Aswan is the southernmost city in Egypt which has always been of great strategic importance as it marked the southern gate of Egypt. In the ancient times it was the military base for the campaigns heading to Nubia, plus it was the main source of granite which was widely used for obelisks and statues all over Egypt.

The city gained another importance after building the Aswan Dam in 1902 and then even more when the High Dam was built in 1971. Located about 560 miles (900km) south of Cairo; Aswan is a serene Nile valley destination where the Nile is more majestic than anywhere else, flowing through granite rocks, and around emerald islands covered in palm groves and tropical plants. A tourist may enjoy sailing on a felucca (sail-boat) around the different islands with the migrating birds around.

Moreover; the city has wonderful monuments to visit, Philae tops of all them being built on one of the islands. Other attractions include The unfinished obelisk, the Aghakhan Mausoleum, Elephantine Island, the Nobles tombs and St. Simeon’s monastery. The great temples of Abu Simbel are also considered to be part of the Aswan tour although they are about 175 miles (285 km) to the south, because most tourists get there by either coaches or flights from Aswan.