This comprehensive Aswan tour covers the city's most iconic landmarks. Begin at the magnificent Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, beautifully relocated to Agilkia Island after the High Dam construction. Visit the engineering marvel of the Aswan High Dam, understanding its crucial role in controlling the Nile's floods. Explore the ancient granite quarries where you'll witness the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in the bedrock and offering fascinating insights into ancient Egyptian stone-working techniques. With an expert guide, this tour perfectly combines ancient history with modern engineering, showcasing how Aswan's monuments and natural resources have shaped Egypt's story from pharaonic times to the present day.
The High Dam of Aswan is an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960s. Containing more material than used in the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the Dam is 11,811 ft long, 3215 ft thick at the base, 364 ft tall and is carved into from the existing granite, providing irrigation and electricity for the whole of Egypt. From the top of the High Dam you can gaze across Lake Nasser to Kalabsha temple in the south and the huge power station to the north.
Continue to the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries of Aswan where much of the red granite used for ancient temples and colossi came from. The Unfinished Obelisk still lies where it was carved when a crack was discovered as it was being hewn from the rock. Your qualified Egyptologist guide will explain how the hundreds of tons of obelisk was carved, and why the crack caused it to be abandoned.
.Philae Temple was carefully moved to its current location (around 500 meters from the original site) when the construction of the High Dam caused surrounding Nile waters to rise. A short motorboat ride takes you to the island where your guide will take you on a walking tour through the temple before allowing you free time to explore further on your own. Dedicated to the goddess Isis, Philae Temple has a beautiful setting on an island in the river which has been landscaped to match its original site. Its various shrines and sanctuaries celebrate the deities involved in the myth of Isis and Osiris. This is a private tour allowing you to determine the amount of time spent at each of the sites during the tour.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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