Planning Your Time

Most travelers spend only one night in Aswan to see the temple at Philae, maybe the Nubian Museum, and perhaps to take a short felucca sailing trip around the cataracts. If you are short on time, skip the High Dam; it looks no different than the ones you see at home. Add another day if you want to do the trip to Abu Simbel by air before joining a Nile cruise, which will take three or four nights. If you have more time, visit the Nubian village of Gharb Seheyl, or hike up to Saint Simeon's Monastery and the tombs of the nobles on Aswan's West Bank. Definitely reserve a day to see Kom Ombo if you are not taking a Nile cruise. You can also see the temples on New Kalabsha as a half-day excursion from Aswan.