Aswan Travel Guide

Favourite Nile-Side Bazaar Town

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Aswan certainly feels like a frontier town located as it is at the gateway to Nubia. The tall, dark-skinned Nubian peoples’ homeland stretches south from Aswan into today’s Sudan. In ancient times the area was a centre for the Pharaonic Cult of Khnum, the ram-headed god. Today its souqs are crammed full of spices, fruit and veg and oriental souvenirs. Felucca captains ply their trade on the elegant Nile-side Corniche whilst women with shopping piled high on their heads catch the ferry back to their villages on the west bank.

Attractions in Aswan

Visitors to Aswan have much to occupy several days’ sightseeing. The streets of the souq run for 500 metres or so two blocks inland from the Nile and provide for several hours’ entertainment, shopping for souvenirs or spices. On the west bank of the river lies St Simeon’s, a ruined monastery on the edge of the Western Desert.

For those with a wish to see more Pharaonic wonders both Philae Temple and, further south, the stunning temples at Abu Simbel should be on their list. Kitchener’s Island is home to a beautiful Botanical Garden whilst the Nubian Museum gives a history of these friendly and proud people. Just out of town and usually visited en route to or from the Aswan High Dam is the Unfinished Obelisk.

Activities in Aswan

Aswan itself is small enough to walk around although most sights require you to use some form of transport to get to and from them, requiring some good-humoured if persistent haggling with transport providers. For those that have less time but who don’t want to miss out it’s simple to arrange a sightseeing tour which includes all the major sights. Note that flights to Abu Simbel book up well in advance, so if you want to avoid the 31/2 hour drive each way you should make arrangements before you arrive in Aswan.

Relaxing

Entertainment in Aswan is very low-key. The city has several 5* hotels with occasional floor shows open to non-residents, but for a more authentic experience eschew these in favour of the floating Nileside restaurants along the Corniche. Other options are limited but include chatting with locals over a glass of tea and a sheesha in a coffee-house and a sunset felucca trip on the Nile.

Getting Around

Caleshes can take you the length of the Corniche and taxis further, otherwise Aswan is small enough to explore on foot.

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