For many of our guests, Aswan is where the trip changes. The river narrows between granite boulders and golden dunes, the pace slows down, and you arrive in the heart of Nubia, a land with its own history, languages, music, and traditions.
Who are the Nubians?
Nubians are the Indigenous people of the Nile Valley between southern Egypt and northern Sudan. Ancient Nubia was home to great kingdoms such as Kerma and Kush, whose kings once ruled Egypt as the 25th Dynasty. In the 1960s, the building of the Aswan High Dam and the creation of Lake Nasser flooded much of old Nubia, and many Nubian communities were relocated. Their culture lives on in villages around Aswan and beyond.
What to do in Aswan
- Visit a Nubian village. Cross the river by boat to a village on the West Bank, where you can see brightly painted homes, share tea with a local family, and shop for crafts.
- Explore the Nubian Museum. The best introduction to Nubian history, from prehistoric rock art to the Kushite kings and the rescue of Nubia’s monuments.
- Sail on a felucca. A traditional sailboat ride around Elephantine Island at sunset is one of the simplest and most beautiful moments in Egypt.
- See Philae Temple. The temple of the goddess Isis was moved, stone by stone, to its current island home to save it from rising waters.
- The Unfinished Obelisk. See where ancient workers carved granite straight out of the bedrock.
Abu Simbel
About 280 km south of Aswan stand the two temples of Abu Simbel, carved into the mountainside by Ramses II, with four colossal seated statues of the king guarding the entrance of the main temple. In the 1960s, an international rescue effort cut both temples into blocks and rebuilt them on higher ground above the rising lake. Most visitors go on a day trip from Aswan by road or a short flight. Twice a year, in February and October, the rising sun shines deep into the sanctuary to light up the statues inside.
How long to stay
We recommend at least two nights in Aswan, or a Nile cruise that begins or ends there, plus a day for Abu Simbel. Travelers who want more time with Nubian culture often add a night at a Nubian guesthouse.
Ready to experience Nubia? Ask Black Egypt Tours to build Aswan and Abu Simbel into your itinerary.
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