Egypt · Monuments

10-Hour Aswan Highlights Tour with Philae Temple and High Dam

10 Hours Round trip from Aswan Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 View the mammoth High Dam and learn how and why this engineering marvel was built in the 1960s
02 Visit a quarry to see the Unfinished Obelisk, an ancient obelisk left in situ during ancient times
03 Explore Philae Temple, an ancient pilgrimage centre to the goddess Isis
04 Tour the beautiful island-set temple with its courts, chambers, and kiosk

See the highlights of picturesque Aswan on a comprehensive tour with an expert Egyptologist guide. Travel by air-conditioned vehicle to the Aswan High Dam, the massive 1960s structure built to counter the annual flooding of the Nile, then continue to the Unfinished Obelisk, a gigantic half-carved monument abandoned in its quarry by ancient quarrymen. Later, ride a boat to Philae Temple, renowned for its beautiful island location, and explore its magnificent courts, terraces, and chambers dedicated to the goddess Isis.

After the Unfinished Obelisk, you will transfer by road and boat to the green and beautiful island of Philae at the heart of the Nile.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 10 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

City Aswan

Languages Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Aswan High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple

The day begins at 8 am, when your Egyptologist guide collects you from the airport, your hotel, or your cruise ship for a tour of the stunning Nile-side city of Aswan. You will travel by air-conditioned vehicle to view the Aswan High Dam, an engineering miracle built in the 1960s to control the flooding of the Nile.
Next on your itinerary is the Unfinished Obelisk, a part-carved obelisk abandoned in its quarry by ancient quarrymen. Your guide will explain the techniques artisans used to create these classic monuments. Most likely, this obelisk was created for Queen Hatshepsut, the great female pharaoh who sometimes wore the traditional pharaoh's beard and built a vast temple on Luxor's West Bank.
After the Unfinished Obelisk, you will transfer by road and boat to the green and beautiful island of Philae at the heart of the Nile. Here, you will explore the towers, columns, and courtyards of the stunning Temple of Isis, the Egyptian fertility goddess whose cult spread from Egypt across the Roman Empire.
Drop-off at your hotel is at around 4 pm.