Overview
Aswan is the largest in the far south of Egypt and a favorite base from which travelers have set out to visit and explore these ruins for thousands of years. And of all of the temple ruins reachable from Aswan, Abu Simbel is by far the largest and most famous of them all.Although they are almost as far apart from one another as are Aswan and Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel are almost always linked together because it is rare for a visitor to visit one without next visiting the other. In fact for Abu Simbel, it is virtually impossible to visit this site without first going through Aswan together there, whether one goes by road or by air. Aswan is not only a convenient base for explorations of the far south of Egypt; indeed, it is a necessary gateway to this region.
Sights
Map
Info
If you’re into photography or even just like finding Instagrammable scenes, you can easily spend a few hours in the Nubian Village doing photo shoots of yourself and the colorful walls, doors, and vistas, both interior and exterior. Don’t be afraid to wander inside of places if their doors are open. Many restaurants and cafes have nooks, stairways, and terraces that make some of the most incredible shots you’ll find. It’s also nice to plan to have lunch there too, but if you’re going to be more than about three hours in total just make sure you are clear with the boat driver that takes you there about when you expect to be ready to leave. Sometimes it can be difficult to find a boat back if you’ve only arranged for one-way transportation to the village from downtown Aswan.
