Visit Aswan - Egypt

When thinking of Egypt as a destination, people often think of Cairo or the many attractions of Luxor. Despite this, Egypt has much more to offer! For those planning a trip to the country, our tip is to save a few days to get to know Aswan, which is located on the banks of the Nile River and is one of the most important tourist destinations in Egypt..

The city, known as the “pearl of the Nile”,, is the site of the first cataract of the river in Egyptian territory. The weather is pleasant, there are a lot of things to see and a rich history. With temples, many colors and an incredible landscape, Aswan makes you even more welcome by its inhabitants known for their friendliness and unique culture.

You can already see that Aswan has a lot to be explored, right? That's why we prepared this post with the best tips on the city, including transport recommendations, hotel suggestions and the best tours to do there.

The most interesting thing is that the name goes back to ancient Egyptian and means “market”, which says a lot about the history of the region and its importance for the trade of the ancient Nubian empire.

History of Aswan (Egypt)

The history of Aswan is very marked by the relevance of its geographical position. This is because, due to the fact that it is far to the south and is very marked by the traffic of the Nile River, it was considered the “gateway” to Africa. In fact, a curiosity is that Aswan is the name of the ancient city of Swenett. To give you an idea, the historical richness of this region is so great that it dates back to three thousand years before Christ.

Aswan was part of Nubian territory. For those unfamiliar, Nubia was part of an empire that spanned from southern Egypt (exactly where Aswan borders) to Khartum, Sudan. It was a trade corridor linking Egypt to the rest of Africa through which goods such as precious stones and metals, animal skins, incense and ivory circulated. The end of Nubia came only when the Republic of Egypt was consolidated in 1953. At that time, what was considered Nubian territory was divided between Egypt and Sudan.

The consolidation of Aswan as it is today took place mostly from 1902, when the Aswan Dam was built and was an important part of the development of the region. This was also accentuated in 1971, with the construction of the High Dam, which made Aswan stand out in power generation, in addition to its potential for the tourist industry.

the nubian people

The history of the Nubian people is so impressive that it is common to find reports that say they are the oldest black people in Africa and one of the oldest civilizations in the world, with even prehistoric origins. Tradition is also a mark of the Nubians who had their own culture, as well as writing and language.

The images of the Nubian people are known to many people. Remember the images of slaves guarding Egyptian deities, very common in school textbooks? These engravings from ancient Egypt reveal not only the Nubian history of slavery, but also the local culture and riches.

Much of what you see in Aswan today concerns the relationship between Egypt and Nubia in the past. Thousands of years ago, the relationship between them was very marked by the fact that Egypt sometimes granted autonomy to the empire and sometimes incorporated it into its territory. An example of such an ambiguous relationship is that there were even Nubian pharaohs.

And today, although the territory that once belonged to Nubia is part of Egypt, the culture, buildings and even the people of places like Aswan are very different from the Egyptian people. A visit to Aswan is to explore a place with the marks of history, with unique colors and customs, in addition to discovering a totally different landscape.

How to get to Aswan (Egypt)

For those who don't know exactly where Aswan is, the city is about 950 km from Cairo. It is located in the southernmost region of Egypt and the landscape is very marked by the presence of the Nile River, which provides a beautiful view for hiking and also for incredible tours, which we will talk about later.

There is an airport that serves Aswan and connects the city to both Cairo and Luxor and Abu Simbel, one of the main tourist attractions in the region. For those looking to know how to get to Aswan, it is important to think about your itinerary to assess the best way to access it, since it is possible to go by plane, train, bus and even by boat.

If you choose to go by land, it is recommended that you inform yourself well with authorities and tourist information points, because the movement of tourists is not always allowed on Egyptian roads.

Where to stay in Aswan (Egypt)

Aswan is a pllace that deserves 2 to 3 nights of your itinerary, so you can explore the temples and historical places in the region with peace of mind.

Over there, the offer of hotels is not as large as in other cities, such as the capital Cairo, or even Luxor. Most of the accommodations are in the eastern region of the Nile, called the West Bank. It is on this side of the river that the famous Corniche El-Nil is located, the avenue that runs along the banks of the river.

Here are some Aswan hotel tips for all types of travellers:

Kato Dool Nubian Resort: authentic option in Nubian Village 

Kato Dool Nubian Resort was our choice in Aswan and our experience was wonderful! The hotel is cute and the most amazing part is that it is right on the banks of the Nile River. In addition to the incredible view of the river and a wonderful terrace, the atmosphere of the hotel is delicious: the decor is Nubian-inspired, the rooms are comfortable and cozy.

Sofitel Legend Old Cataract: an oasis in the middle of the desert

For those who like a little more sophistication, Sofitel is the best option. In Aswan, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract has incredible facilities, with a swimming pool, gym, spa and restaurant. In addition, it is decorated throughout in a very traditional style (from the pink granite facade to the rooms).

Mövenpick Resort Aswan

An excellent cost-benefit alternative is the Mövenpick Resort. Both the common area and the rooms have a super view of the Nile River, in addition to a very sophisticated standard and excellent services. The hotel has a pool, gym, spa and three great restaurants and two bars. Despite the salty prices, it is possible to find a room for couples at very affordable prices.

What to do in Aswan

Although many people go to Aswan as a starting point for Abu Simbel, the city has a lot of cool options for tours. As we have seen, Aswan has a very strong tourism marked by its history and by the Nile River itself. Therefore, there are incredible temples to visit, in addition to the city itself, which is welcoming and has the best souvenir shops in Egypt.

Here we have prepared this complete Aswan guide for you to include the best attractions in your itinerary! And let's start right away with a tip: the best way to enjoy Egypt is by planning. For this, set up your script and buy tickets in advance.

Philae Temple: Temple of the Goddess Isis

This is probably the main tourist spot in Aswan. And it's no wonder: the temple is really beautiful and rich in history. Dedicated to the Goddess Isis, known for being the goddess of motherhood, fertility and sexuality, the temple keeps the history of the goddess in its walls. And do you know who her most famous devotee was? None other than Cleopatra!

In addition to the magnificence of the monument, there is quite a curiosity that impresses us even more: it is not in the place where it was built. Originally, Philae Temple was located on Philae Island. As it was a flood zone, UNESCO created a project in 1970 that consisted of dismantling the temple and reassembling it on a nearby island to try to preserve it from flooding.

Abu Simbel: the temple of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari

In fact, Abu Simbel is what brings most tourists to Aswan. The two temples were carved out of a huge sandstone rock on the shores of Lake Nasser and are impressive architectural masterpieces of ancient Egypt.

Nubian Village: the village of the Nubian people

A walk through Gharb Soheil, the best known of the Nubian villages, is one of the attractions that I really consider a must-see in Aswan.

What is the Nubian Village anyway? The Nubians are a people that originated in southern Egypt and northern Sudan, and are one of the oldest civilizations in history. Nubians have not only preserved their ancient traditions, but also the Nubian language – which is only spoken and has no official alphabet. ⠀

The village is full of geometric shapes and bright colors. The many triangles represent the three most important sources of life for the Nubians – the earth, represented by a neon green, the sun, represented by a dazzling yellow, and the sky and the Nile are represented by various shades of blue.

Another unique feature of the village is the crocodiles. Historically, the large reptiles were kept as pets to keep intruders away… today they remain domestic animals, but mainly to entertain tourists. ⠀

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*All images used in this article are Copyright Free and Royalty Free Images.