
Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat
Traveler rating
4.7/5
Based on 38 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat worth booking?
Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat is a 5-hour experience in Aswan, Egypt, from $65 per person. It scores 72 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.7/5 rating across 38 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 72 / 100
- Rating
- 4.7/5 (38)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $65 per person
Explore three of Aswan's most popular and well known sites. Walk on the High Dam which separates Lake Nasser from the Nile, be astounded at the size of the Unfinished Obelisk, and enjoy the beauty of Philae Temple's island location. Visit the Philae Temple, built in honor of the goddess Isis Enjoy a visit to the magnificent Unfinished Obelisk View the High Dam of Aswan – a miracle of engineering Marvel at the River Nile from a motor boat Enjoy fantastic aerial views Pickup from a centrally located meeting point Free hotel pickup and drop-off included Hotels/ Nubian guest house / Nubian Motels In Gharb Sohile and West of Aswan Pickup or drop off will be extra 10 usd per person Led by a Friendly and knowledgeable tour guide
What you get
About this experience
Explore three of Aswan's most popular and well known sites. Walk on the High Dam which separates Lake Nasser from the Nile, be astounded at the size of the Unfinished Obelisk, and enjoy the beauty of Philae Temple's island location. Visit the Philae Temple, built in honor of the goddess Isis Enjoy a visit to the magnificent Unfinished Obelisk View the High Dam of Aswan – a miracle of engineering Marvel at the River Nile from a motor boat Enjoy fantastic aerial views Pickup from a centrally located meeting point Free hotel pickup and drop-off included Hotels/ Nubian guest house / Nubian Motels In Gharb Sohile and West of Aswan Pickup or drop off will be extra 10 usd per person Led by a Friendly and knowledgeable tour guide
What's included
Included
- Nile tour by motor boat to visit Phiale temple
- Qualified tour guide (Choose your own language)
- Transport by air-conditioned modern vehicle
- Bottle of water for each participant
- All transfers and pick ups from/ to your hotel or Nile Cruise
- Service , Taxes , Fuel Surcharge , Parking and Landing Fees
Not included
- Entrance fees to all the sightseeing ( 23 USD per adult in total , student and child 50% discount )
- Hotels In Gharb Sohile and West of Aswan Pickup or drop off will be extra...
- Entrance fees
What you'll see and do
Aswan High Dam
Start your day tour in Aswan by getting picked up from your hotel or cruise ship and drive to the High Dam of Aswan, an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960s. From the top of the High Dam you can gaze across Lake Nasser to the Kalabsha temple in the south and the huge power station to the north.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Unfinished Obelisk
Continue to the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries of Aswan, where much of the red granite used for ancient temples and colossi came from. The Unfinished Obelisk still lies where it was carved when a crack was discovered as it was being hewn from the rock. Your qualified Egyptologist guide will explain how the 1 tonne obelisk was carved, and why the crack caused it to be abandoned.
45 minutes here · Admission not included
Temple of Philae
The last of the 3 famous Aswan sites you will see is generally regarded as the best. Philae Temple was carefully moved to its current location (around 500 meters from the original site) when the construction of the High Dam caused surrounding Nile waters to rise. A short motorboat ride takes you to the island, where your guide will take you on a walking tour through the temple before allowing you free time to explore further on your own. Dedicated to the goddess Isis, Philae Temple has a beautiful setting on an island in the river which has been landscaped to match its original site.
120 minutes here · Admission not included
Aswan
After finishing your tour, you'll be dropped off your hotel or Nile cruise in Aswan.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 10 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- ar, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Egypt Best Holidays
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The start and end times for this tour can be flexible to suit your needs
- Please bring: Your Camera , Sunglasses , a hat or head scarf and wear light clothes
- Student card (it gives 50% discount from adult rate for all the Entrance fees in Egypt)
- The Egyptian government accepts only Egyptian pounds for all entrance fees around Egypt
- Lunch is available with different options for extra small cost
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 38 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
8 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
38 verified traveler reviews for Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Amazing Tour and Experience
We had an exceptional experience visiting all three locations. Our tour guide (Aida) was really great and very helpful. She is very knowledgeable of the history of each location and also shared some really important tips for our travel from Aswan to Luxor after the tour was finished. I highly recommend this tour if you are interested in several of the highlights while visiting Aswan.
