Aswan Day Trips from Luxor

The road south from Luxor follows the Nile corridor that the cruise boats sail, which is exactly what makes this day work: the two great river temples sit right on the route, so a good tour turns the transit itself into sightseeing.

What you see

In Aswan proper, the classic trio: the Temple of Philae on its island, reached by motorboat, the Aswan High Dam that created Lake Nasser, and the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in its granite quarry where a crack stopped the work. The fuller itineraries break the drive at Kom Ombo, the double temple of Sobek and Horus above a bend in the river, and Edfu, the best-preserved temple in Egypt. If the schedule is kind, there is time for a short felucca sail past Elephantine Island before the drive back.

Is it worth it?

Yes, especially if a Nile cruise is not in your plans: this is the road version of the classic Luxor to Aswan corridor. It is a long day, so choose the itinerary that includes Kom Ombo and Edfu only if you are happy trading pool time for temples. Travellers moving on rather than returning can book it one way as a transfer tour and simply end the day in Aswan. For what to do once you are there, our things to do in Aswan guide has the full picture.