5 Days in Aswan Trip: Budgets, Hotels, Food & Attractions

Day 1 | Morning

Temple of Philae

Opening Hours: Open from 1/1-12/31(Summer),7:00am-5:00pm;Open from 1/1-12/31(Winter),7:00am-4:00pm

Ticket Price: 20 EGP

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Island of Agilika, Aswan, Egypt

The Temple of Philae is dedicated to Isis, the god of love. Philae is a small island in the Nile River south of the Aswan Dam, where a temple was originally built. When the British built the Aswan Dam in 1902, the island of Philae was submerged, and tourists could only take a boat to watch the temple gates and stone pillars out of the water. There are hieroglyphic inscriptions and some vivid reliefs in the Temple of Philae, where the god of wealth Hathor and the god of fertility Isis are worshipped here. It is said that Isis has 10,000 names. She is not only in charge of fertility, but also the patron saint of all people, so she was highly respected by the ancient Egyptians. In 1980, Egypt decided to transfer the island's monuments to another island and restore its original appearance. There are many travel agencies in Aswan that organize all-inclusive tours to Philae, or you can go by taxi or motorboat yourself.

Reviews from Real Guests:

MarlonS: beautiful temple inside a island. I recommend you to to take a water bottle with you! Go in the late afternoon cause it will be empty!

Day 1 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: The Temple of Horus at Edfu.

The Temple of Horus at Edfu

Opening Hours: Open from 9:00am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 40 EGP

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-2 Hours

Location: Adfo, Edfo, Aswan Governorate, Egypt

Edfu is located 123 kilometers north of Aswan and about 140 kilometers south of Luxor, and is a must-see for visiting the Luxor-Aswan Golden Route. The very famous temple here is the Temple of Horus, because the local terrain is low, and when the Nile River overflows, the entire temple is submerged in the deep soil, making it the best preserved temple in Egypt. The Temple of Horus was built in 237 BC and took more than 200 years to complete. It is mainly dedicated to Horus, the eagle-headed god. Horus is one of the most important gods in ancient Egypt. He is the child of the sun god Osiris and the protector goddess Isis. He is usually described as a condor wearing an Egyptian crown. The pharaohs of ancient Egypt regarded themselves as the incarnation of Horus. . The whole temple is 137 meters long and 79 meters wide at the front. The gate of the temple is 36 meters high, which is not very large. There is only one main temple, and there is an eagle head statue of Horus outside the temple. The interior is similar to other temples, with a huge column hall outside and a stone room inside, which contains a rare crocodile mummy.

Day 1 | Evening

Don’t forget to book Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in advance, because all the tourists head to The Temple of Horus at Edfu love staying at it.

Sofitel Legend Old Cataract

Enter the world of legendary people and stories. Indulge in the authentic legend and luxury personalized hospitality of Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan. The hotel is built in the Nubian desert on the banks of the Nile, opposite Elephantine island, m ajestically positioned on a shelf of pink granite overlooking the Nile. Behind its Victorian facade, the hotel retains its original beauty, receiving visitors in an historic lobby with polished marble floors and high, classic Islamic arches.

Day 2 | Morning

Unfinished Obelisk

Opening Hours: Open from 8:00am-4:00pm

Ticket Price: 25 EGP

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Hours

Location: Sheyakhah Oula, Qism Aswan, Aswan Governorate, Egypt

Aswan's unfinished obelisk, a huge pity for ancient Egyptian stonemasons, but an awe-inspiring sight for tourists, is Egypt's heavier monolithic stele . The obelisk is about 42 meters long and weighs about 1168 tons. If the inscription is completed, it will be the heavier monolithic stone building in Egypt. The obelisk was not completed, possibly because a crack appeared in the middle of the stone. The obelisk is still attached to the parent rock in the Northern Quarries, which the ancient Egyptians used to mine granite. This huge obelisk has some interesting nicks and pictograms of dolphins and various birds.

Day 2 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Temple of Kom Ombo.

Temple of Kom Ombo

Opening Hours: Open from 6:00am-8:00pm

Ticket Price: 2 EGP

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-3 Hours

Location: Nagoa Ash Shatb, Markaz Kom Ombo, Aswan Governorate, Egypt

An hour's drive from Aswan takes you to the Temple of Kom Ombo, which means "Golden City" in ancient Egyptian. It is located on a small hill by the Nile and was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty. Like other temples, it also has tall stone pillars and temples that look desolate because of dilapidation, but what is different is that it has two gates. One gate is dedicated to the eagle god Horus (Haroeris) and the other is dedicated to the crocodile god (Sobek), so the temple of Kam Ombo is also known as the "double temple". There is also a temple of the Eagle of Edfu near the temple of Kam Ombo, which can be visited after visiting the temple of Kham Ombo. Cruise along the Nile by Felucca or cruise ship from Aswan, disembark at KomOmbo, visit the Temple of KomOmbo, then head to Luxor, passing Edfu, stopping by the Temple of Horus.

Day 2 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Temple of Kom Ombo? Steigenberger Omar El Khayam Nile Cruise is one of your top choices.

