Philae, on the island of Agilkia, is one of the temple complexes of the UNESCO World Heritage property "Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae". Its temples were moved during the UNESCO international campaign (1960 to 1980) to save them from flooding by the Nile and Lake Nasser. You reach the island by a short boat crossing. See our Philae private tour.
In one of Aswan's granite quarries lies an obelisk attributed to Hatshepsut (c. 1473 to 1458 BC), probably meant for the temple of Amun at Karnak. Planned at about 42 metres, it would have been the tallest ancient Egyptian obelisk, with an estimated weight of 1,168 tonnes. It was abandoned because of flaws and cracks in the stone, so you can still see how ancient stoneworkers cut such monuments. UNESCO lists the stone quarries and the unfinished obelisk as part of the Nubian Monuments property.
The Aswan High Dam created the reservoir known as Lake Nasser. Its construction is the reason the UNESCO campaign was launched: many temples in Nubia would otherwise have been submerged. Visiting the dam shows the modern engineering that changed the Nile valley. You can combine it with Philae and the obelisk in our half-day private tour.
The temples of Abu Simbel were carved out of solid rock in the 13th century BCE to celebrate the reign of Ramses II. When the High Dam's reservoir threatened them, they were cut into more than a thousand blocks, each weighing about 30 tonnes, and rebuilt in an artificial cliff 64 metres higher and 180 metres inland. The work began in November 1963 and the temples were inaugurated at their new site on 22 September 1968. Abu Simbel is a full-day trip from Aswan: our private Abu Simbel tour collects you from your hotel around 4:00 AM.
A traditional felucca sail brings you to a Nubian village on the river, for a slower, more human side of Aswan. See our Nubian village and felucca tour.
| Tour | Length | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Simbel: Ramses' Colossal Legacy | Full day | Hotel pick-up around 4:00 AM |
| Philae Temple, the High Dam & the Unfinished Obelisk | Half day | From 8:00 AM, flexible |
| Philae Temple of Isis | Half day | 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM |
| Nubian Village & Felucca Sailing | Half day | Pick-up time agreed with you |
Every day tour is private, with your own vehicle and guide. Timings can be adjusted with you when you book.
Aswan is also where the 3-night cruise to Luxor begins, and where the 4-night cruise from Luxor ends. See the Nile cruise guide and 3 nights or 4 nights.
Tell us your dates and what you would like to see, and we will shape the days around you.
Message us on WhatsApp Or use the contact formPhilae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk, the Aswan High Dam, the Nubian villages and a felucca sail on the Nile. Abu Simbel is a full-day trip from Aswan.
Abu Simbel belongs to Aswan Governorate and is visited as a full-day trip from Aswan. Our private tour collects you from your Aswan hotel around 4:00 AM.
Yes. They fit in one private half-day tour that starts around 8:00 AM and is flexible.
Yes. Every day tour is private, with your own vehicle and guide.
Written by the Seven Tours Egypt editorial team and reviewed before publication. Tour details come from our own programs and may change, so we confirm them when you book.
