Aswan is situated just under 30 kilometers outside the zone of totality, which is why only a partial solar eclipse can be observed from there. We therefore offer sightseeing programs in Aswan in combination with a stay in Luxor or a Nile cruise, where you will then be able to fully enjoy the total solar eclipse on August 2nd 2027.
The city of Aswan is located approx. 900 kilometers south of Cairo on the east bank of the Nile, just below the first Nile cataract. It is the southernmost district city in Egypt and one of the largest cities in Upper Egypt with around 1.7 million (2022) inhabitants. The name of the city goes back to the ancient Egyptian Sunu, which means "trade", and the city name has survived to this day in the form of the Arabic Aswān via the derived Coptic Swān. The city owes its importance to its location below the first cataract of the Nile. From here, the river was only navigable in the direction of Lower Egypt. The cataracts, rapids divided by boulders and rock bars, hindered onward travel to the south, making Aswan an important trading point for trade caravans from Nubia. Indeed, a stroll through the colorful bazaar makes it clear that Aswan is a melting pot of African and Arab trade goods.
Many people will be familiar with Aswan mainly because of the famous dam. However, the city offers a wealth of attractions that are atmospherically embedded in the beautiful landscape. The Temple of Isis at Philae, for example, is one of the best-preserved buildings of Ancient Egypt. The Temple of Kalabsha, dedicated to the Nubian deity Mandulis, was moved in the 1960s and is now located on a granite hilltop, not far from the New Aswan Dam, in the middle of Lake Nasser. In the city itself, the Nubian Museum is worth a visit and nearby you find the ancient quarry with the massive "Unfinished Obelisk". You should definitely not miss out on a boat trip with a felucca or motorboat through the cataracts on the Nile. You will experience a fascinating river landscape, visit Kitchener Island with its botanical garden, go to Elephantine Island with some interesting excavations and the Aswan Museum or to the ancient Monastery of St. Simeon.
The Nubian village of Gharb Soheil deserves a special mention. This proverbially "very colorful" village fascinates with its friendly inhabitants. There are now some very nice hotels and guesthouses in the area, where you can experience Nubian hospitality at first hand.
You will also really enjoy a trip to the reservoir behind the old dam. The Nubian Eco Village was built on a small island near the Philae Temple. An old Nubian village has been converted into a simple but impressive hotel.
