Hotels in Aswan
What to see by foot: Aswan
 
Aswan is a beautiful resort 899kms south of Cairo and 50kms south of Luxor. The
town is small enough to walk around and graced with the most beautiful setting
on the eastern bank of the Nile; unsurprisingly, the pace of life is here slow
and relaxing.
Aswan's main sightseeing attractions include two islands in the Nile: Elephantine
and Kitchener's (also called Botanical Island). Kitchener's Island was named
for the British general Horatio Kitchener who was sent to Egypt in 1883 to reorganize
the Egyptian army. The island features tombs and attractive gardens and is especially
known for the exotic plants that Kitchener planted there.
Elephantine Island was once a military post guarding the southern frontier
of Egypt. Its main features are two Nubian villages that have managed to retain
their authentic atmosphere; at the southern end of the island are a museum and
some temples. You can reach both Elephantine and Kitchener's by felucca boat.
Nearby, the Coptic Monastery of St Simeon was built in the 6th century in honour
of Amba Hadra, a local saint. Rebuilt in the 10th century, the monastery was
a base for missionary monks who converted the Nubians to Christianity. Frescoes
of the Apostles still remain in the roofless Basilica.
Also on the Nile is the Agha Khan Mausoleum. The Agha Khan, the late leader
of the Ismaili sect, spent every winter in Aswan and was buried in this magnificent
mausoleum modelled on the Fatimid tombs in Cairo.
The northern hills of the west bank are home to several rock-carved tombs of
princes, built between the Old Kingdom and the Roman periods. At night, these
tombs are illuminated with spotlights and are a spectacular sight from the eastern
bank of the Nile at Aswan.
Aswan's Nubian heritage is on display in the Nubian Museum, the first cultural
site dedicated solely to the history of the region. The museum's exhibits feature
detailed explanations and the architecture of the building is awe-inspiring.
The Old Cataract Hotel is a nice spot for a break from the heat; although,
you have to be a guest to go out on the veranda, which was one of the settings
of Agatha Christie's novel Death on the Nile.
For exotic shopping, explore the souk, which is full of the aroma and colours
of spices, incense, perfumes, scarves and baskets. Every night Nubian dancers
and musicians perform in the Cultural Centre, just off the Corniche.
Selection of hotels in this region:
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full list of hotels and online booking
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