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Attractions in Aswan: Philae & Abu Simbel Excursions
Discover the aswan attractions essential with Semelegantvoyage : aswan excursion private with English-speaking guide from $40/person. Half day, full day, or extension abu simbel from aswan - by bus or plane. 100% private format, no shared groups of 20-30 people. Ideal for visit aswan as an extension of a cruise, as an independent stay, or as a gateway to what to do in aswan.
Our 4 Excursion Packages in Aswan - Transparent Prices
Four formulas for all profiles, from express half-day to full day aswan, with options abou simbel bus (convoy) or abu simbel plane (domestic theft). All prices per person on a private basis, air-conditioned transport, site entrances, private English-speaking guide and SEV insurance included.
Essential Half day
- Philae Temple (boat return)
- Unfinished obelisk
- Aswan Souk (15 min)
- Private English-speaking guide
- Air-conditioned transport
Full Nubia Day
- All Half Day +
- Aswan High Dam
- Elephantine Island in felucca
- Nubian village (karkadé tea)
- Nubian lunch included
- Aswan Botanical Garden (Kitchener Island)
Abu Simbel by Bus
- Convoy 3h30 return Aswan-Abu Simbel
- Ramesses II & Nefertari Temples
- Site entrances included
- Private English-speaking guide
- Breakfast basket
Abu Simbel by Plane
- Return flight Aswan-Abu Simbel (45 min)
- Ramesses II & Nefertari Temples
- Airport transfers included
- Private English-speaking guide
- Return to Aswan before noon
2 Day Comfort Combo - Nubia Day + Abu Simbel Bus + Night 4★
For those who want more than one day: combine Full Nubia Day + Abu Simbel by Bus + 1 night 4★ Nile-view full board in Aswan. Supplement +$380/pers. Ideal for not returning exhausted the same evening and enjoying the felucca at sunset.
The essential sites of Aswan - What to do in Aswan?
Philae Temple (Agilkia Island)
Dedicated to Isis, moved stone by stone in 1970-80 to escape the rise of the Nile. Access by felucca 15 min. Incredibly preserved polychrome interior. UNESCO registered. 2-3 hours visit, included in all our formulas.
Unfinished Obelisk
In ancient pink granite quarries. 1,200 tonnes, cracked before extraction, living witness to pharaonic techniques. Access 45 min. Theunfinished obelisk is the only global site that documents original extraction processes.
Aswan High Dam
Built 1960-70, 111 m high, 3.8 km long. Holds Lake Nasser (550 km). Nubian panorama. View of the Soviet-Egyptian Friendship Monument. Visit 45 min, aswan high dam included in the Full Day.
Elephantine Island & Nubian Museum
Theelephantine island is home to the ruins of Khnum and the temple of Satis. Adjacent Nubian Museum: 5,000 years of Nubian history, jewelry, Kushite artifacts. Felucca crossing 10 min from the Corniche. Included in Nubia Day.
Nubian Villages (Gharb Soheil)
Bright colors, blue-turquoise houses, domestic crocodiles (sorry, living tradition), karkade tea on the terrace. THE Nubian village of Gharb Soheil is real: welcoming inhabitants, crafts, oral tales. Felucca from the Corniche.
Saint-Simeon Monastery
7th century Coptic ruins, fortified, on the edge of the desert. Camel or 4×4 access. Panorama Nile + dunes. The saint simeon monastery is a rare site on classic circuits. Option +$20/person to be added to Nubie Day (half-day).
Botanical Garden (Kitchener Island)
Fully gardened island, exotic plants from 5 continents, royal palm trees, banyan trees. Aswan Botanical Garden accessible by felucca 15 min. Absolute calm, ideal end of the day. Included in Nubia Day or option +$10/pers.
Tombs of the Nobles (West Bank)
West bank of Aswan, hills on the Nile. Tombs of the governors of Elephantine (Middle Kingdom). Less crowded than Luxor, more intimate. Option +$20/person to be added to Classic Half-Day.
Abu Simbel from Aswan: Bus or Plane?
The choice between abou simbel bus and abu simbel plane depends on your budget, your resistance to waking up at 3:30 a.m., and your available time. Transparent comparison table:
| Criterion | Abu Simbel by Bus | Abu Simbel by Plane |
|---|---|---|
| SEV price | $140/person | $280/person |
| Total duration | 2 p.m. (4 a.m.-6 p.m.) | 5 a.m. (7 a.m.-12 p.m.) |
| Departure | 04:00 (police convoy) | 07:00 (domestic flight) |
| Journey | 3h30 return × 2 = 7h bus | 45 min return × 2 = 1h30 plane |
| Time on site | 2h30-3h | 2h |
| Fatigue | Very high (full day bus) | Moderate (half day) |
| Ideal for | Budget, young people, value for money | Executives in a hurry, families with children <10 years old, 4★/5★ |
| Included | Transport, entrances, English-speaking guide, breakfast basket | Flight, transfers, entrances, English-speaking guide, quick return |
Is Abu Simbel worth the detour? Yes, without hesitation. The 2 temples of Ramesses II are among the most photographed in the world, and the biannual solar alignment (February 22 and October 22) illuminates the inner sanctum - a precision astronomical calculation 3,200 BCE. Don't leave Aswan without seeing it.
When to go to Aswan? Weather & Crowds
- October to April : ideal season, 24-30°C during the day, cool nights. December-February : in high demand - book 2-3 months in advance.
- May to September : 35-45°C during the day, rare tourists. Abu Simbel flight recommended (no 7 hours bus under 45°C). Promo SEV −25%.
- Abu Simbel Solar Alignment : February 22 and October 22, reservation 6-8 months in advance. Abu Simbel hotels are saturated.
Convenient - Aswan Airport & Transfers
Aswan (ASW) is served by EgyptAir from Cairo (1h30) and from Luxor (40 mins). Airport 25 km from the center. SEV includes airport transfers on all full day packages. For visit aswan from Cairo without passing through Luxor: direct flight Cairo-Aswan, then same-day SEV excursion possible (arrival in the morning).
Continue your journey - SEV Excursions and Packages
Theaswan excursion is often the start or conclusion of a longer program. Combine with:
- Little Golden Program (3-night mini cruise Luxor-Aswan, from $480/person)
- Nile cruise 7 nights Luxor-Aswan (from $1,250/person)
- Nebyt Dahabiya 5 nights (from $1,740/pers)
- Dahabiyas Nuun & Nuut flotilla 6 nights (from $2,130/person)
- Cairo - Attractions, Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum
- Attractions in Luxor - Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut
