Two Days in Aswan: The Quiet Star of Southern Egypt
Slower and prettier than Luxor, Aswan is where the Nile is at its most beautiful. Here's how to spend two days.
Most people pass through Aswan on a Nile cruise and wish they'd stayed longer. It's the prettiest stretch of the river, calmer than Luxor, with Nubian colour and a softer pace. Give it two days and it might be your favourite part of the trip.
Day one: the river and its temples Start with Philae Temple, set on its own island and reached by a short motorboat ride, which is half the charm. In the afternoon, do the thing Aswan is made for: sail at sunset on a felucca, the traditional wooden sailboat. There's no engine, just the wind and the current, and the light on the water around the islands is genuinely special.
Day two: Nubia and the dam Spend the morning with the Nubian culture that gives Aswan its character. A visit to a colourful Nubian village, with its bright houses and warm welcome, is a highlight for a lot of our guests. You can also take in the High Dam and the granite quarries with the famous Unfinished Obelisk, still lying where it cracked thousands of years ago.
The big day trip: Abu Simbel Aswan is the launch point for Abu Simbel, the colossal temples of Ramesses II near the Sudanese border. It's an early start, but standing beneath those four giant figures is one of Egypt's most jaw-dropping moments. If you have a third day, give it to this.
How to do it Aswan slots naturally into a Nile cruise, which carries you up from Luxor through Edfu and Kom Ombo and leaves you here at the river's loveliest point. See our <a href="/blog/nile-cruise-guide">Nile cruise guide</a> for how the routes work, or browse <a href="/tours">our tours</a> that include Aswan and Abu Simbel.
Want extra nights built in so Aswan doesn't fly by? We'll happily slow the itinerary down for you.