Last updated: . Updated Nile freshwater and animal-contact precautions, Aswan attraction and transport guidance, historical and caption corrections, and qualifications for admission prices, hotels, and linked activity destinations. Date information added October 30, 2026.
Nubian village visit
Historical footage from a Nubian village visit.
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Originally published in June 2024. Check current operator details, prices, and opening arrangements before you go.
You’ve taken the plunge and are headed to Egypt. I’m so excited for you! We all loved our trip to Egypt, even our picky teenagers. That is high praise!
As we planned our Egypt adventure, my husband insisted on visiting Abu Simbel. Most people spend a night in Aswan before or after a visit to Abu Simbel. However, Aswan offers much more to visiting families than simply a night’s sleep.
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Aswan’s gorgeous section of the Nile River runs right down the center, dividing the city into two parts. The East Bank has more establishments and hotels and will likely be where you stay. For a more authentic experience or fewer crowds, head to the West Bank.
Much of the material for Ancient Egypt’s statues and temples was mined from the quarries around Aswan. While far from Luxor and Cairo, Aswan was a critical location in Ancient Egypt.
Aswan can be extremely hot. Check the forecast for your travel dates. For sun protection, see this sunscreen option. Pack an umbrella if needed, and bring the sunscreen as well.
Aswan is a bit off the beaten tourist path and can give you a break from the intense crowds in other hot spots in Egypt. We enjoyed taking a long swim in our hotel pool on the bank of the Nile. During our April visit, we were only accompanied by one other family in the hotel pool. We also swam IN the Nile, which felt super fun at the time. That is a memory of our trip, not advice to repeat it. Current CDC guidance is to avoid swimming, wading, or other freshwater contact in Egypt, including the Nile, because of schistosomiasis risk. Choose a properly chlorinated swimming pool for a swimming break; see the CDC’s Egypt travel health guidance.
Many Nile River cruises stop in Aswan or pass through; check your itinerary for the time available ashore. This Cairo felucca ride option is a separate Cairo outing, not an Aswan cruise.
We arrived in Aswan on one of the many regular flights from Cairo daily. Check current flight duration and schedules. We recommend EgyptAir.
Other transportation to Aswan includes trains, buses, and Nile River cruises.
By train, you can take Egypt’s national railway, which provides several options:
Traveling by bus is a long-distance ride between Cairo and Aswan. Travel time and comfort depend on the service and route; check current schedules and fares. It may be a budget-friendly alternative for travelers.
The Nile River Cruise is one of the most unique and picturesque ways to reach Aswan by taking a Nile River cruise. Cruises typically start from Luxor and travel southward to Aswan over several days. This option is ideal for those looking to combine transportation with sightseeing and relaxation.
Some linked activity pages now show broader Aswan or Luxor results rather than the named outing. Check the destination, operator, inclusions, and current terms on each listing.
1. Abu Simbel is a popular visit from Aswan. We visited the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari; our original article estimated about eight hours of round-trip driving from Aswan by private car. Travel time, pickup, and access can vary, so confirm full-day timing and the route with your operator. Luxor activity options open broader Luxor results, not this Aswan day trip. We share more tips in our Abu Simbel post.
2. Nubian Village or Nubian Museum. Aswan activity options open broader city results, so check the specific destination and inclusions. Aswan is closely connected with Nubian history and culture. With our tour guide, we took a small boat on the Nile to a Nubian Village. While a bit of a tourist trap, it was a highlight for our kids. We swam in the Nile during our journey and landed in a village area. That is a memory of our past trip, not advice to swim; see the CDC freshwater guidance linked above.
We visited a local home set up for such visits. We enjoyed holding their pet crocodiles, seeing their larger crocodiles in their home, drinking some hibiscus tea (a favorite of ours in Egypt), doing henna, and enjoying the sweeping Nile views. This is a memory of our past visit, not an activity recommendation; the CDC advises not to touch or feed animals you do not know; see its Egypt guidance linked above.
Afterward, we had one of our best meals in Egypt at a nearby restaurant. The food was so fresh and delicious!
3. Philae Temple. Aswan activity options open broader results; check that a current listing specifically covers Philae. Perhaps the most romantic temple in all of Egypt, Philae brings to mind fantasies of what it would be like to visit this temple in the days of ancient Egypt. Coined the “Temple of Love,” it’s easy to imagine an illicit meeting at this temple back in the day.
Accessed by boat, the gorgeous temple sits on an island and must have been quite the sight back in the day. It’s still impressive to modern visitors.
Today, visitors can see intricate hieroglyphics, Nile views, and a rich history. The last dated hieroglyphic inscription is from AD 394. For current listings, see broader Aswan activity options and check whether they specifically include Philae. We also loved the island cats; they have their own Facebook page.
Similarly to Abu Simbel, Philae Temple was relocated due to the potential flooding after the damming of the Nile River. UNESCO led the relocation of Philae Temple from its original island to Agilkia Island to protect it from flooding after construction of the dam.
