Aswan Hotels

The city rose to prominence for other reasons after the revolution of 1952, a period of high ambition and fantastical infrastructure projects. The Aswan Dam was one that came to fruition, albeit after years of political controversy, dissent and sedition. One principal source of quarrel was the fact that the megaproject made collateral damage out of singular heritage treasures like the temples of Abu Simbel. The subsequent resettlement of the 13th century BC monuments is the most famous rescue operation in the history of UNESCO.

A staple Nile Valley cruise terminus, Aswan unveils a solid cluster of landmarks to enjoy. The Aswan Museum is a perfect primer on the history region and ultimately gives way to other points of interest like the Abu Ruins, Monastery of Saint Simeon and vibrant Sharia as-Suq.

Aswan's Top 10

Aswan History

• Nubian Museum – Depicts history of Aswan from earliest settlements to present times.
• Temple of Philae – Features the magnificent temple of Isis built in early Roman period.
• Monastery of St Simeon – The ferry ride to the monastery takes to the spectacular ruins.
• Mausoleum of Aga Khan – The love story behind it is no less enchanting than the excellent views from the river Nile.
• Unfinished Obelisk – A historical marvel left unfinished as the single-piece, 1,000-ton stone was found flawed.

Aswan Art & Culture

• Sound and Light Show Philae – Egyptian gods and goddesses appear live to narrate their stories.
• Edfu Sound and Light Show – The latest technology in sound and light is used to narrate the story of God Horus.
• Elephantine Island – Two colourful Nubian villages Koti and Siou are additional attractions to the rich archaeology.
• Aswan Museum – This museum showcases old-world charms, as the museum has not changed since the 1920s.
• Kom Ombo Temple – This small temple in Aswan is more than 3,000 years old and located in the village of Kom Ombo.

Aswan Shopping

• Aswan Market – You will never get tired of looking through heaps of cloth, jewellery, foods, books, bags, shoes and souvenirs in Aswan.
• Sharia el Souk – This market with a wide range of traditional and modern items is also culturally vibrant.
• Om Elnor Jewellery – The place to buy silver and gold cartouches.
• The Soux – Haggle, bargain and buy jewellery, leather goods, perfumes and clothes.
• Tea Shops – They are ubiquitous in Aswan, offering natural and medicinal teas.

Gay & Lesbian Aswan

• Felluca – A group of people or couple can make a deal with sail boat owners to use their boats at night.
 
• Nubian Music and Dance – Enjoy and participate in Nubian dance and music performance at night.
• Old Cataract Hotel Terrace – A lovely spot for a cocktail in an old colonial ambience.
• Venture Out – This gay-friendly tour operator can manage your tourism needs.
• The Tower Bar – Head to this bar located on the 12th floor of the Aswan Oberoi Hotel.

Aswan Outdoors

• Aswan Botanical Garden – Lush and exotic, this botanical garden is home to a large variety of tropical plants from around the world.
• Nubian Village – A Nubian village tour will show you the local life and culture.
• Philae Island – The island was submerged when a high dam was constructed.
• High Dam – Located near Aswan, this high dam was an engineering marvel when built in 1960s.
• Abu Simbel – The two temples, Ramses II and Nefertiti, discovered in 1813 are a major tourist attraction of Abu Simbel. 

Aswan Sport

• Take a leisurely stroll along the Nile Street or Cornische Road.
• Enjoy a camel ride up the mountain to St Simeon.
• Take a felucca sail and watch the beautiful sunset along Nile.
• Rush to the Aswan Sporting club, with an endless choice of sports.
• Take a four- or eight-day Nile River Cruise tour in Aswan. 

Aswan Events

Abu Simbel Sun Festival draws massive crowds to the western bank of Lake Nasser in February.

Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae is a collective UNESCO World Heritage Site that spans a wide area in the Governate of Aswan. The ensemble of temples and monuments ranks only behind the Pyramids in tourist popularity.

When To Go

Egypt is Egypt and, as such, visitors averse to extreme temperatures must confront a certain, unassailable meteorological reality: it will be hot.

In Aswan the arid climate unleashes conditions in the 75°F (24°C) to 111°F (44°C) range from June to September and, in truth, severe midday temperatures in spring and autumn as well. Be sure to hydrate well and often.

The one slight hiccup occurs between late December and February, when the weather improves to a balmy and comfortable 50°F (10°C) to 79°F (26°C). All in all, much more amenable for desert treks.

Getting Around

Small Aswan International Airport serves Cairo, Luxor, London-Gatwick and operates shuttles to tiny Abu Simbel Airport. The latter, though sans international designation, serves more international flights (for now) than the former; namely Copenhagen, Dubai, Doha and Jakarta.

For the vast majority of visitors, the way to Aswan is via car, bus or train from Cairo or cruise ship from Luxor.

Aswan is compact and very easy to navigate on foot. However, the desert climate may necessitate some visitors to do so either very early or very late in the day.

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