Travel Egypt: Aswan Hotels and Attractions

Aswan, Egypt. This picture perfect little town will be the boarding place or disembarkment from a Nile cruise ship for most tour groups. Cruising offers all-inclusive boarding, meals and attractions, but often too little time is allotted to Aswan to see everything this Oriental town has to offer.

On a standard cruise tour, one or two days are scheduled with guided tours to 2 or 3 attractions. They may be a combination of the Unfinished Obelisk, the Aswan Dam and an optional flight to Abu Simbel. The Aswan Dam is a magnificent feat of engineering and worth the trip to see it. However, there are no tours of the inner workings of the dam, just a quick whisk through the outside areas. Nearby, a tour guide may take you to the Unfinished Obelisk, where you will wonder at the size and weight of the 1200 ton structure and hear about the craftmanship of ancient Egyptian quarry workers. The obelisk has a crack down the middle, and was abandoned by the Pharoah's workers. What's amazing is that they did not recycle any portion of it, but, rather left it in it's quarry, leaving few clues as to how they intended to cut free the bottom and stand it up.

Another attraction, not to be missed, is a fellucca sail to Kitchner Island for a walk through the pristine botanical gardens. Named after English general, Lord Horacio Kitchener, this island paradise contains some of the most colorful African species of trees, flowers and birds. The paved corridors stretch every direction for a peaceful and leisurely stroll through scented foliage, with magnificent views to the banks of the Nile. Phographers may get an up-close shot of birds and the Agha Khan Mausoleum from the balcony of Kitchner's rest area, making this attraction a must see for pictures on your Aswan visit. The tour group duration is about one hour on the isle, but for travelers who would like to go back on their own, felucca rides are cheap and plentiful at under $10 per person. On the Kitchner docks, you'll find a small gift shop with hand-made souvenirs, costing much less than vendors in Cairo and Luxor.

A quick stop worthy of note is a trip to the Nilometer, a subterraneum structure used by the Greeks to predict the water lever for irrigation and agriculture. It houses 90 downward steps, with markers on the walls to monitor the flooding from the Nile. The inscriptions are in the original Greek, but Arabic translations have been added for the modern day Egyptians.

Another recommended trip is to one of the three Nubian villages located near Elephantine Island. Here, you will find brightly-colored homes and some of the friendliest people in the world. Check with your cruise ship operator for a pre-paid excursion for a camel trek, dinner and mint tea with these kind and hospitable people. It will be an evening you won't soon forget.

Abu Simbel. This excursion is the most expensive on your Egyptian tour, but worth every penny. Because of the popularity of the trip and limited spaces, it's advised to book and pay for the excursion from your home country. The trip begins with a flight from Aswan Airport to Abu Simbel Airport. There, you will be transported by van to the waterfront monument on the Nile. Built by Ramses II, it's considered to be one of the greatest architectual structure in the world, with it's perfect chambers and anti-chambers carved into the mountain. Nextdoor, is the monument for Ramses' most favored wife, Queen Nefertari. The tours are partially guided with lots of free time to explore on your own. Prepaid ticket prices are in the $200 ballbark per person. This is a morning excursion and planned for a half day, thus allowing you more free time back in Aswan. For cruise ship travelers who sail to Abu Simbel, there is a sound and light show at night. It's held outdoors,about 30 minutes long with music, storytelling and projected images of Ramses II onto the temple walls. For the first time traveler to Abu Simbel, it's worth the money, as it will give you valuable tidbits of information about it's owner, Ramses the Great.

For a Christian monument-seeker, there's no better site than the Monestery of St. Simeon, or as the Arabs call it, Deir Amba Samaan. The usual mode of transporation up the desert hill is via camel, but you are always welcome to walk if you wish. This impressive reddish stone structure blends into the same color of the desert dirt on which it is built. There are three main chapels and a fresco of Jesus in the central chamber. Time allotted needed to fully explore is about one hour.

There are also royal tombs in Aswan, but they belong to the princes, not the pharoahs. The Necropolis of the Princes is home to about 40 tombs of the royal sons and some dignitaries. To enter the site, you must climb a mountain of stone stairs, of which there is no handrail. This tour is extremely laborious and reserved for the physically fit, especially if the temperature reaches excessive heat. For those affected by heat or have breathing problems, I do not recommend this visit, as you will need to climb at least 100 deep steps to get there. But, for the determined few who make the trip, it's a masterpiece of architecture and art. The tomb painting are simple as compared with what you will see in Luxor's Valley of the Kings, but they are well preserved and have an important place in Egyptian archaeology. Duration time: allow a half day.

The Temple of Philae is a nice afternoon out on the felucca boats for a brief journey to the island. You will have a self-guided walk through of well -preserved columns, inscriptions and chambers. The temple grounds are quite small, allowing a comprehensive visit in about an hour, and this tour will be offered free of charge from most Nile cruise tour companies.

Choosing a hotel in Aswan is as simple as planning the view out your window. All of the four and five star hotels are worthing of your booking, and separated only by price. For a moderately priced accomodation, I recommend the Basma Hotel, located on a hill with sweeping Nile and city views. The outdoor restaurant peeks out over the Nile for one of the best views in Aswan. Also, the hotel has planted their own botanical garden that wraps around the property with scented jasmine, henna and palm trees. Basma means "smile" in Arabic, and that's what you can expect from your stay here.
www.asiarooms.com/egypt/aswan/basma-hotel-gallery.html

The Old Cataract Hotel sits on the banks of the Nile near the Temple of Philae. The monument is lighted at night, so the views offered are one of antiquity. The Old Cataract has been host to international dignitaries and politicians since the early 1900's, and it's said that Agatha Christie penned a novel from here. The prices are a bit high, but for old-world charm, rather than contemporary comforts, this is the place to stay.
www.hotels.com/hotel_sofitel-old-cataract-aswan_120048_photos.html

Movenpick on Elephantine Island is the last word in peace and tranquility. The views are mainly white sand dunes backed up against the blue Nile, with an occasional felucca sailing by. This hotel has changed ownership a few times, so return travelers to Aswan may remember it by it's tall, rectangular tower. This landmark hotel is renovated and better than ever, with value pricing well under $100.
www.asiarooms.com/egypt/aswan/movenpick_elephantine_island_resort-hotel-gallery.html

The Egyptian-owned Pyramisa Hotel chain has a double presence here in Aswan. Both hotels are fully efficient with modern comforts, outstanding dining and breathtaking Nile views. The Pyramisa Isis Cornishe has four tennis courts and a squash court. The Pyramisa Island Resort has a gym and all the ammenities you'd expect from a five star hotel. Either location is an excellent choice in Aswan and are priced well under $100.
www.asiarooms.com/egypt/aswan/pyramisa_isis_cornishe-hotel-gallery.html
www.asiarooms.com/egypt/aswan/pyramisa_isis_island-hotel-gallery.html

For additional information on hotels and attractions in Cairo, Luxor and Abu Simbel, visit these helpful links for photos and prices:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/1569731/20_top_tourist_attractions_in_cairo.html
www.associatedcontent.com/article/1605132/the_28_best_hotels_in_cairo_egypt.html
www.associatedcontent.com/article/1686503/travel_egypt_10_best_hotels_in_luxor.html
www.associatedcontent.com/article/1641585/egypt_beyond_the_nile_abu_simbel_by.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aswan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Simbel