Aswan & Abu Simbel

Located in southern Egypt where the Nile cascades past smooth black granite boulders and golden sand dunes, Aswan is Egypt's sunniest, most tranquil southern gateway. Long the historic frontier of pharaonic Egypt and the gateway to ancient Nubia, Aswan charms travelers with its leisurely pace of life, traditional felucca sailboats, colorful Nubian villages, and magnificent archaeological monuments.

Felucca Sailing & Philae Temple

The essence of Aswan is best absorbed on the water. Drift silently on a traditional wooden felucca sailboat around the lush botanical gardens of Kitchener’s Island and the ancient ruins of Elephantine Island. On Agilkia Island stands the breathtaking Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, which was dismantled stone by stone and relocated in an extraordinary UNESCO salvage operation to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

The Colossal Marvel of Abu Simbel

Approximately 280 kilometers south of Aswan near the border with Sudan stands Abu Simbel, the crowning architectural achievement of Pharaoh Ramses II. Carved directly into the sandstone mountain overlooking Lake Nasser, the Great Temple features four colossal 20-meter-tall seated statues of Ramses II guarding the entrance, alongside the adjacent Temple of Hathor built for his beloved queen Nefertari.

The Solar Alignment Phenomenon

Twice a year (on February 22 and October 22, commemorating Ramses II's birthday and coronation), the rising sun shines directly through the temple entrance, illuminating the inner sanctuary statues of Ramses, Ra-Horakhty, and Amun-Ra deep in the mountain interior while leaving the statue of Ptah (god of the underworld) in perpetual shadow.