Steigenberger Omar El Khayam Nile Cruise

Property Location This vessel pulls anchor and sets sail from Aswan for at least part of your stay – see Special Check-in Instructions for more details.   Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 80 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and flat-screen televisions. Satellite television is provided for your entertainment. Bathrooms have showers and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include desks and electric kettles, and housekeeping is provided daily. Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, multilingual staff, and an elevator (lift).

Day 3 | Morning

Nubian Museum

Opening Hours: Open from 9:00am-1:00pm,5:00pm-9:00pm

Ticket Price: 20 EGP

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Al Fanadek, Aswan

Opened in 1997, the museum introduces the history, art, and culture of the Nubian region submerged by the construction of the dam. Modern Nubian style, the building is elegant and refined, the vast courtyard is well equipped, and you can also visit typical Nubian houses.

Day 3 | Afternoon

After finishing the tour at Nubian Museum, you can head to Aswan Museum, the most worth visiting place around the corner.

Aswan Museum

Opening Hours: Open from 5/1-9/30,8:30am-6:00pm;Open from 1/1-3/31,8:00am-5:00pm;Open from 10/1-10/31,8:00am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 25 EGP

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Aswan Museum, Aswan

Located on Elephant Island, exhibits excavations from Aswan and Nubian regions. You can see the mummy of a sheep decorated with gold, from which you can understand the past prosperity of the god Kunum in this place. Others also have brightly painted priest mummy coffins, some of which are in very good condition. In addition, facing the right side of the museum, there is a new annex building, displaying coins and reliefs from the Ptolemaic period.

Day 3 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Aswan Museum? Mövenpick Resort Aswan is one of your top choices.

Mövenpick Resort Aswan

A secluded oasis surrounded by lovely gardens on Elephantine Island. This 5-star resort offers 230 well appointed air-conditioned rooms with private facilities - mini-bar and satellite TV. All rooms have a balcony with views of the Nile - Aswan City or the desert beyond. Excellent facilities include The Orangerie Restaurant - Italian restaurant - two bars - swimming pool and kids pool.

Day 4 | Morning

Aswan Botanical Garden

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

Ticket Price: 10 EGP

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Hours

Location: 3VVP+FQW, Sheyakhah Oula, Qism Aswan, Aswan Governorate, Egypt

The Botanic Gardens are located on the west side of Koh Chang, a place formerly known as Kochina Island. The establishment of the botanical garden owes everything to the former British governor in Egypt, the army chief, Lord Cochinner. He likes plants very much, so many plants from the Far East, Africa and other places are planted on the island. Gradually, the whole island was planted with plants and turned into a huge botanical garden. Visitors can take a walk here, breathe fresh air, and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Day 4 | Afternoon

When time permits after visiting Aswan Botanical Garden, don’t forget pay a visit to Kalabsha Temple.

Kalabsha Temple

Opening Hours: Open from 8:00am-4:00pm

Ticket Price: 35 EGP

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Hours

Location: Kalabsha Temple, Qism Aswan, Aswan Governorate, Egypt

Located in a town 50 kilometers south of Aswan, the temple was built during the late Ptolemaic dynasty and completed during the reign of the Roman Empire, Augustus. The temple was built in honor of the Nubian god Mandulis. Visitors can follow a spectacular stone path from the lake shore to the temple's first pylon, then through a colonnaded courtyard, followed by a hall supported by 8 pillars. Visitors can admire the runes and reliefs of Egyptian pharaohs, and look for the goddess Mandulis, who wears a cloak made of vulture feathers. The Temple of Calabusa was moved from Nubia to its current location in 1970, along with some monuments. Now standing on the shore of the beautiful Nasser Lake, there is also a summer hall and two large pillars with double-headed eagles, which were moved at the same time. There is another building in the depths of the hill not far away that indicates the military capabilities of Ramses II. Beit Valli celebrates his victory over Nubians, Ethiopians, Asians and Libyans. The colorful scenes in the temple represent Ramses II's dedication to the gods.

Day 4 | Evening

After visiting the glorious Kalabsha Temple, Tolip Aswan Hotel nearby is the best place to stay.

Tolip Aswan Hotel

Situated on the Nile River in the downtown, Tolip Aswan Hotel offers beautiful views of the Nile. It features a fully equipped gym, a table tennis and various entertainments options such as bowling and cinema.

Featuring a balcony with Nile view, all rooms and chalets are furnished in a homey style. Each one offers a satellite TV, a minibar and an en-suite bathroom with shower.

Tolip Aswan Hotel offers a wide array of buffets and à-la-carte menus where guests can savor their meal while enjoying the Nile View. Cocktails are served at the Lobby bar, pool bar and the Isis pub.

The hotel’s health club features sauna, steam bath and various massage treatments, all at an added fee. A children’s playground is also available at the hotel.

Guests can visit the Tomb of the Nobel which is 10 minutes by the motor boat from Tolip Aswan Hotel. Aswan airport is 21 km away. Free private parking is possible on site.

Day 5

Sehel Island

Opening Hours: Open from 6:00am-9:00pm

Ticket Price: 25 EGP

Recommended Length of Stay: 1.0-2.0 Days

Location: Africa. Egypt. Nile Valley. Aswan

The island is a small Nubian village. The village is not very large. The cottages are decorated with unique styles. There is an earthy alley in the middle, and houses are located on both sides. Tourists can feel the local culture and folk customs here.

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.