Elephantine Island on Aswan
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 5 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Before the city of Aswan was there, Elephantine Island was the site of a pharaonic era trading town called Swenet that used the island and the turbulent waters of the First Cataract as protection from attack. Its location just below the cataract made it an important trade hub, where caravans from the south unloaded their goods to be transported north on the river. Left behind from this pharaonic settlement is the late-pharaonic era Temple of Khnum and other, partially excavated, ruins that are scattered over the rest of the island.
Inclusions
What's included
- Fizzy water and drinks.
- Tourist guide accompanies the group.
- Transport to the whole sights which mentioned
- Transfer in air-conditioned car
What's not
- The fees of entering all the tourist sites.
- Any extra visit not found in itinerary.
- Tipping
Itinerary
According to ancient Egyptian religion, Elephantine was the dwelling place of Khnum, the ram-headed god of the cataracts, who guarded and controlled the waters of the Nile from caves beneath the island. He was worshipped here as part of a late triad of Egyptian deities. This "Elephantine Triad" included Satis and Anuket. Satis was worshipped from very early times as a war goddess and protector of this strategic region of Egypt. When seen as a fertility goddess, she personified the bountiful annual flooding of the Nile, which was identified as her daughter, Anuket. The cult of Satis originated in the ancient city of Aswan. Later, when the triad was formed, Khnum became identified as her consort and, thereby, was thought of as the father of Anuket. His role in myths changed later and another deity was assigned his duties with the river. At that time his role as a potter enabled him to be assigned a duty in the creation of human bodies.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 52
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 2 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is included for everyone.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Luxor Cultural Tours & Package - Egypt 24 Travel
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Aswan
- Its from-price is 32% above the median of the 1751 experiences we list in Aswan.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 470 of 1751.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Aswan
Aswan is Egypt's serene southern city on the Nile, where feluccas glide between granite islands, Nubian villages and palm-fringed riverbanks.
The Nile is at its most beautiful here, broken by granite boulders and green islands. Elephantine Island holds ruins of ancient temples and colourful Nubian villages, Kitchener's Island is covered by a botanical garden, and on the west bank the Tombs of the Nobles are cut into the cliffs of Qubbet el-Hawa, while the domed Mausoleum of the Aga Khan stands on a desert hill further south.
Top-ranked sights in Aswan: Abu Simbel Temples, Philae Temple (Temple of Isis), Aswan High Dam.
Special offers in Aswan
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
