Unfinished Obelisk
A granite obelisk still attached to the bedrock, stopped by a crack
5.0 on TripadvisorPrivate tour Philae, High Dam & Unfinished Obelisk Day Tour
A private half day in Aswan around one idea: how stone was moved, abandoned and rescued. The Unfinished Obelisk, the High Dam and Philae by boat.
- Duration
- About 5 hours
- Where
- Aswan quarries, High Dam, Philae
- Pick-up
- Hotel or Nile cruise ship in Aswan
- Language
- English (other languages on request)
From, per person$906 or more travellers
- Starts any day
- Free quote, no obligation
- Change anything you like
About this tour
This is the classic Aswan morning, and it has a thread running through it. At the granite quarry you see an obelisk that cracked before it could be lifted. At the High Dam you see what Egypt built in the 1960s to control the Nile. At Philae you see what had to be saved because of that dam: a whole temple complex taken apart and put back together on higher ground.
It suits first-time visitors to Aswan, travellers staying on a Nile ship who have only one morning in port, and families with children who can handle a short boat ride and some walking on uneven ground. It is less of a fit if you want museums, markets or a long stay at one site. For that, see our Aswan full-day city tour.
Aswan High Dam
The viewpoint over Lake Nasser and the Arab-Soviet Friendship monument
Philae by boat
A short crossing to Agilkia Island
Temple of Isis
Begun under Ptolemy II, with the birth house showing Isis nursing Horus
Trajan's Kiosk
The roofless pavilion by the water
How the day runs
- 1
Around 8:00Pickup and the granite quarries
Your guide and driver collect you at your hotel or ship. The first stop is the northern granite quarries, where the Unfinished Obelisk lies in the rock. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities says it was probably ordered by Hatshepsut for Karnak and abandoned when flaws and cracks appeared in the stone.
- 2
MorningThe Unfinished Obelisk
Finished, it would have stood about 42 metres tall and weighed roughly 1,168 tonnes, which would have made it the tallest ancient Egyptian obelisk. Your guide walks you around the quarry and shows where the crack runs, which is why the work stopped. The site is open from 7:00 to 16:00 every day.
- 3
Late morningThe Aswan High Dam
Construction began in 1960 and the dam was completed in 1970. It is 3,830 metres long and 111 metres high, and it holds back Lake Nasser, which is more than 500 km long. Your guide talks through why it was built, and about the 100,000 to 120,000 Nubians who were resettled when the lake filled. There is a viewpoint on the dam and the Lotus-shaped Arab-Soviet Friendship monument stands nearby.
- 4
Around middayBy boat to Philae
At the Philae landing you take a short boat ride to Agilkia Island, about 500 metres from where the temples first stood. The complex was moved in the late 1970s in pieces of 2 to 25 tonnes, about 40,000 of them, and set on ground raised 12.4 metres above the original site. Your guide points out the rebuilt stones as you approach.
- 5
Early afternoonTemples of Isis and Hathor, Trajan's Kiosk
The Temple of Isis was begun under Ptolemy II and stayed active until the reign of Justinian I. A priest carved the last dated hieroglyphic inscription at the site here in 394 AD. Look for the birth house, with its scene of Isis nursing Horus, the Temple of Hathor, and the roofless Kiosk of Trajan at the water's edge.
- 6
AfternoonBack to Aswan
The boat takes you back to the landing and the car returns you to your hotel or ship. We do not add shopping stops unless you ask for one.
How much does this tour cost?
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $145 |
| 2 travellers | $115 |
| 3 to 5 travellers | $100 |
| 6 or more travellers | $90 |
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 Unfinished Obelisk and Philae
- Return boat ride to Philae
- Bottled water, taxes and service charges
Not included
- Tips
- Lunch and drinks
- Optional extras such as a camel ride or shopping stops
Booking policies
Important information
Timing
Both Philae and the quarry are open from 7:00 to 16:00, so the day is built to finish at Philae by mid-afternoon at the latest. That is why pickup is early.
Heat
Aswan is very hot in summer. Average highs stay above 40 °C from June to September, and in the cooler months they are still above 23 °C. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a refillable bottle, and ask us to start earlier in summer.
Wear
Closed, flat shoes. The quarry floor is rough granite and Philae has uneven stone paths and a few steps. Shoulders and knees covered is respectful on the temple grounds.
Tips
Tips for the guide and driver are not included. The boat crew at Philae usually expect a small tip too, so bring some small notes.
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.
Why was the Unfinished Obelisk never finished?
Cracks appeared in the granite while it was still joined to the bedrock, so the quarrymen stopped. It was left where it lay and was uncovered again in the early 20th century.
Is Philae on an island?
Yes. The temples now stand on Agilkia Island, a short boat ride from the mainland landing, because the original island was flooded after the dams were built. The boat is part of the visit.
Can I do this tour after a late arrival on a Nile ship?
Yes, as long as we reach Philae well before it closes at 16:00. Tell us your docking time and we will re-order the stops to fit.
Is this tour hard on small children?
The walking is moderate and the boat ride is short. The long part is the heat at midday, so for children we usually suggest starting earlier and keeping the High Dam stop brief.
Make it a trip
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Before you go
Guides for this trip
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