stands on Agilkia Island in the Nile near Aswan and is dedicated chiefly to the goddess Isis. This evening excursion includes the sound and light show, which illuminates the temple complex while narration introduces its history. We arrange hotel pickup and drop-off in central Aswan and the Corniche area, with transfers by air-conditioned vehicle and a return motorboat crossing to the island. One of our Egyptologists accompanies the visit and provides historical context. The temple’s present setting is on Agilkia Island: its monuments were moved there from Philae Island during the UNESCO-led campaign to save Nubian monuments before the Aswan High Dam reservoir flooded the original site.
From £561 Days
Private Half-Day Kalabsha Temple and Nubian Museum Tour from Aswan
A private morning at two of Aswan's less crowded sights. You cross by motorboat from the High Dam to Kalabsha Temple on its island in Lake Nasser, see the Kiosk of Qertassi and the small temple of Beit el-Wali, and finish in the Nubian Museum. You have an Egyptologist guide and your own car, and the trip takes about five hours.
From £495 Hours
Who these excursions suit
- Passengers on a Nile cruiseShort temple and river outings that work around the ship's timetable.
- Temple devoteesPhilae, Kalabsha, Kom Ombo and Edfu, each with an Egyptologist to guide you.
- Those curious about local lifeNubian villages and a museum that explain the region's story.
- Visitors pressed for timeAbu Simbel by air, or a flight to Cairo, to see a great deal in one day.
Egypt Discovery is an Egyptian-run operator, in business since 1988. We trade under ETAA Licence No. 718 (Category A), carry IATA accreditation, and keep six offices: Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh.
Sort the rest of your holidayWhere to stay in AswanTransfers from Aswan airport
Worth knowing beforehand
The practical bits
What to wear
Mosques and churches ask for shoulders and knees to be covered. Wear sturdy closed shoes, as the ground is rough stone in places and soft sand in others.
Tipping
Most guests give their guide about £2–4 for the day, with something smaller for the driver. It is your choice entirely, since the excursion fare already covers everything.
Heat & water
Bring at least a litre and a half of water each. By ten in the morning there is little shade at the sites, which is why we set off early: it is cooler as well as quieter.
Cameras & fees
Some sites ask for a camera ticket at the entrance, and a handful of tombs and inner rooms carry their own charge. Ordinary admission to each site is part of your fare.
What guests ask us
Aswan excursions, answered
- Is Abu Simbel possible as a day out from Aswan?
- Yes. It lies roughly three hours south of Aswan by road, or a short flight away. Most excursions set off very early so that you reach the temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari ahead of the crowds, and you are back in Aswan by the afternoon. The day is long, but it is the high point of any southern itinerary.
- What is there to do in Aswan town itself?
- Allow one relaxed day and you can stay inside the city: Philae Temple by motorboat, the High Dam, the granite quarries and their Unfinished Obelisk, then a felucca sail past Elephantine Island and the Nubian villages. Aswan is the most easy-going place in Egypt.
- Do you collect us from our hotel?
- We do, and it costs nothing extra. A driver collects you from your Aswan hotel, or from the Nile cruise dock where that applies, and brings you back afterwards. You will find your guide waiting in the lobby, and should your plans shift, the local office behind the excursion can rearrange things that same day.
- Which months suit Aswan best?
- The kindest weather falls between October and April, when days are warm, evenings are cool and walking round the sites is a pleasure. From May to September the heat builds, so excursions set off early and are done before midday, often with quieter sites and gentler prices as a reward. Aswan excursions run in every month of the year.
- Is it safe, and can we bring the children?
- It is safe, and children are welcome. Our team has worked in Egypt since 1988, with offices across the country and someone on call day and night, and every one of our excursions uses guides and drivers we have checked ourselves. With youngsters along, the guide slows the pace and tells the stories at their level, and child seats or a shorter day can be arranged on request.
- Is Abu Simbel better reached by road or by air?
- The road takes about three hours each way and gives you a feel for the landscape. The flight is brief, leaving most of the day for the temples and some rest. Either way it is a private outing.
- Is the Aga Khan Mausoleum open to visitors?
- No, it is closed to visitors, so none of our excursions include it. The river and Elephantine Island's botanical garden make a pleasant alternative.
- What happens on a Nubian village visit?
- A boat takes you across to a riverside village, where your guide leads you through the lanes and you are often asked in for tea at a family home. It is an easy outing for all ages.
- How is the flight from Aswan to Cairo arranged?
- Reserve online and we confirm after checking flight seats, with no payment taken until then. The outing lasts around 16 hours, with a flight each way and a guide meeting you in Cairo.
- Why visit Kalabsha Temple?
- The temple was rebuilt piece by piece when the High Dam raised the lake, and today it sits by the water south of the dam. The outing pairs it with the Nubian Museum and lasts about five hours.
Arrange your Aswan day outSend us your dates.
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Private Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup, clear pricing in GBP. We've arranged Egypt excursions for British travellers since 1988, with 24/7 in-country support from offices.
Full credit or a refund if you let us know more than 72 hours before pickup* · we reply within 30 minutes in Cairo office hours
*Refunds are less bank charges. Pre-issued flight or train tickets can't be refunded. Full policy