Overview
Our private half-day tour from Aswan visits three sites: the granite quarry of the Unfinished Obelisk, the Aswan High Dam and the Temple of Isis at Philae, which you reach by motorboat. An Egyptologist guides the whole tour, and the price covers the car, the boat and the entrance fees. Allow about five hours. The price starts from $65 per person and depends on the number of travelers.
What you see on this half day
The three stops tell one story about Aswan. The Unfinished Obelisk is a monument that cracked while it was still attached to the bedrock and was abandoned. The High Dam, built between 1960 and 1970, created Lake Nasser, whose rising water threatened the temples of Nubia. Philae is one of the temples that were saved: it was moved to Agilkia Island during the international campaign led by UNESCO, which ran from 1960 to 1980.
The Unfinished Obelisk
The obelisk lies in the northern granite quarries of ancient Aswan. Completed, it would have measured about 42 meters, and it is often attributed to Queen Hatshepsut. Cracks appeared in the granite, so the work stopped and the stone stayed where it was. Your Egyptologist shows you the trench cut around it and explains how quarry workers freed granite from the bedrock.
The Aswan High Dam
The High Dam is 3,830 meters long and 111 meters high, and the lake behind it, Lake Nasser, is about 500 km long. It explains why Philae was moved: twenty-two monuments, among them Abu Simbel, were relocated under the UNESCO Nubia Campaign, and Philae and Kalabsha were moved as well. You can see the other rescued temples on our Abu Simbel tour from Aswan and our Kalabsha Temple tour.
Philae Temple on Agilkia Island
Philae was a great Ptolemaic sanctuary of the goddess Isis, and Roman rulers up to Hadrian left their names on it. You cross to Agilkia Island by motorboat and walk through the sanctuary with your Egyptologist. Trajan’s Kiosk is one of the best-known buildings of the island, and Hadrian’s Gate holds a detailed depiction of the Osiris myth. UNESCO lists the temple as part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, and our guide to Philae Temple covers its history in more depth.
Practical notes
The day starts at around 8:00 AM with pickup at your Aswan hotel or at the berth of your Nile cruise, and you are normally back by early afternoon. The boat crossing is short and the tour suits children and older travelers. Lunch and drinks are not included. Philae is also on our 4-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan.
Book the Philae Temple tour
Send us your dates, your hotel or cruise berth in Aswan and the number of travelers, and we reply within 24 hours. Prices start from $65 per person.
Itinerary
Your Egyptologist and driver meet you at around 8:00 AM at your Aswan hotel or at your Nile cruise berth, and a private air-conditioned vehicle starts the half day. The tour has three stops, the Unfinished Obelisk, the Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple, and the Egyptologist uses the first drive to explain how they connect: a monument that was never finished, a dam built in the twentieth century, and a temple moved to save it from the water behind that dam. The whole tour takes about five hours.
The first stop is the northern granite quarry of ancient Aswan, where the Unfinished Obelisk still lies in the rock. Completed, it would have measured about 42 meters, and it is often attributed to Queen Hatshepsut. Cracks appeared in the granite, so the work stopped. Your Egyptologist shows you the trench cut around the obelisk and explains how ancient quarry workers removed granite from the bedrock, which makes this stop a clear introduction to Egyptian stone-working.
Next you stop at the Aswan High Dam, built between 1960 and 1970. It is 3,830 meters long and 111 meters high, and it created Lake Nasser, a reservoir about 500 km long. Your Egyptologist explains why the dam matters to the story of Philae: the rising water threatened the temples of Nubia, and twenty-two monuments, among them Abu Simbel, were moved under the UNESCO Nubia Campaign. Philae and Kalabsha were moved as well. This stop sets up the temple visit that follows.
From the Philae marina you cross to Agilkia Island by motorboat. The crossing takes about 10 minutes and brings you to the island where the temple complex stands today. Philae was moved here because of the rising water behind the dams, as part of the international UNESCO campaign that ran from 1960 to 1980. UNESCO lists the island as part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, and your Egyptologist explains the rescue as the island comes into view.
Philae was a great Ptolemaic sanctuary of the goddess Isis, and Roman rulers up to Hadrian left their names on it. Your Egyptologist guides you through the sanctuary and explains the myth of Isis and Osiris that appears on its walls. Trajan's Kiosk is one of the best-known buildings of the island, and Hadrian's Gate holds a detailed depiction of the Osiris myth. This is the main visit of the tour, so the Egyptologist explains the reliefs and buildings one by one.
After the visit you cross back by motorboat, and your driver takes you to your hotel or Nile cruise berth in Aswan, normally by early afternoon. Your Egyptologist can suggest how to spend the rest of the day, from the Nubian temple of Kalabsha to the Abu Simbel day trip. If you would like to add either, tell us when you send your inquiry. We reply to every inquiry within 24 hours.
Included & Excluded
Included
- Air-conditioned private car, from and back to your Aswan hotel or Nile cruise
- Motorboat crossing to Philae and back
- Entrance fees: Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk
- Egyptologist guide who speaks English
- Bottled water
Excluded
- Lunch and any drinks you order
- Tips for guide and driver
- Personal purchases
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the tour include the Aswan High Dam?
Yes. The half day visits the Unfinished Obelisk, the Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple.
Are entrance fees and the boat included?
Yes. The price covers the entrance fees for the three sites, the motorboat to Agilkia Island and back, and the car. It starts from $65 per person and depends on the number of travelers.
How long does the Philae Temple tour take?
About five hours, including the three stops and the short boat crossing. Pickup is at around 8:00 AM, and you are normally back at your hotel by early afternoon.
Why was Philae Temple moved to Agilkia Island?
The rising water behind the Aswan dams threatened the temple. Under the international campaign led by UNESCO, which ran from 1960 to 1980, Philae was moved to Agilkia Island.
Can I join the tour from a Nile cruise?
Yes. Tell us which ship you are on, and we collect you from its berth in Aswan, or from your hotel, at around 8:00 AM.
Is the tour suitable for children and older travelers?
Yes. The boat crossing is short, and the tour suits children and older travelers.
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