Private Elephantine Island and Botanical Garden Boat Tour from Aswan
About 4 hours, private motorboat and Egyptologist guide, ruins, Nubian villages and gardens on the Nile.
At a glance
- Departs
- Daily
The short answer
A private four-hour motorboat tour at Aswan with an Egyptologist guide: Elephantine Island ruins and Nilometer, the Nubian villages of Siou and Koti and the Botanical Garden on Kitchener's Island.
- New
- Private
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Aswan · Elephantine Island · Aswan Botanical Garden · Nile River
- Includes
- Pick-up from and return to your Aswan hotel or cruise boat · A private motorboat with a boatman · An English-speaking Egyptologist for your party · Tickets for the Elephantine Island ruins and the Botanical Garden · Bottled water on the boat
- Guide languages
- English
Best time to go
October to April is the most comfortable. In summer, the morning start and the river breeze help with the heat.
- Licensed Egyptian tour operator, founded in 1988
- An Aswan office on hand locally
02Overview
A first look
This is a private morning on the Nile at Aswan, mostly by motorboat. Your Egyptologist guide collects you at 08:30 from your hotel or cruise boat, and you board your own boat at the corniche. You visit Elephantine Island, with its temple ruins and the Nilometer, walk through the Nubian villages of Siou and Koti, then cross to the Botanical Garden on Kitchener's Island. The ride home passes the Aga Khan Mausoleum and the granite rocks of the First Cataract. You are back at about 12:30. The pace is easy, and you do not need to swim.
Background
The facts
Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island lie in the Nile at Aswan, a short boat ride from the corniche. The First Cataract rocks and the Aga Khan Mausoleum are close by.
Named in this entry
Temple of Khnum·Siou and Koti Nubian villages·Kitchener's Island Botanical Garden·First Cataract of the Nile
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Families, couples and non-swimmers who want a gentle morning on the Nile with some history.
Maybe not, if
- Not suitable for wheelchair users, because of boat access and uneven paths.
What lingers
- 01Your own private motorboat and boatman on the Nile
- 02On Elephantine Island, what is left of Khnum's temple and the Nilometer beside it
- 03Time on foot in Siou and Koti, the island's Nubian villages
- 04Kitchener's Island and its Botanical Garden
- 05The boat passes below the Aga Khan Mausoleum and between the granite boulders of the First Cataract
- 06A private Egyptologist guide who speaks English
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Private boat, guide and car
- Mix of history, villages and gardens
- Cooler on the water in summer
Things to Consider
- The Aga Khan Mausoleum cannot be entered
- You buy your own lunch
Stop by stop
Detailed itinerary
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Pick-up from and return to your Aswan hotel or cruise boat
- A private motorboat with a boatman
- An English-speaking Egyptologist for your party
- Tickets for the Elephantine Island ruins and the Botanical Garden
- Bottled water on the boat
Not included
- Tips for your guide and boatman
- Lunch or any meal
- Anything you buy for yourself
- Entry to the Aga Khan Mausoleum, which is closed to visitors
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Ask permission before photographing people in the villages
- 02
Carry small notes for tips and any craft purchases
Before you go
What to pack & wear
Children & families
Children are welcome and are counted in your party size. The boat ride and gentle walks suit most ages. Please give their ages when you book so we can check life jackets are available.
These fares are a guide, as prices and departure move through the year. Do ask us and we will confirm the fare for the days you have in mind.
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Is this boat trip private?
Yes. Your party has its own motorboat, boatman and Egyptologist. Up to eight people can travel in one party.02Can I go inside the Aga Khan Mausoleum?
No. The mausoleum is closed to visitors, so you see it from the river as the boat passes. Your guide tells its story.03Do I need to swim?
No. You stay on the boat and the islands, and there is no swimming. The trip suits non-swimmers.04Does the price cover lunch?
No. The trip ends at about 12:30. Your guide can recommend a riverside place for lunch if you want to eat afterwards.05May I take photographs in the Nubian villages?
Yes, but please ask people before you photograph them. Your guide can help with introductions.06How does cancelling work?
Cancel three or more days before for a full refund. Cancel one or two days before and we refund half. There is no refund on the day or if you miss your pick-up.
If plans change
Plans change? We make it easy.
- More than 72 hours before your tour: keep the full amount as credit towards a future holiday with us, or take a refund.
- Between 72 and 24 hours beforehand: hold on to the whole amount as credit, or have part of it refunded.
- Within 24 hours of the tour, or if you don't turn up, we're unable to offer a refund or credit.
- Should we ever have to cancel, because of the weather or anything else beyond our control, you won't lose a penny.
Credit stays valid for 12 months from your original travel date and can go towards any tour, cruise or stay with us.See the complete terms for cancelling and refunds
Continue reading
From the archives
Product ID: EXC-ASW-093388
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