Assuan

Aswan, south of Luxor, and near the southern border of Egypt and Sudan, is a little known tourist destination. The people that you'll find there as visitors will be backpackers and those in search of an unusual getaway. It's very different to the Egypt you might imagine, and if all you know of the country is Sharm el-Sheikh and other hideous man-made tourist traps, then think again. Aswan is an oasis of Nubian-Egyptian culture, within easy access of the Aswan Dam (you can have a cruise on Lake Nasser if you feel the urge), and Abu Simbel, one of Egypt's finest temples, particularly in view of its history (it was moved when the Dam was built). The town itself ...  Read the complete review

Our family travels regulary (since 5 years) in the winter time to Aswan, to savour the Nile and its picturescue landscape. A tour with a traditional felucca (sailing boat) is, in our opinion, one of the most beautiful thing to do in Aswan. On the felucca you ride leisurely down the Nile, while the Nile Islands and sand dunes are passing by you can enjoy the Peace far from the hectical European Citys. Now and then you leave the felucca to visit old tombs, the botanical garden of Kitcheners Island or the Cloistre of Simeon in the desert. The time on a felucca tour is different because you align to the rythm of the ...  Read the complete review

Half an hour after disembarking from the MS Prince Abbas after our week long cruise on Lake Nasser we were waiting with our luggage on the East Bank of the River Nile in Aswan as we watched the Pharoanic Barge make its way across the river from Elephantine Island to transport us back to our home for a further week-The Hotel Oberoi situated on this palm covered island in the middle of the Nile. Nothing had prepared us for the beauty we were about to experience. This stretch of the Nile between the city of Aswan, the Old Dam and the High Dam and Lake Nasser is scattered with islands. Ancient Aswan was originally sited on Elephantine Island as it could be easily defended ...  Read the complete review

I travelled to Egypt with a company called Explore Worldwide who specialise in what they call "small group exploratory holidays". They are perfect for those travelling alone - as I was - as you get to join a group of other like minded travellers. There holidays are for those wishing to go "off the beaten track" and get a real taste of a country travelling by local means of transport and staying in local style accomodation. This does mean "roughing it" a little but suits anyone with a sense of adventure. When I travelled to Egypt the group ranged from two teenage Australian sisters to a retired couple from New Zealand! Their website ...  Read the complete review

I can’t believe that noone has written an opinion on Aswan. I have been to Egypt four times (twice backpacking and twice on packages) and always try to get to this wonderful town if I can. In short, it has the best market in Egypt (in my opinion) and some wonderful places to visit. Aswan is not the place to go if you want sheer luxury, but it has some majestically decrepit hotels on the waterfront that cost a fraction of those in Luxor. On my first visit in 1993 I stayed in a room right on the Nile, with a balcony, for £5 a night. I would be surprised if the cost has gone up that much in the last few years. Once you have sorted out accommodation you are ...  Read the complete review