Aswan in a morning
Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk and the High Dam
Aswan's granite story, from a quarry abandoned mid-cut to the island temple of Isis.
This Philae Temple tour puts Aswan's three essential sites into one morning. It starts at the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries at the edge of the city. The three-sided monument was being cut from the bedrock when a crack appeared, and it was abandoned where it lay. It shows, better than any finished monument, how ancient stoneworkers worked.
From Shellal a motorboat takes you across to Agilkia Island and the temple of Isis at Philae. Flooded for part of every year after the first Aswan dam was built, the temple was dismantled and rebuilt on this higher island as the High Dam was completed, and its pylons and carved halls now rise straight from the water. Your guide tells the story of Isis and why her cult lasted here longer than almost anywhere else in Egypt.
The morning ends at the Aswan High Dam, the modern project that controls the Nile's flow and created Lake Nasser, the reason Philae and Abu Simbel had to move. Pickup and drop-off are at your Aswan hotel, and the entrance fees are included.
- Travel time
- Short drives within Aswan and a motorboat to Philae
- Time at sites
- Most of the 4.5 hours
- Group
- Private: your party only
- Transport
- Vehicle with driver; motorboat to Philae
- Departure
- Morning pickup
- Meeting point
- Your Aswan hotel
- Guide languages
- English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
- Best time to go
- Morning; Aswan is the hottest stop on the Nile by midday
- Intensity
- Easy
What the day includes
- The Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries
- Motorboat to Philae and the temple of Isis
- The Aswan High Dam and Lake Nasser
Places you visit
- Unfinished Obelisk
- Philae Temple
- Agilkia Island
- Aswan High Dam
- Lake Nasser
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Entrance fees
- Local transport
- Taxes
Not included
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Entrance tickets
- Included: all sites listed
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund.
- Tour format
- Private
How the day runs
Pickup
From your Aswan hotel.
Unfinished Obelisk
The abandoned obelisk in the granite quarry.
Philae Temple
Motorboat from Shellal to the temple of Isis on Agilkia Island.
Aswan High Dam
Views over Lake Nasser.
Return
Back to your hotel.
Questions about this tour
How do you reach Philae?
By motorboat from the Shellal landing, a short ride to Agilkia Island.
Why was Philae moved?
Rising water from the Aswan dams threatened the temple, so it was dismantled and rebuilt on higher ground on Agilkia Island.
How much does it cost for my group?
Prices are per person and fall as the group grows: 1 person $110; 2–4 people $80 each; 5–7 people $60 each; 8–10 people $45 each. All prices are in US dollars.
What should I wear?
Light, modest clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Shoulders and knees covered is the safe choice at every site; bring a hat, sunscreen and water.