Book Olympic Air Flights to Aswan

Sightseeing in Aswan

Elephantine island. You can reach this small island in 15 minutes by boat from the idyllic Corniche (the city’s coastal road). Historical sites as well as the Aswan museum take the visitor on a journey through the history of Nubia. In 1990 the museum was expanded with the addition of another department, which displays exclusively artefacts from Elephantine island (utensils, weapons, pottery). Although it is still uncertain, this island probably took its name either from the shape of the rocks resembling a herd of elephants or because the island was, in the past, an important ivory trade centre. Particularly interesting on Elephantine island are the ‘’nilometers’’, ancient structures that measured the water level of the River Nile.

The Nubia Museum will take you on a tour of Nubian history and civilisation from prehistoric times to the present. Many of the findings on display, including statues and utensils, were unearthed by excavations for the renowned Aswan Dam project. You will be amazed by the museum’s splendid garden with its artificial lakes and waterfalls (Address: El Fenadek Street).

Kitchener’s island. Located right opposite Elephantine island, this island is thickly vegetated thanks to the passion for exotic plants of its former owner, Lord Kitchener, hence its name. The result is a ‘’floating’’ botanical garden in the middle of the Nile!

The Temple of Isis on Agilkia island. When construction of the Aswan Dam during the 1960’s threatened to submerge forever, under the Nile waters, the temple of Isis (which, at the time, was on the island of Philae), with UNESCOS’s intervention it was transported, rock by rock and re-erected on Agilkia island, where it still stands today.

The monastery of St. Simeon. The monastery, which was established in the 7th century, is located on the West Bank of the Nile and accessible by Felucca from the Corniche. The nearby Aga Khan mausoleum is well worth a visit.

Things to do in Aswan

When the sun goes down, there is nothing to beat a stroll along the Corniche (coastal road) to admire the sun setting over the islets of the river and the boats gliding across it.

Embark on a felucca, one of the small boats crossing the calm waters of the Nile and take a mini-cruise on the river that played a catalytic role in the development of ancient Egypt. Feluccas are an ideal means of transport for a trip on the Nile, as the only sound that breaks the tranquillity is the sound of the bow gently cutting through the waters.

Excursions near Aswan

Just 60 kilometres from Aswan, it is well worth visiting unique Luxor - the largest open-air museum in the world with the imposing Luxor and Karnak temples, the Necropolis of Thebes – ancient capital of Egypt – as well as the famous valleys of the Kings and Queens. You will be awestruck by their astonishing monuments and natural beauty.

Don’t miss the Ptolemaic Temple of Kom Ombo, which is located 45 km north of Aswan and dedicated to worshipping the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and the god Horos. Here you will also find the Museum of the Crocodiles, with 22 mummified crocodiles placed on sand, to look like the reptiles that once lay hidden along the banks of the Nile.

From Aswan you can take a day trip to Abu Simbel, one of the most important monuments of Pharaonic Egypt located about 280 km south of the city. It is an imposing complex of temples carved into a pink sandstone hill. You will be amazed by the sheer mass of the four enthroned colossal 20-metre figures, commissioned by the powerful Pharaoh Ramesses, that guard its entrance!

Entertainment in Aswan

In keeping with its character as a destination for folk culture and folk art, Aswan's nightlife is limited to nights devoted to the country's folk tradition.

The only exception is some hotels that host live music nights. For nightlife in the classic sense of the term head to touristic Luxor.

Don’t leave without trying the exquisite local cuisine, with a view of the Nile, drinking a chilled local beer or a hibiscus tea.

Shopping

Spices and hand-made African goods, such as lanterns, should definitely be on your ‘’to buy’’ list, and afterwards in your suitcase.

Before hitting any bazaar, (the most striking and atmospheric of all is the souk of Aswan ‘’Sharia el souk’’), make sure you brush up on your bargaining skills – as you will definitely need them. The warm and welcoming shopkeepers will invite you into their shops and offer you some tea.

Transport to Aswan

The only realistic way to get from the city’s airport to Aswan centre, which is 16 km away, would seem to be by taxi, since there is no public transport connecting the airport to the city centre. However, if you feel comfortable driving in a foreign country, you could always hire a car from the airport.

Serene and mysterious Aswan is a fascinating destination especially for those who enjoy… travelling through time and history! Book your flight to Aswan on Olympic Air’s site and fly to the gateway of the ancient kingdom of Upper Egypt towards Africa and Nubia!