Aswan tour: Philae Temple, High Dam & Unfinished Obelisk

Three monuments spanning ancient Egypt's stone work and Ptolemaic devotion

A private four-and-a-half-hour tour of Aswan visits the Philae Temple on Agilka island, dedicated to Isis; the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries, which would have weighed over 1,100 tons; and the Aswan High Dam. Hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water, and an air-conditioned vehicle are included. A guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language of your choice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Philae TempleEntry included3h
2. Unfinished ObeliskEntry included1h 30m
3. Aswan High DamEntry included1h

Visit Aswan's key historical sites

• Explore Temple of Philae on Agilka Island
• See the Unfinished Obelisk at granite quarries
• Visit Aswan High Dam

The experience

Four and a half hours takes you through three separate sites that show how ancient Egyptians sourced and shaped stone on a monumental scale. The granite quarries where the Unfinished Obelisk still rests hold the answer to how temples and pyramids were built: the stone itself never left the site, abandoned mid-extraction when a flaw appeared in the granite. At over 1,100 tons, it would have been the largest single piece of stone ever moved if the work had finished. The quarry is where you stand and see the scale of the ambition.

Philae Temple sits on the island of Agilka, dedicated to Isis, the sister and wife of Osiris and the patroness of Ptolemaic rule. The temple's island location and its religious purpose make it distinct from the engineering feat of the quarries. The Aswan High Dam, Egypt's modern answer to building on a monumental scale, rounds out the three stops and shows how the Nile itself was harnessed in the twentieth century. Private transport moves you between all three, and hotel pickup means no arranging your own way to the starting point.

The guide travels with your group and speaks the language you choose at booking. Children from age five are welcome. Bottled water comes with the tour. Entrance fees to the sites are separate and paid on arrival.

What’s included

• Private transportation between the three sites.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• an air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water.
• a private guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language of your choice.

Information

Lasts 4h 30m, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 85.90 per person, with live guides in 6 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate1 group tour ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 33 pickup points.

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Twitter Egypt Travel

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want to move at your own pace between three distinct sites without sharing transport or a guide with other travelers. The four-and-a-half-hour span fits a morning or afternoon in Aswan without dominating the full day.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

5 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Unfinished Obelisk and why is it still in the quarry?

The Unfinished Obelisk is a massive piece of granite, over 1,100 tons, that was being extracted from Aswan's quarries in ancient times, possibly intended as a companion to the Lateran Obelisk originally at Karnak. A flaw appeared in the stone during extraction and the work stopped, leaving it where it lay thousands of years ago. It would have been the world's largest piece of stone ever handled if completed and transported.

Who was the Philae Temple dedicated to and why?

Philae Temple was dedicated to Isis, the sister and wife of Osiris in Egyptian mythology, and she was also the patroness of Ptolemaic rule. The temple sits on the island of Agilka and reflects the religious significance of Isis in the later periods of ancient Egypt.

How does the Aswan High Dam fit into this tour?

The Aswan High Dam is included as the third stop and represents Egypt's modern engineering on a monumental scale, contrasting with the ancient stone work at the quarries and temple. It shows how the Nile itself was harnessed in the twentieth century.

Will I need to arrange my own transport to start the tour?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Aswan are included, and you travel between all three sites in a private air-conditioned vehicle with your guide.