Aswan Private Tour: High Dam, Philae Temple

Pickup from Your Aswan Hotel or Nile Cruise

Your Egypt Tour Pro representative will meet you at your hotel, Nile cruise or accommodation in Aswan at the agreed pickup time.

Meet your private Egyptologist and driver before beginning your sightseeing. During the drive, your guide will introduce you to Aswan's history and explain why this city has been an important gateway between Egypt and Nubia for thousands of years.

Philae Temple

Begin your Aswan sightseeing with a visit to the magnificent Philae Temple, one of the most beautiful ancient temples in southern Egypt.

Philae was an important religious center dedicated primarily to the goddess Isis. The temple complex contains monuments from different periods, particularly the Ptolemaic and Roman eras, reflecting the long religious importance of the island.

To reach the temple, enjoy a short private motorboat ride across the water to Agilkia Island, where the monuments were reconstructed.

Your Egyptologist will explain the mythology of Isis and Osiris, the temple's architecture and the importance of Philae as one of the last major centers of the ancient Egyptian religion.

Take time to explore the courtyards, columns, reliefs and sanctuaries while enjoying the beautiful setting surrounded by the Nile.

Unfinished Obelisk

Continue to the Unfinished Obelisk, located in Aswan's ancient granite quarries.

This enormous monument provides an exceptional opportunity to understand how ancient Egyptians extracted and shaped massive pieces of granite for temples, statues and obelisks.

The obelisk was commissioned during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut and would have been the largest known obelisk ever created if it had been completed.

However, a large crack developed in the granite during the carving process, causing the ancient workers to abandon the project.

Your Egyptologist will explain how ancient craftsmen worked with the hard granite and how the quarries of Aswan supplied stone for monuments throughout ancient Egypt.

Aswan High Dam

Your final major attraction is the Aswan High Dam, one of the most important engineering projects in modern Egyptian history.

Completed in the 1970s, the High Dam was constructed to regulate the Nile's annual flooding, generate hydroelectric power and provide greater control over Egypt's water resources.

The construction of the dam also had a major impact on the archaeological heritage of Nubia. Rising waters created Lake Nasser and threatened numerous ancient monuments, leading to major international preservation projects, including the relocation of Philae Temple and the temples of Abu Simbel.

From the viewpoint, learn about the history and importance of the High Dam while enjoying views toward Lake Nasser and the Nile Valley.

Return to Your Hotel or Nile Cruise

After completing your Aswan sightseeing, relax in your private air-conditioned vehicle as your driver takes you back to your hotel, Nile cruise or another agreed location in Aswan.

Your private Aswan Highlights Day Tour ends with a convenient drop-off and unforgettable memories of the ancient and modern landmarks of southern Egypt.