Exploring the History and Natural Beauty of Aswan

Once known as the ancient Egyptian town of Swenett, Aswan was believed to be the first town in Egypt, and an important trade hub that sat at the southern mouth of the life-giving Nile. For an interesting walk through the country’s ancient history as well as a glimpse into one of its more laid-back, paradise-like destinations, a visit to Aswan should be at the top of your list of places to visit in Egypt.

Exploring Ancient Aswan

Aswan is filled with ancient artifacts, monuments, ruins and relics that help exhibit its rich culture and heritage. One of its most famous ancient sites is the island known as Philae. Located in Aswan’s Lake Nasser region, Philae was once home to an ancient Egyptian temple complex that dated back to 362 BC. Though UNESCO moved the entire complex to the neighboring Agilkia Island (due to the construction of the Aswan Dam), Philae is still associated with this ancient religious complex. Filled with temples dedicated to Isis, giant monuments, obelisks, columns and granite buildings, the grandeur and history of this island ranged all the way from the pharaohs to the Caesars.

Another famous archaeological island of Aswan is Elephantine. Located in the middle of the Nile River, this ancient region is know for its Egyptian temples, Nilometers (which measured the river Nile’s clarity and levels during flooding) and the informative Aswan Museum (home to both Nubian artifacts as well as relics discovered on Elephantine Island). For an extremely memorable experience, hire a traditional felucca to ferry you out to this iconic Aswan island- truly one of the region’s most interesting (and picturesque) spots!

Aswan’s West Bank region is home to the rock-hewn Tombs of the Nobles, Qubbet el-Hawa (ancient hieroglyph tombs and Coptic churches) and the 7^th century Monastery of Saint Simeon. One of the most popular ways to explore this region is by camel; don’t be surprised if your Aswan tour guide suggests hiring these desert roamers to show you around this historical destination.

If you’re looking to explore some more local history (and don’t mind getting a bit further out), Aswan is the perfect home base to visit the Abu Simbel Temples. Dating back to the 13^th century BC, these rock-cut UNESCO celebrated monuments are some of the country’s most unique and best-preserved historical sites.

Touring Modern Day Aswan

While Ancient Egypt can keep many a visitor enthralled for days on end, modern Aswan provides some welcome diversions with interesting and enjoyable contemporary visits that can make your stay even more memorable. A visit to the city’s souks alongside an Aswan tour guide is a great way to peer into the domestic veins of the city, selling everything from spices and perfumes to household items and handcrafted treasures. Also an interesting spot to get acquainted with local Nubian communities, visitors can sample Nubian foods, handicrafts, clothing and more. For a further glimpse into Nubian traditions of the area, head to the Aswan Cultural Center where traditional Nubian dances are held every night!

Aswan’s main town offers oases of green spaces at the Ferial Gardens - a picturesque, relaxing and admission-free central stroll, as well as Kitchener’s Island, its beautiful Botanical Gardens boasting hundreds of bird, plant and tree species. Sehel Island (just north of the dam) is home to a number of local Nubian communities and also the world-famous Famine Stela, a carved hieroglyphic rock dating back to 300 BC.

Quite possibly the most famous of Aswan’s modern (and yet ancient) attractions is its “environmental therapy.” Visitors suffering from various rheumatic and dermatological ailments find relief through burying themselves in Aswan’s sands, famed for their remedial qualities.

Along with its therapeutic sands, the town’s near-perfect climate is equally refreshing; blessed with a pleasant winter Aswan is undoubtedly Egypt’s southern paradise getaway.

Image Details and Licenses:https://flic.kr/p/5ZNz5X(kmf164,CC BY-SA 2.0),https://flic.kr/p/2ZZweW (Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/6tc54x(Guillén Pérez,CC BY-ND 2.0),https://flic.kr/p/5fiGZY(Jonathan Khoo,CC BY-NC-ND 2.0),https://flic.kr/p/6oqPvZ(Hagens_world,CC BY-NC-ND 2.0),https://flic.kr/p/8FKad1 (Nasser Nouri,CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)