Check current Philae admission for your visitor category; the old 150 EGP figure is not a current quote. Boat transport and the evening show have separate arrangements. Browse broader Aswan activity options and verify whether a listing includes the Philae evening show.
We did not attempt pylon access with our young kids. Ask the ticket office whether any access is currently offered and confirm the applicable rules and cost.
4. Aswan felucca with meal. Check the current listing for route, meal, and transfer details. For a private boat, request a current quote and agree on the route and inclusions before boarding. Avoid swimming or wading in the Nile, following the CDC freshwater guidance above.
5. Sunset felucca sail. Aswan activity options opens broader Aswan results; check whether a current listing covers a felucca sail at sunset. These traditional boats are not powered to go very fast, but we found them stunning to look at and photograph. If there is a breeze, hop on and enjoy a ride! Ask for a current private-boat quote and agree on the duration, route, and inclusions before boarding; our old $15–20 estimate is not a current rate. Don’t be afraid to ask several about their prices for a private ride and barter.
6. West Bank Tombs. The West Bank sights described here are in Aswan. Luxor activity options (the linked page opens broader Luxor results, not an Aswan tomb visit). Check the destination and current details before booking. These tombs are also called the Tombs of the Nobles or the Princes’ Tombs. Carved out of the rock, they sit above the river. Our article described a climb from the ticket office and a ferry crossing near Aswan’s train station; verify current access and transport locally. There are also concerns about the treatment of animals used for rides.
7. Aswan Market. Visit this spice market in Aswan and breathe in the scents of Egypt itself. This market is about two kilometers from the train station in Aswan and has some roofing to beat the intense heat.
8. Feryal Garden. Check current entry arrangements and enjoy the Nile views near the Cataract Hotel.
9. Kitchener’s Island Botanical Garden. Enjoy exploring by boat and taking the kids to this island garden away from the city. Its Garden of Eden vibe can calm parents’ nerves while kids enjoy the outdoors. Check current boat, entry, and visit arrangements before going.
10. Aswan High Dam. A visit to a dam doesn’t usually top our lists with kids, but we did swing by to see this impressive project in person on our way into Aswan from Abu Simbel. The dam also led to the relocation of Nubian communities along the Nile.
However, our guide explained that the inconsistency of the Nile flooding before the dam was becoming catastrophic. We never saw crocodiles during our visit, but that observation does not establish that a stretch of the river is crocodile-free or safe for swimming. Regardless of wildlife sightings, the CDC advises avoiding freshwater contact in Egypt, including the Nile, because of schistosomiasis risk.
Lake Nasser is the result of the Aswan High Dam. The views from the top are beautiful, and our boys enjoyed both the engineering lesson and the stray dogs, to which we fed some leftovers during our visit. That is a past memory, not advice to approach or feed animals; see the CDC guidance linked above. Our visit here only lasted a few minutes.
11. Unfinished Obelisk. We crossed this site off our visit at the last minute due to time constraints, but seeing this massive structure in person delights many visitors. This obelisk remains to be seen today simply because it cracked near its completion and was abandoned. It would have been the world’s largest obelisk at almost 140 feet (42.5 m).
Karnak Temple in Luxor holds a contemporary obelisk. A visit here can shed some light on how the ancient Egyptians cut their stone.
Aswan – Cataract Hotel is the historic Old Cataract hotel above the Nile. Check current room options and availability before booking.
Aswan hotel options. This article originally listed Mövenpick Resort Aswan; the link now opens broad Aswan hotel results, and the property’s current name and operation are unconfirmed. Check the specific property before booking.
Pyramisa Island Hotel Aswan is on an island near central Aswan. Check current room options, amenities, and transfer arrangements before booking.
Check current official travel advice for your exact route before taking a day trip from Aswan. Advice for one border area or region should not be treated as a blanket description of every Nubian community near Aswan.
Edfu and Kom Ombo are possible stops on trips between Aswan and Luxor. Aswan activity options open broader city results, so confirm whether a current listing includes either temple.
Kom Ombo temple is a double temple thought to be dedicated to two sets of Gods. Everything is perfectly symmetrical along the main axis of the temple, making it unusual. The nearby Crocodile Museum displays crocodile mummies; check its current exhibitions and opening arrangements.
Edfu Temple is closer to Luxor and is dedicated to Horus. It is one of the best-preserved shrines in Egypt and a good stop for temple lovers. Kids may not be interested, but sometimes we need to insert our own wishes and visit anyway! With lighting added in 2006, night visits are sometimes available as well, but opening hours always need to be verified at the time of your visit.
Abu Simbel, as mentioned above, is the most common day trip from Aswan. There isn’t much to see on the journey there and back, but the temples are very cool, even for kids.
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These links may open broader city results; confirm the destination, operator, inclusions, and current terms on the listing.
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