Top Reasons to Go to Aswan and Lake Nasser

Temples: Beit al-Wali, located at New Kalabsha, is known for its vivid color; Abu Simbel for its monumental statues of Ramses II; and Philae for its Roman influences. Most of the Nubian temples are rarely visited, since they are visible only on a Lake Nasser cruise.

Tombs: Although much less visited than those in the Theban Necropolis, the Tombs of the Nobles on Aswan's West Bank can be visited on an easy day trip across the river and combined with Saint Simeon's Monastery via a short camel trek.

Nubian Culture: During ancient times, Egypt's southern neighbor, Nubia, was sometimes friend, sometimes foe. In modern times, the Nubian people who lived along the Nile Valley south of Aswan developed a culture independent of Arab Egypt, and it lives on in the households of 50,000 Nubians in and around Aswan. This culture is remembered at the Nubia Museum and kept alive in Aswan’s Nubian villages.

River Trips: Popular Nile cruises begin or end in Aswan. For shorter trips in Aswan, the monumental rose-red granite boulders of the cataracts and their associated river islands make for wonderful late-afternoon felucca rides. Aswan is also the jumping-off point for the relaxing trip down Lake Nasser to Abu Simbel.

Birding: The Nile Valley offers a wealth of opportunities for bird-watching. Cattle egrets follow the farmers and herds, but they roost in the riverside trees at night. Heron species are abundant. Pied kingfishers and moorhens make a living on the water; various species of hirundines (swallows and martins) swoop for insects just above the surface, and black kites and ospreys—common raptors—circle the skies above. Along with endemic species, the Nile acts as a major pit stop during the spring and fall journeys of millions of migratory birds.

Relaxation: The pace in Aswan is simply slower than in the rest of the country, and the atmosphere less pushy. Part of Aswan's strong appeal is the chance to simply relax and explore at a less breakneck pace. The smart traveler uses his or her time in Aswan to enjoy the sunset with a drink, have a relaxing sail on a Nile felucca, or make a camel trip along the western bank.