Aswan tours at a glance
Most Aswan day tours are built from three separate stops: the island temple of Philae, the High Dam and the unfinished obelisk in the quarry. Each stop is its own place with its own entry. Philae also needs a boat leg on top of the road transfer.
A "combo" tour here means stops planned together. The entrances are separate tickets unless the offer says they are included, so read what is covered before you compare prices. This page also covers the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo and the Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan.
Our picks: Aswan tours with Philae
The group half day is the simple choice for Philae alone; the High Dam combinations make sense if you also want the Unfinished Obelisk. Entry tickets are included in some of them and optional or to be clarified in others, which each card says.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, Philae and a Nubian village
- All entry tickets
- Philae motorboat
- Egyptologist guide
Six hours that combine the dam, the obelisk, the temple island and a Nubian village in one trip, with hotel pickup and return.
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High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae, private tour
- Motorboat to Philae
- English-speaking guide
- Hotel pickup and return
Four hours with transport, a guide and the motorboat to Philae. Entry tickets are included only with the matching option.
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Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk and High Dam
- Entry tickets
- Guide
- Private air-conditioned car
Four hours by private car with a guide, the entry tickets and a bottle of water. Ask whether the boat to Philae is included before you book.
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Philae Temple half-day group tour
- English-speaking guide
- Boat to Philae
- Hotel pickup and return
A shared half day at Philae with a guide and the boat across to the island. Entry tickets are included only if you choose that option.
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Philae Temple and High Dam half-day tour
- Egyptologist guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
A guided drive to Philae and the High Dam with an English-speaking Egyptologist. Ask whether entry tickets and the boat to Philae are included before you book.
Check availability →Aswan day tours and Philae trips
Half-day Philae visits, full days with the High Dam and the obelisk, and trips to Edfu and Kom Ombo, with live prices and availability.
Aswan day tours compared by stop
What each place is and what the entrance costs in 2026.
| Stop | What it is | Foreign adult / student |
|---|---|---|
| Philae Temple | Temple complex of Isis on Agilkia Island, reached by boat | EGP 550 / EGP 275 |
| Unfinished obelisk | A huge obelisk still in the granite quarry | EGP 220 / EGP 110 |
| Aswan High Dam | Dam wall and view over Lake Nasser | Check the current entrance on the day |
| Edfu Temple | Temple of Horus on the west bank of the Nile | EGP 550 / EGP 275 |
| Kom Ombo Temple | Double temple for Sobek and Horus the Elder | EGP 450 / EGP 225 |
For most visitors with one day, Philae plus the High Dam is the standard pairing, with the obelisk added if time allows. Edfu and Kom Ombo are better as their own trip on the way to or from Luxor.
Philae by boat
The one stop that needs a crossing.
The temple is open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last entry at 3 p.m. On a tour, the drive to the landing at Marina Philae (Shellal) and the crossing of 10 to 15 minutes each way are usually part of the plan. If you go on your own, the boat is paid separately and priced per boat. The tickets and boat page has the steps and the rules on the island.
Which tour type suits you
- Half-day Philae tour: suits you if you want the temple without the haggling at the landing.
- Full day with the High Dam and obelisk: suits a first day in Aswan.
- Evening visit with the show: suits you if you already saw the temple by day. See the show page.
The High Dam and the unfinished obelisk
Two stops that most Aswan day tours add to Philae.
The High Dam
Work began on 9 January 1960, the structure was finished in mid-July 1970 and the official inauguration was on 15 January 1971. The dam is 111 m high, with a crest 3,830 m long and 40 m wide. Lake Nasser behind it is about 500 km long. Take photos only where it is clearly allowed, because military and sensitive infrastructure is off limits.
High Dam guide →The unfinished obelisk
The obelisk lies in the quarry, probably ordered by Hatshepsut, and was abandoned because of cracks in the granite. Entry is EGP 220 for foreign adults and EGP 110 for students. The unfinished obelisk has its own guide.
Edfu and Kom Ombo
The two temples sit on the Nile route between Aswan and Luxor. Edfu is the temple of Horus, and Kom Ombo is a double temple. Entry for each is in the table above.
Edfu and Kom Ombo →Plan the order of your day
Opening times decide the sequence.
Morning: Philae
The temple opens at 7 a.m. and the last entry is at 3 p.m. Going first keeps you ahead of the midday heat on the open stone, which gets strong from late spring. See the weather page for monthly highs.
Midday: the dam and the quarry
The dam and the quarry are separate stops, each with its own entrance. Add the obelisk if you have time left after Philae.
Edfu
The Edfu timetable ends at 5 p.m. every day and starts at 6 a.m. or 7 a.m., depending on the day. Do not count on a late visit.
Kom Ombo
Kom Ombo is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., which makes it the easier stop for the end of a day. A vehicle ticket applies to your ride: EGP 25 for a car or taxi, EGP 50 for a microbus, EGP 75 for a coaster and EGP 100 for a bus.
Nile cruises and Abu Simbel
Longer trips that start from Aswan.
Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan run in both directions and usually take 3 to 7 nights. That alone does not say how often a boat leaves or what a cruise includes, so compare each offer. For a cruise guide, see Luxor to Aswan by Nile cruise. Abu Simbel is a separate long trip with its own guide at abusimbel.org.
To plan how many days you need in town, see things to do in Aswan and the weather page.
Aswan tours: frequently asked questions
Which Aswan day tour suits most visitors?
For most visitors it is Philae plus the High Dam, with the unfinished obelisk added if you have time. Choose a half-day Philae tour if you only want the temple.
Are entrance fees included in Aswan tours?
It depends on the offer. Each site has its own entrance, and a combo means stops planned together. Check whether the temple ticket and the boat are stated as included.
Is there one ticket for Philae and the High Dam?
There is no combined ticket. Philae and the obelisk have their own entrance prices, and a tour may bundle them into one price.
How long does a Philae visit take?
The boat crossing takes 10 to 15 minutes each way. Add the time on the island, and arrive before the last entry at 3 p.m.
Can I do these stops on my own?
Yes. Philae needs a taxi to the landing and a boat, which is priced per boat. A tour is simpler if you want the transport arranged.
How much does the unfinished obelisk cost?
In 2026 foreign adults pay EGP 220 and students EGP 110.