Nile Cruise
From€760 per person
Nubia · Nile cruises
Aswan & Abu Simbel
Philae Temple, Nubian villages, felucca sails and the temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Reached on our Nile cruise.
At a glance
What Aswan & Abu Simbel is famous for
History & Nubia · Nile Valley
Aswan
Philae, Nubian villages, feluccas, High Dam
Taste: Nubian food, hibiscus · Best: Oct–Apr
History · Lake Nasser
Abu Simbel
Ramses II temples, sun festival 22 Feb & 22 Oct
Taste: – · Best: Oct–Apr
Explore Aswan & Abu Simbel
Area by area: what to see and why it matters
Open any place for its story, key facts and how long you need.
Aswan
The southern gateway of Egypt, where the Nile runs between granite rocks and Nubian villages.
Philae TemplePtolemaic & Roman · 380 BC–AD 3001.5–2 hours
The island temple of the goddess Isis. When the dams flooded its island, it was moved stone by stone to nearby Agilkia Island in a UNESCO rescue campaign.
- One of the last places where the old Egyptian religion was practised
- Reached by a short boat ride
- Sound and light show in the evening
Aswan High DamCompleted 197030 minutes
The dam that controls the Nile flood and created Lake Nasser, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.
- Lake Nasser is about 500 km long
- The dam ended the yearly flood of the Nile
Nubian villagesLiving culture2–3 hours
Colourful villages on the West Bank of Aswan where Nubian families welcome visitors with tea, music and home cooking.
- Houses are painted in bright colours and patterns
- Reached by boat on the Nile
The Unfinished ObeliskNew Kingdom30 minutes
A giant obelisk still lying in the granite quarry where it cracked. It would have been about 42 m high.
- Shows how the ancient Egyptians cut obelisks from the rock
Abu Simbel
Near the border with Sudan.
Abu Simbelc. 1264 BC · Ramses II2 hours on site
Two temples cut into the mountain by Ramses II, one for himself and one for his wife Nefertari. In the 1960s they were cut into blocks and moved 65 m higher to save them from Lake Nasser.
- Four seated statues of Ramses II, each about 20 m high
- On 22 February and 22 October the rising sun lights the statues deep inside the temple
- About 3–4 hours south of Aswan by road
On the Nile cruise
Temples between Aswan and Luxor.
Kom Ombo TemplePtolemaic1 hour
A double temple on the Nile, one half for the crocodile god Sobek and the other for Horus the Elder.
- A small museum shows mummified crocodiles
- Visited on the Nile cruise
Edfu, Temple of Horus237–57 BC1 hour
The best-preserved temple in Egypt, dedicated to the falcon god Horus.
- Its roof and walls are almost complete
- Visited on the Nile cruise
Tours & prices
All trips →Trips in Aswan & Abu Simbel
What to see
Sites & museums
Foreign adult tickets, 2026. Students pay half with a valid student ID; children under 6 are free. Prices change, so check before you go.
| Site | Ticket | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philae Temple | General entry | 550 EGP ≈ €9.33 | Boat to island not included |
| Philae Temple | Sound & Light Show | 960 EGP ≈ €16.29 | |
| High Dam | General entry | 200 EGP ≈ €3.39 | Card only |
| Kalabsha Temple | General entry | 200 EGP ≈ €3.39 | |
| Elephantine Island | General entry | 200 EGP ≈ €3.39 | |
| Abu Simbel Temples | General entry | 820 EGP ≈ €13.91 | |
| Abu Simbel Temples | Sound & Light Show | 960 EGP ≈ €16.29 | |
| Kom Ombo Temple | General entry | 450 EGP ≈ €7.63 | On Luxor–Aswan road |
| Edfu (Temple of Horus) | General entry | 550 EGP ≈ €9.33 | On Luxor–Aswan road |
Where to eat
The best places to eat in Aswan & Abu Simbel
Famous for: Nubian cuisine (fatta, okra, bread), Lake Nasser fish, karkadeh, dates and spices from the souk.
Nubian€€
Nubian House
West of the Cataract, Nile view
Order: Nubian dishes, tagines
Good for: families, culture lovers
Go for sunset
Fine dining€€€
1902 Restaurant
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract
Order: French-Egyptian fine dining
Good for: couples, luxury
Terrace for sunset drinks
Nile & view€€
Salah Eldin
Corniche
Order: Egyptian & international on a Nile terrace
Good for: everyone
Lunch between visits
Grill€
El Makka
Abtal El Tahrir St.
Order: Grilled meats, kofta
Good for: groups, budget
Popular with locals
Price per person: € under €10 · €€ €10–30 · €€€ over €30. Opening hours change, so check before you go.
Hotels by travel style
Where to stay in Aswan & Abu Simbel
Our picks for families, friends, couples and solo travellers.
Families
Elephantine Island
Mövenpick Resort Aswan
Pool and gardens on the island, free boat to town.
Friends & young travellers
Gharb Soheil, West Bank
Nubian guesthouses
Colourful houses on the river, music in the evening.
Couples
Corniche
Old Cataract
Legendary 1899 hotel where Agatha Christie stayed.
Solo
Gharb Soheil, West Bank
Nubian guesthouses
Small, warm, with hosts who show you around.
Want more information about a hotel or an evening out? Write to us on WhatsApp →
Nightlife
Evenings in Aswan & Abu Simbel
A night out or a quiet evening: where to go.
Quiet evenings
Corniche
The Terrace, Old Cataract
Tea at sunset above the granite rocks of the Nile.
Aswan Corniche
Felucca around Elephantine
A slow sail between the islands at golden hour.
Gharb Soheil
Nubian dinner & music
Dinner in a Nubian house with drums and songs.
Want more information about a hotel or an evening out? Write to us on WhatsApp →
Local food
Dishes to try here
Nubian cuisine
أكل نوبيOkra (bamia), gourrassa bread, lentils, grilled fish
Colourful & mild · Try it at Nubian House (Aswan)
Aish shamsi
عيش شمسيSun-risen sourdough bread of Upper Egypt
Rustic, chewy · Try it at Local bakeries, village visits
Karkadeh
كركديهHibiscus drink, hot or iced
Refreshing, tangy · Try it at Nubian villages, Aswan souk
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