Aswan, Egypt

Aswan is the 3rd largest city in Egypt, and the biggest in Upper Egypt! It is also one of the favorite places for tourists to visit.

It is a major mining area for aluminum and iron as well as being a major stop for the cruise boats, as most of the Nile cruises sail between Aswan and Luxor, and vice versa. The local market is a very good place to do your holiday shopping, especially as you will find the best types of fresh spices here.

The population of the Aswan governorate is around 1.2 million and mostly consists of Nubians and local tribes of Kenzo. The city became very important after the construction of the high dam, and the worldwide rescue campaign of the Nubian monuments during and after its construction.
 

Aswan is derived from the Ancient Egyptian word Swan, which means “the market”! It was located on the main trading route between Egypt and the southern lands, where gold, slaves and ivory passed into Egypt. The governors of the 6th Dynasty sent many expeditions to explore the many African countries located to the south, and most of these started from Aswan! It was also the major source of granite, sandstone and quartzite used in the construction of the various monuments throughout Egypt!

In Ancient times the God Khoum was the major God of the city, but in later periods the Goddess Isis, Goddess of magic and maternity, became the main patron God, with a temple being built for her at Philae.

Because of the location of Aswan, just north of the Tropic Of Cancer, the city enjoys a very hot climate throughout the year! It is advised to cover your head when walking about and drink water constantly.

 Listed below is a table of the temperatures in Aswan throughout the year.How To Get To Aswan:

How to reach Aswan

• By flight:

EgyptAir runs daily flights to Aswan and the flight duration is about 70 minutes from Cairo. Flights land at Aswan International Airport, the most sophisticated airport in Upper Egypt, located 15Km to the south west of the city.

• By train:

You can reach Aswan by train from Cairo or Luxor; the train station is located in the city centre.

Sleeper trains: From Cairo to Aswan /Cairo

Hotels in Aswan

The city has very good hotels, with the highest quality of standards and service; the local people are amongst the most friendly that you will meet in Egypt.

Amongst Aswan’s most famous hotels, is the Old Cataract Hotel, which was built in 1925 (it is the most expensive hotel in Aswan today!). The hotel has witnessed many of the important guests and dignitaries who have come to visit Aswan; it was where Agatha Christie stayed when she wrote her book “Death On The Nile”.

• The Temple of Edfu
• The Temple of Kom Ombo
• Philae Temple
• The Unfinished Obelisk
• The High Dam
• The Tomb Chapels of the Nobles
• Elephantine Island, the Botanical Island
• The Abu Simbel Temples

You could also attend the marvellous Sound and Light show at the Temple of Philae; the schedules are listed below.