Elephantine Island
Ruins of the Temple of Khnum, the Temple of Satet area and a Nilometer
5.0 on TripadvisorPrivate tour Aswan Full-Day City Tour with Elephantine & Nubian Museum
A private full day in Aswan itself: Elephantine Island, the botanical garden by boat, and the Nubian Museum with its garden and Fatimid tombs.
- Duration
- About 7 hours
- Where
- Elephantine, Kitchener's Island, Nubian Museum
- Pick-up
- Hotel or Nile cruise ship in Aswan
- Language
- English (other languages on request)
From, per person$656 or more travellers
- Starts any day
- Free quote, no obligation
- Change anything you like
About this tour
Most visitors see the dam, the obelisk and Philae and leave. This day stays in the city and on the river instead. You start on Elephantine, the island with Aswan's oldest ruins, move by boat to the botanical island, and end at the Nubian Museum, which tells the Nubian story behind the dam.
It suits travellers with a full day in Aswan, people who have already done Philae and the High Dam, and anyone who likes museums and gardens at a gentle pace. It leaves Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk out on purpose, so if you have not seen those, ask about our half-day tour that covers them.
It does not suit travellers who want big monuments only. Elephantine's ruins are modest, and the garden is a place to walk, not to look at carvings.
Aswan Museum
A small museum in a garden on the island, with finds from Nubia and Elephantine
Botanical Island
Lord Kitchener's garden of exotic trees, reached by boat
Nubian Museum
A building of local stone, opened in 1997, set in a large garden
Fatimid tombs
Part of a Fatimid cemetery sits inside the museum garden
How the day runs
- 1
Around 8:30Boat to Elephantine
Your guide and driver collect you and take you to the landing on the Corniche, where a boat crosses to Elephantine, a long island facing the city. The Ministry lists the island's archaeological area as open 8:00 to 16:00 daily.
- 2
MorningRuins and Nilometer
At the southern tip you walk among the remains of the Temple of Khnum, the god of the Nile flood, and the shrine of Satet, the goddess of the southern frontier. The Nilometer is a stairway of about 90 steps cut down to the river, and your guide shows how it was used to read the height of the flood. The Aswan Museum stands nearby, in a garden. Its main building has closed for periods in recent years, so your guide confirms on the day what is open, and if it is shut we spend the time at the ruins instead.
- 3
Late morningKitchener's Island, the botanical garden
A boat takes you to the small island on the far side of Elephantine. Lord Kitchener was given it while he was British consul-general, and with the irrigation ministry he planted it with trees from India and elsewhere. Royal palms and other exotic trees line the paths, and the island is still a botanical research station. We do not rely on a posted opening time for the garden, so we confirm it with the boatman for your date.
- 4
LunchtimeLunch ashore
We stop for lunch at a local restaurant on the Aswan side, then drive to the museum.
- 5
AfternoonThe Nubian Museum
The museum was set up after UNESCO's campaign to save the Nubian monuments. It opened in 1997 and won the Aga Khan Award in 2001. Inside, three floors hold thousands of objects from prehistory to the Islamic period, along with a diorama of Nubian crafts and traditions. The museum is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, with the ticket office closing at 16:00.
- 6
Late afternoonThe garden and the Fatimid cemetery
Outside, the garden holds part of a Fatimid cemetery, a cave with prehistoric rock inscriptions, channels representing the Nile and a rebuilt Nubian house. The domed Fatimid tombs stand beside the Aswan Reservoir road. Your guide explains what Fatimid-era tombs tell us about Aswan, then drives you back to your hotel or ship.
How much does this tour cost?
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $105 |
| 2 travellers | $80 |
| 3 to 5 travellers | $70 |
| 6 or more travellers | $65 |
In US dollars, per person, for a private trip. The price in your written quote, made for your dates and group, is the one that counts. International flights are not included.
What’s included
Included
- Pickup and return from your hotel or Nile cruise ship in Aswan
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to the sites listed
- Boat rides to Elephantine and Kitchener's Island
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Bottled water, taxes and service charges
Not included
- Tips
- Drinks and personal shopping
- Camera-holder tickets, which the Nubian Museum sells separately, and any camera permit a site charges on the day
Booking policies
Important information
Opening times
The Nubian Museum keeps longer hours on Thursday and Friday, when it also opens from 18:00 to 21:00, and in Ramadan it runs from 9:00 to 15:00. We plan around the days, so tell us your date.
Walking
Expect a lot of walking, on paved paths and sandy ground. The island visits mean stepping on and off small boats. If stairs are hard for you, let us know and we will skip the Nilometer.
Heat
Aswan has average highs above 40 °C from June to September. The museum is indoors, which helps in the afternoon, but the island walks are in the open, so bring a hat and water.
Payment and deposit
- Prices are in US dollars and the price in your written quote is the one that counts.
- The deposit is 30 percent of the total price (50 percent for trips that start from 18 December to 5 January).
- The balance is due 15 days before arrival. If you book later than that, the full amount confirms the booking.
- Payment instructions come with your written quote.
Cancellation and refund
Send every cancellation by email so that we can confirm it in writing. The charge is a percentage of the tour price, and anything you paid above it is refunded.
| Days before arrival | Normal dates | 18 Dec to 5 Jan |
|---|---|---|
| Until 61 days | 20% | 35% |
| 60 to 31 days | 35% | 50% |
| 30 to 15 days | 50% | 75% |
| 14 to 1 days, or no-show | 100% | 100% |
A bank and payment fee of 6 percent is deducted from every refund. Full rules: terms and policies.
Children
- Children under 3 travel free.
- Children from 3 to 11.99 years pay 50 percent of the tour price.
- From 12 years, travellers pay the adult price.
Please give the age of every child at the time of travel when you ask for a quote.
Travel tips
Know before you go
Start early
Pickup around 8:00 gets you to the pyramids before the heat and the coach groups.
Wear
Closed shoes, a hat and sunscreen, expect sand, steps and uneven ground.
Extra tickets
Entry inside the Great Pyramid is an optional ticket bought on the day.
Photos
Photos are free outdoors; some tombs charge for cameras. Drones are not allowed.
Traveller reviews
What our travellers say
A Fantastic Tour of Egypt
“The entire trip was seamlessly executed.”
Best tour guide!!
“He made our trip to the pyramids and Alexandria fun and memorable.”
Amazing 2 week trip
“My friends and I spent two weeks in Egypt and he was with us every step of the way.”
FAQ
Questions about this tour
Still unsure? Message us on WhatsApp and a real person from our team will answer.
Is the Fatimid cemetery a separate visit?
Part of one sits inside the Nubian Museum garden, so we visit it as part of the museum stop. A larger Fatimid cemetery, restored by the German Archaeological Institute, lies in another part of Aswan, and we can add it if you ask. We check on the day that it is open to visitors.
Can we reach the botanical garden without a private boat?
The island is reached only by water, and feluccas reach its south-eastern side. Boat transfers are part of this tour, so you do not have to arrange anything on the quayside.
Is Elephantine worth a day if I have seen Luxor and Karnak?
It is smaller and quieter. The reason to go is the Nilometer and the early settlement story, not scale.
Do you visit the Tombs of the Nobles?
Not by default. They are open 7:00 to 16:00 daily and sit on a hill on the west bank, so we can swap them in for the garden if you prefer rock tombs.
Make it a trip
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Before you go
Guides for this trip
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