Elephantine Island in Aswan: Nubian villages, museum and botanical garden in 2026
Elephantine Island is the big Nile island in the heart of Aswan: three Nubian villages with colourful houses, the ruins of the ancient town and the Aswan Museum, founded in the early 20th century. Spend 2 to 3 hours there, after a boat crossing of a few minutes from the corniche. Nearby, Kitchener's Island holds the Aswan Botanical Garden. Prices are to be negotiated: one guide cites at least 50 to 60 EGP for a round trip by felucca (old figure, to confirm); no official ferry fare found. The simplest is a felucca tour that includes both islands, or the private half-day of the city.
Highlights
The ruins and the Nile
The island stretches along the river, with remains of the ancient town in the south.
The island's banks
Feluccas pass along the bank; the light is lovely in the late afternoon.
Practical info
Tips
- Walk through the villages (Koti and Siou) to see the houses, but negotiate everything beforehand: some travellers find the visit very touristy, see also the Nubian village of Aswan. Kitchener's Island is less pleasant on Fridays, when families picnic there. To avoid improvising, book the private half-day "High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae" and add the felucca in the evening: see Aswan.
How to get there
Crossing by ferry or felucca from the Aswan corniche (a few minutes). From Hurghada, see Hurghada to Aswan.
Opening hours
Nearby
See on the map →
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