Private Philae Temple Tour from Aswan: 2-Hour Guided Visit

Read the temple walls with an Egyptologist who knows what they mean

A private 2-hour guided tour of Philae Temple departing from Aswan with hotel pickup, motorboat fare and admission included. Your English-speaking Egyptologist guide walks you through the reliefs of Isis mythology carved into the temple walls: Isis bringing Osiris back to life, giving birth to Horus, and mummifying Osiris after his death. The tour ends with return transport to your Aswan accommodation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Philae Temple1h
2. Aswan Market1h

Visit Philae Temple from Aswan

• Driver picks you up in Aswan
• Travel to Philae Temple
• Explore Philae Temple with guide
• Enjoy views of the Nile
• Driver returns you to accommodation

The experience

The driver picks you up from your hotel in Aswan in the morning and takes you to the dock for the motorboat ride to Philae Temple. The journey across the Nile is part of the experience. You get the river views without arranging the logistics yourself. Once you arrive at the temple, your Egyptologist guide takes over and walks you through the carved reliefs that cover the walls, explaining the stories they tell about Isis and Osiris. This is not a quick walk-through. You have time to stand in front of the details and understand what you are looking at.

The temple itself sits on an island, which is why the boat ride is necessary and why the setting feels different from the temples on the mainland. The reliefs show specific moments (Isis bringing her husband back to life, the birth of Horus, the mummification ritual), and a guide who knows classical Egyptian mythology can tell you why each one mattered and what the ancient builders were trying to say by placing them where they did. The 2-hour window gives you enough time to explore without feeling rushed, then return to the boat.

After you finish at the temple, the driver brings you back to your accommodation in Aswan. Pickup and drop-off are included, as is the motorboat fare, admission tickets and a bottle of water. The guide speaks English, and you can also arrange the tour in Spanish, French or German at checkout.

What’s included

• Professional Egyptologist guide in your chosen language.
• hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Aswan.
• motorboat fare to Philae Temple.
• temple admission ticket.
• bottle of water.
• all taxes and service charges.

Options for this experience

2 options

With English Guide11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00Includes pickup

Guide available in another languageGuide in Spanish, French or German · 11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00Includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00

Book up toStart time

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Nice tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to understand the mythology behind what you are seeing rather than just walk past it. A private guide means you set the pace and can ask questions about the reliefs without keeping a group waiting, and the 2-hour window is long enough to actually absorb the details instead of racing through.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

What exactly is carved into the walls of Philae Temple that the guide will explain?

Philae Temple's walls contain detailed reliefs depicting Isis mythology: Isis bringing Osiris back to life, giving birth to Horus, and mummifying Osiris after his death. Your Egyptologist guide walks you through these carved scenes and explains their meaning in ancient Egyptian belief and practice.

Do I need to arrange the motorboat to the island myself, or is that included?

The motorboat fare to Philae Temple is included in the tour price. Your driver takes you to the dock in Aswan, and transport to and from the island is part of the package.

How long does the actual time at Philae Temple last, not counting travel?

The tour is 2 hours total, which includes your time exploring the temple with the guide, the boat ride to the island, and return transport to your hotel. You have enough time to walk through the temple and examine the reliefs without rushing.

Can I add a pickup from a different part of Aswan if I'm not staying in the main hotel area?

Standard pickup is from your booked hotel anywhere in Aswan. If you need pickup from Gharb Soheil, The Island, Nagaa al-Mahatta or New Aswan, that can be arranged for an additional 10 USD per person.

What's included in the tour price and what do I need to pay separately?

The tour includes your Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, motorboat fare, temple admission tickets, taxes and service charges, plus a bottle of water. No additional fees apply beyond what you pay at checkout.