Hi sweeties,
It’s been almost two months now since I came back from Aswan and as many of you followed along my trip through my Instagram stories, I decided to write an article about the whole thing. We stayed in Aswan between 24 – 29 November 2018.
Day 1: Let’s go to Aswan!
Yes, today is the day! We’re finally going to Aswan. This trip was something that my husband and I were really looking forward to since it was the first time to visit the city for both of us. Some of my husband’s roots are in Aswan, but he had never been there himself. After a quick one hour flight we arrived at the very small airport of Aswan. After a short power outage we got our luggage and we finally made way to our hotel “Mövenpick Resort Aswan”.
This hotel is located on ‘Elephantine Island’ which means you have to take a boat to get to the hotel; but no worries, Mövenpick has its own boats to transport their guests back and forth. We booked a double room with Nile view and let me tell you, the view was amazing.
After unpacking our bags we decided not to leave the hotel anymore and just spend the last couple of hours before sunset by the pool. In the evening we had dinner at the buffet restaurant, together with my in-law’s who came with us to Aswan.
Day 2: High Dam + Temple of Philae
Wake up, breakfast and ready to go! Our first stop of the day was the Aswan High Dam ( built between 1960 and 1970 to control flooding better, provide increased water storage for irrigation and generate hydroelectricity). It took us about half an hour to get there from the hotel and honestly, you will only spend half an hour on the dam as well. The views are amazing (great for taking pictures) but that’s about it.
Then, on our way back to the hotel, we stopped at a little harbor to take a private boat to the Temple of Philae. I was really looking forward to visit this temple since I’d seen so many amazing photos about it on social media. So what is this Temple you wonder? → This large temple complex, relocated to the island of Agilika with the building of the High Dam in Aswan, features the magnificent Temple of Isis that was built in the late Ptolemaic and early Roman periods. The whole site actually exists of two temples; one that is closed with rooms full of hieroglyphs and the other temple is totally open.
Day 3: Nubian style boat trip on the Nile
Our third day in Aswan was going to be a calmer day. We drove to a small village at the West Bank; that’s where we got on our private Nubian style boat. This trip took us about two hours and it’s something that you should definitely do when visiting Aswan. The boat took us around the little Islands on the Nile, passing things like for example the villa from Mohamed Mounir (famous Egyptian singer) and hotels as our own and the super fancy Sofitel Old Cataract. After finishing this fun trip we had lunch at the Arti Ka hotel; right where we got on our boat in the first place. It’s a very cute Nubian location right next to the nile where people can have drinks or even have a lovely lunch/dinner.
Day 4: let’s go visit a souk, they said. It will be fun, they said.
Well, not as much ‘they said’ as ‘I said’, since it was kinda my idea to visit a local souk. I have always wanted to visit a souk, especially after watching Sex and The City in Abu Dhabi where the souks were amazing. Well, this one was nothing like it. This souk was open, next to a very busy street and honestly, did not look clean at all. I think we spent about half an hour there and then we decided that it had been enough. People started yelling my husband’s name (since he’s known from the national football team here in Egypt) and kept coming to him for pictures and we couldn’t move forward really. We were all feeling hot so we called it a day and spent all afternoon by the hotel pool.
Day 5: staycation aka stay by the pool all day yay yay
Well, this was our last full day in Aswan. We didn’t have any visits planned anymore and since it was H O T we made it a ‘stay all day by the pool’ day. Lucky for us there were only two other couples at the pool so we had a very relaxing day. Until now I miss the amazing fruit salad they served in the hotel. Yes, me, eating a fruit salad. It happens! This fruit salad would convert any non fruit eater into a fruit lover. By the way, when your in Aswan, don’t forget to drink ‘karkade’ or hibiscus juice. It is my favorite Egyptian drink.
Day 6: Back to Cairo? Already?
Well, all good things come to an end, don’t they? After another quick flight we made it back to Cairo. Honestly you guys, I loved this trip. Egypt has always been my favorite holiday destination and I’m so glad I finally was able to discover more of it. I hope by reading this article I made you excited about going to Aswan yourself! So what’s next? Maybe Luxor next year?
If you’re interested in some video footage from this trip, please check my IGTV (@thatgirlnamedbibi).
XOXO
thatgirlnamedbibi 