Aswan Hotels

Aswan Rundown

Aswan’s stranglehold on a kofta-like chunk of the Egyptian tourist trade comes courtesy of a fortuitous spot on the Nile close to national icons like Abu Simbel, Philae and Luxor. It takes more than that to evolve into an anchor city of close to 300,000 people, however. A Pharaonic past helps. To wit, as far back as the halcyon days of Ancient Egypt, Aswan, or Swenet, was a prominent frontier city and mercantile gateway. ... Read more »

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

10. Fatimid Cemetery contains mud tombs that date all the way back to the 9th century.	5. Nubia Museum is a wonderful collaborative effort by UNESCO and the Governate of Aswan.
9. Sharia as-Suq is a feverish hive of commerce and the bellwether bazaar in the city.	4. Monastery of Saint Simeon is on the west bank of the Nile behind a small Coptic village.
8. Aswan Botanical Gardens unfurl a vast ensemble of endemic flora.	3. Abu Ruins is a foremost archaeological area of study behind the Aswan Museum.
7. Fekra Cultural Centre promotes the preservation of Nubian and Upper Egyptian art.	2. Tombs of the Nobles, or Qubbet al-Hawa, is a cluster of handsome stone cut tombs.
6. Elephantine Island is a showcase part of the city and hub of tourist activity.	1. Aswan Museum unfurls a priceless collection of Nubian artefacts.

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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