Philae Temple - Dam - Unfinished Obelisk

Temple of Philae, dam and the quarries of Aswan

Discover the island of Ag ilkia in Lake Nasser with the temple of Philae, the dam and the quarries of the pharaohs

You will be picked up from your hotel or cruise ship and travel to the ancient granite quarries of Aswan.

Many of the stones that were once used to build temples and statues all over Egypt were mined here.

The unfinished obelisk is particularly outstanding.

It would have been the largest and heaviest obelisk ever erected in Pharaonic times.

Before its completion, however, cracks were discovered in the rock and the obelisk was left unfinished in the quarry, where it still lies today.

On this excursion you will also see the Aswan Dam, which dammed the Nile and created today's Lake Nasser.

The Philae Temple would be there today under the surface of the water if this and several other temples had not been demolished in a large-scale rescue operation in the early 1970s and rebuilt true to the original at a higher location.

That's why the temple is no longer on the island of Philae but on the island of Egilkia.

After the sightseeing you will be brought back to your ship or hotel in air-conditioned vehicles .

Important excursion tips:

• Sturdy, comfortable shoes.
• Clothing that covers shoulders and legs to protect against the intense sun, even in winter
• Hat, sunscreen
• Money in local currency for purchasing souvenirs and tips
• Water to drink because even in winter it is quite warm and dry here