Elephantine Island & Aswan Botanical Garden by Private Motorboat
4 hours, your own motorboat and Egyptologist, tickets included, pick-up from your Aswan hotel or boat at 08:30.
At a glance
- Departs
- Daily
The short answer
A 4-hour private motorboat tour at Aswan: Elephantine Island ruins and Nilometer, the Nubian villages of Siou and Koti, the Botanical Garden on Kitchener's Island, and a ride past the Aga Khan Mausoleum, with an Egyptologist and tickets.
- New
- Private
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Aswan · Elephantine Island · Aswan Botanical Garden · Nile River
- Includes
- Private pick-up and drop-off at your Aswan hotel or cruise boat · Private motorboat with a boatman · Private Egyptologist guide who speaks English · Entrance tickets for the Elephantine Island ruins and the Botanical Garden · Bottled water
- Guide languages
- English
Best time to go
October to April is mild and pleasant on the water. In summer the morning start avoids the worst heat.
- Arranged by our Aswan office, part of an Egyptian tour operator working since 1988
- Travel licence ETAA 718 (Category A); IATA accredited agent
02Overview
A first look
This is a private 4-hour half day on the Nile at Aswan. A driver and guide collect you at 08:30 and take you to the corniche, where your own motorboat is waiting. You cross to Elephantine Island to see the ruins of the temple of Khnum and the Nilometer, then walk through the colorful Nubian villages of Siou and Koti. After that you visit the Botanical Garden on Kitchener's Island and ride past the Aga Khan Mausoleum and the rocks of the First Cataract. The pace is easy, and the boat keeps you cool. You are back at your hotel or boat at about 12:30.
Background
The facts
Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island lie in the Nile at Aswan, a short motorboat ride from the corniche, near the rocks of the First Cataract.
Named in this entry
Aswan·Elephantine Island·Nilometer·Siou·Kitchener's Island·Aga Khan Mausoleum
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want a calm morning on the Nile with culture and gardens.
Maybe not, if
- Not for anyone who cannot manage boat steps and uneven paths.
What lingers
- 01A private motorboat with a boatman and an English-speaking Egyptologist
- 02The ruins of the temple of Khnum and the Nilometer on Elephantine Island
- 03A walk through the Nubian villages of Siou and Koti
- 04The Botanical Garden on Kitchener's Island
- 05A boat ride past the Aga Khan Mausoleum and the First Cataract rocks
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Private boat and guide
- Easy pace and shady garden
- Tickets included
Things to Consider
- Lunch is not included
- Aga Khan Mausoleum is a view only
Stop by stop
Detailed itinerary
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Private pick-up and drop-off at your Aswan hotel or cruise boat
- Private motorboat with a boatman
- Private Egyptologist guide who speaks English
- Entrance tickets for the Elephantine Island ruins and the Botanical Garden
- Bottled water
Not included
- Gratuities
- Lunch
- Personal expenses
- Entry to the Aga Khan Mausoleum (closed to visitors)
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Bring small notes for crafts in the villages
- 02
Ask your guide about the Nilometer
Before you go
What to pack & wear
Children & families
This is a private trip, so children's prices are set from the ages you enter in your request. There is no minimum age. The boat ride and the garden suit children well, and life jackets are available on request.
Indicative rates only – pricing and departure fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How is this private trip priced?
The price is per person and goes down as your group gets bigger, because the boat, driver and guide are shared among you. It covers the transfers, the motorboat, the Egyptologist and the entrance tickets. Children's prices are set from the ages you give in your request. Prices are provisional until our team confirms.02Can we go inside the Aga Khan Mausoleum?
No. The mausoleum is closed to visitors, so you see it from the boat. It sits on the west bank and looks best from the water.03Do we need to swim?
No. The trip stays on the river and the islands, and no swimming is involved. Non-swimmers are welcome.04What should we wear and bring?
Wear light clothes covering shoulders and knees for the villages, and comfortable walking shoes. Bring a hat, sunscreen and cash for tips and small crafts.05What is the cancellation policy?
A cancellation made three days or more ahead is paid back in full. One made inside three days but outside 24 hours is paid back by half. A later one, or a missed pick-up, is not refunded. Tell us early about any change.06Is this trip private, or will others join us?
It is private. Only your own party travels on the boat, and the Egyptologist guides only you. The maximum party size is 8.
If plans change
Plans change? We make it easy.
- More than 72 hours before your tour: keep the full amount as credit toward future travel with us, or take a refund.
- Between 72 and 24 hours: keep the full amount as credit, or take a partial refund.
- Within 24 hours of the tour, or if you don't show up, we're unable to offer a refund or credit.
- If we ever have to cancel, for weather or anything beyond our control, you lose nothing.
Credit is valid for 12 months from your original travel date and can be used on any tour, cruise or stay with us.Read our full cancellation and refund policy
Continue reading
From the archives
Product ID: EXC-ASW-093388
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