Aswan

Holidays to Aswan, Egypt

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Aswan, Egypt

Aswan is a busy, attractive market city and tourist resort on the east bank of the Nile in the south of Egypt. In ancient Egypt, Aswan was a major centre of commerce and the gateway to the rest of Egypt. Today it remains a bustling trade centre and a strategically important city, as it is the site of the Aswan High Dam.

Aswan makes a great place for a cheap holiday abroad combining culture and history with sunshine and peaceful cruising on the Nile. Whilst Aswan, Egypt has its similarities to Luxor, it is quieter in terms of nightlife and entertainment, and tends to attract fewer tourists to its historic sites. Many Egypt Nile cruises feature both Luxor and Aswan on their itinerary. If you'd rather stay in one city however, you'll find no shortage of Aswan hotels and accommodation options, from budget to four and five star luxury.

Holidays to Aswan

Family holidays to Aswan offer a wide range of things to do, and Aswan is a popular destination for a cheap all inclusive holiday. The weather in Aswan, Egypt is warm and sunny all year round and in fact Aswan is one of the driest places in the world, so makes a great winter sun travel destination.

During your holidays to Aswan, you might like to visit the Aga Khan's Mausoleum and the Tombs of the Nobles (sometimes called the Royal Tombs of Aswan) on the west bank of the Nile. There is also the museum and temple on Elephantine Island in the middle of the Nile, so called as it's believed to have been a major ivory trading centre in the past. There are several historic sites and temples near Aswan but the Unfinished Obelisk, which would have been the largest obelisk ever erected if it had not cracked before it was fully quarried, makes a particularly fascinating visit.

Visit Aswan for a fantastic cheap holiday abroad

Philae in the middle of Lake Nasser is another of Aswan's most popular tourist attractions, and hosts spectacular Sound and Light shows. If you travel to the Lake Nasser area you can also take a boat trip across the peaceful waters to visit Abu Simbel, an archaeological site comprising two massive rock temples - Egypt's most famous monument after the Pyramids.

If you don't fancy an Egypt Nile cruise but would like to see the Nile for just a few hours, you might like to try a felucca sailing trip. You could also take a horse-drawn carriage to one of the most famous hotels in Aswan, namely the Old Cataract Hotel. This was where Agatha Christie wrote ‘Death on the Nile’ and you can have tea on the Terrace with beautiful river views.

Best time to go to Aswan