Holiday in Aswan

What makes Aswan special as a destination?

Aswan is Egypt's southernmost city and the quieter, more romantic counterpart to the monumental Luxor. Here, where the Nile takes on its most beautiful form — fanned out in blue channels between golden sand dunes and green islands — the pace of travel slows down and you feel the pulse of Africa more strongly than anywhere else in Egypt. The Nile in Aswan is breathtakingly beautiful. Instead of the flat banks further north, granite cliffs rise from the water, lush green islands offer shady oases, and the desert begins right at the riverbank. A felucca ride at sunset, when the sails glow against the orange sky and Nubian songs waft over the water, is one of the most romantic experiences in Egypt. The Philae Temple on Agilkia Island is a gem. The Temple of Isis was saved in one of the largest rescue operations in archaeological history from the floods of Lake Nasser and was moved stone by stone to the higher neighboring island. The boat ride to the island through the blue water and the sight of the temple among palm trees is magical — especially during the evening sound and light show. The Nubian Museum tells the fascinating story of Nubian culture, which flourished for millennia in the border area between Egypt and Sudan. The Nubian villages on the West Bank, with their brightly painted houses in blue, yellow, and orange, are a sight to behold. A visit to a Nubian family with tea, baby crocodiles (a Nubian custom), and warm hospitality is a highlight away from the large tourist crowds. The Aswan High Dam, one of the largest construction projects of the 20th century, holds back the immense Lake Nasser. From here, excursions to the Abu Simbel Temple — the colossal rock temple of Ramses II, 280 kilometers further south, whose four 20-meter-high seated statues are among the most impressive monuments of antiquity — also start.