Response from the operator: Thank-you for taking the time to leave a review. You were a champ! It was a pleasure to show you around.” Stay Safe
via Viator
Tour guide disappointed - Missed 1 of 3 sights due to guide's late start
We were disappointed by the tour guide's, Ida, lack of guiding. For starters, she requested a later start than scheduled that caused us to miss one of the sights. At Philae Temple, she spent some time explaining what we were seeing and then spent the rest of the time on a bench on her phone. At the Unfinished Obelisk, unlike the other tour guides who accompanied their guests, she, again, sat in the shade and on her phone. We missed the dam completely as we ran out of time due to the late start. I recommend visiting Philae Temple, but unable to provide feedback on the dam. The obelisk may have had more significance had Ida done her job and explained everything we saw.
Response from the operator: Dear Valued Guest , Regarding to a complain from the valued guest 1_ late start , we started 9.00 a.m after arranging with the guest, not 3 hours delay and we spent our time at all sights without rushing. 2_ I offered them to go to the dam but they refused saying that it’s too hot for them and also they have to go to the boat having lunch as they booked a tour to the Nubian village at 2:30pm and that was a bout 12.45 p.m and I mentioned clearly that the dam tour never take more than 45 minutes but they insisted not to go. 3_ Regarding using phone I didn’t have so much time for that. I only used it once in the free time while they were taking photos and that didn't affect the guiding or explaining time and the reason for this to answer the operator who make sure that the guest making their tour in a smooth way it was no problem for me at all to go to the dam as there were a couple with them in the group they said they wanted to go to the dam we got them another car and I went with them The other couple asked to write a good review about the tour as they enjoyed it very much , they already know that the tour is around 5 hours and after the tour they send request for refund which is totally refused How come in the same group 2 enjoyed very much and didn’t complain about anything ( they asked to write a good review about me) and some other they complained Thanks indeed and Kind Regards
via Viator
Good experience
Tour guide Elia is a very friendly and good guide. We enjoyed our time. He did not pressure us to give tips unlike other guides.
Response from the operator: Thank-you for taking the time to leave a review. You were a champ! It was a pleasure showing you around.” Stay Safe :) , Egypt Best Holidays
via Viator
Great Tour With The Tour Guide!
Aida George was my tour guide for this tour. She was very knowledgeable and well versed. I had a wonderful time! Thank you for making my trip to Egypt very very memorable! So worth it!
Response from the operator: Thank-you for taking the time to leave a review. You were a champ! It was a pleasure showing you around.” Stay Safe :) , Egypt Best Holidays
via Viator
Diverse and interesting half day tour
Three very different parts to the tour. Temple of Philae is magnificent, the unfinished obelisk was really interesting and the dam and the impact on the local community was fascinating. Michael was a great host -knowledgeable, articulate and he took a lot of stress out of the ticket purchases and boat hire. Would highly recommend
Response from the operator: Thank-you for taking the time to leave a review. You were a champ! It was a pleasure showing you around.” Stay Safe :) , Egypt Best Holidays
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $65 to $115
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 13
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by Egypt Best Holidays, who run 10 experiences we rank across 4 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 66.5.
See everything Egypt Best Holidays runsWhy this scores 72
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Aswan.
How much does Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat cost?
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Prices start at $65 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Aswan usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat take?
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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Aswan is not rushed.
Is Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 72 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.7/5 across 38 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Aswan, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat?
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Around 13 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Aswan can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Aswan and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Aswan within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Aswan?
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On Outty we rank every Aswan experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure, 4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor - Private Tour, 4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel+Balloon. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Aswan?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Aswan?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat?
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Included: Nile tour by motor boat to visit Phiale temple; Qualified tour guide (Choose your own language); Transport by air-conditioned modern vehicle; Bottle of water for each participant; and All transfers and pick ups from/ to your hotel or Nile Cruise. Not included: Entrance fees to all the sightseeing ( 23 USD per adult in total , student and child 50% d; Hotels In Gharb Sohile and West of Aswan Pickup or drop off will be extra..; and Entrance fees. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 33 listed pickup locations in and around Aswan. Be ready about 10 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat offered in?
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It is offered in Arabic and English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Aswan. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Aswan: Guided Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Motorboat?
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Across 38 reviews averaging 4.7 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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