Philae Temple and High Dam tour from Aswan: private guide

The dam has a tower you climb to see the whole valley; the temple sits on an island you reach by motorboat.

A private guided tour in Aswan covers the Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple, with a guide who meets you at the dam's ticket booth and accompanies you up the tower, then takes you by motorboat to the temple on the Nile. The tour runs about three and a half hours, includes private air-conditioned transport, a guide in English or Spanish, and a bottle of mineral water; children from age one are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple

• Meet guide at ticket booth
• Visit Aswan High Dam tower
• Travel by motorboat to Philae Temple
• Explore Philae Temple and learn history
• Provide mineral water and wifi during trip

The Experience

You're free for an afternoon in Aswan and want to see the two main sights without arranging the logistics yourself. The guide meets you at the High Dam ticket booth and walks you up the tower level by level, pointing out what you see at each stop—the reservoir, the valley, the scale of the structure. Private transport gets you there and back, so you're not negotiating taxis or joining a group van.

After the dam, you head to the motorboat dock. The boat takes you out to Philae Temple, which sits on an island in the Nile. The guide walks you through the temple and explains its history—the goddesses and gods carved into the walls, why it was moved to this island, what the inscriptions say. This is the temple of Isis, and the guide covers the mythology and the archaeology as you move through the rooms.

The whole day is paced so you're not rushed between stops. You get mineral water during the trip and WiFi access the whole time. The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters in Aswan heat. A guide in English or Spanish travels with you from start to finish, so you're not reading plaques or guessing at what you're looking at—someone who knows the sites is explaining as you go.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transport.
• a guide in English or Spanish who stays with you the whole trip.
• entry fees and taxes to both sites.
• a bottle of mineral water during the tour.
• WiFi access throughout.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Luxor Cultural Tours & Package - Egypt 24 Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both sites in one afternoon with a private guide and air-conditioned transport included—no need to coordinate separate logistics.

Top questions

What exactly is Philae Temple and why is it on an island?

Philae Temple is an ancient Egyptian temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, originally built on the riverbank but relocated to the island of Agilkia in the 1970s when the Aswan High Dam was constructed and the water level rose. The temple was carefully moved stone by stone to preserve it from flooding, and now sits on the island where you reach it by motorboat during the tour.

Do I climb the Aswan High Dam, or just look at it from the ground?

The Aswan High Dam tour includes climbing the tower—your guide meets you at the ticket booth and accompanies you up, explaining what you see at each level of the structure as you go higher.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs about three and a half hours total, including transport between the dam and the temple, time at each site, and the motorboat ride to the island.

Is the motorboat ride included, or do I pay extra to get to Philae Temple?

The motorboat to Philae Temple is included in the tour price—transport by boat is part of the itinerary, and your guide travels with you.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes private air-conditioned transport, the guide in English or Spanish for the entire trip, all entry fees and taxes, and a bottle of mineral water for each person.

Can I bring young children on this tour?

Yes, children are welcome from age one—infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available if you need one.