With the main pyramids being done (read about it here), it was now time to start exploring different parts of Egypt. For this we would be taking the Nile cruise. To start with I will have individual posts covering the areas that we explored on the cruise. After that I will have a separate post to cover our experience on the Nile cruise.

The first place we covered was Aswan. It is a city in southern Egypt. We reached late in the night, having flown in on an evening flight from Cairo. We had a representative from our tour operator waiting for us at the airport. He helped us to get to our hotel for the night.

Next morning it was time to explore the sites around Aswan. Our guide met us at the hotel reception with our transport just after breakfast.

The first stop was the Aswan High Dam. This is one of the largest dams in the world. The construction of the dam created Lake Nasser reservoir, one the world’s largest man made lake. Here is us at one of the lookout spots.

Next on the itinerary was the Philae temple complex. This is a temple complex that is on an island in the reservoir of the Aswan Low Dam. The island that we visited it on is not the original island on which it was. The original island was called Philae Island. However it was going to be completed submerged owing to the construction of the dam. Because of its significance, the temple was moved piece by piece. It was reconstructed on the island where it is now located. This project lasted from 1977 to 1980!

The temple complex has some fascinating history. To know about it as well as the various gods that the temple has sculptures of, read here.

Here are some photos from our visit there. This is where we caught the boat to get to the island:

Our first experience of sailing on the Nile; what clear waters!

Our first view of the Philae temple complex:

Where we got off the boat to enter the temple complex:

And finally inside the temple complex.

It was time to head off to our next site. Here is a Numbian hotel that we saw from the boat on our way back from the temple:

The final attraction we were to visit before heading off to the cruise boat was The Unfinished Obelisk. History goes that it was ordered by Hatshepsut. The sculptors began to carve it directly out of the bedrock. But when cracks appeared in the granite, they had to abandon the work.

This is the view from the entrance:

And here is the actual obelisk.

We finally went to our cruise boat and completed our check-in formalities with the help of our guide.

Summary

So what did we feel about our visit around Aswan? Well, it is a beautiful place. Visiting the dam was interesting. We got to visit on the world’s largest dams and a man made reservoir spanning across two countries. The Nile; we had read and see it many movies. But getting to see and ride a boat on it for the time was well worth it. The water was beautiful in the clear sky and bright sun. And of course the Philae temple complex; something not to be missed. The structures are pretty well preserved.

Here are some recommendations based on our experience of going around:

  • Make sure you engage an English speaking Egyptologist. Only then will you be able to appreciate the history and the back stories. This will have see the structures in a different light.
  • Take a hat and water wherever you go. The sun can get pretty hot. But the sunlight adds to the beauty of the places
  • If you are short of time, then you can skip the Unfinished Obelisk. It is nice but nothing outstanding that cannot be missed.