Deluxe Egypt Tours organized a customized tour including all transfers and 2 separate guides in Cairo, Aswan and Abu Simbel. Emad, our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of information but also enough time to explore on our own. He was always on time and arranged all the small details to make our trip really enjoyable. His English is perfect! Thank you so much Emad!
The Tour Guide - Mohamed Aswany - made the trip to Abu Simbel really entertaining. I was travelling with a friend of mine from Aswan and he was waiting for us on time at the Aswan Train Station.
Despite the long journey to Abu Simbel, the temple is really worth it and Aswany made the ride really entertaining. He is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his job which definitely comes across and kept us both engaged.
I would recommend taking the trip to Abu Simbel with Aswany.
I had an amazing time with Mohamed (aka Mr. Aswany - you’ll know he is a renowned guide because he knows everyone everywhere you go!). He picked me up at my hotel at 5AM in a brand new Hyundai Sedan, driven by the incredible Mahmud. The car was very comfortable and with adequate leg room, curtains so you can sleep a while before the sun rises over the desert. He gave me some introduction information about the temples as we passed through the checkpoints to get out of Aswan and soon we were off into the desert, where I could take a much needed nap. I woke up to see the sun rise over the horizon, and we were about an hour or so from Abu Simbel.
Mohamed was very nice to answer the questions I had about the temple’s reconstruction in the 60’s, and gave me really helpful info about Pharaonic Egypt and where Abu Simbel fits into its history. Once we got to the site, Mohamed and I had a hearty and delicious breakfast of falafel sandwiches - which kept me full for the long day ahead! Guides are not allowed inside of the temple, which Mohamed explained, so he told me everything I needed to know about what I would see inside Ramses the Great’s temple and his favorite wife Nefertari’s temple outside with the aid of a photo book. I spent some time wondering around inside of the temple, and it was not too crowded and the perfect temperature for an early January day. The view of the temples on Lake Nasser was spectacular, and you can see the lines from the temples’ reconstruction. There is a door to access the dome of the artificial mountain which was constructed through UNESCO’s efforts, which was not open at the time I visited but Mohamed said maybe next time I come back maybe there will be a way in! After about an hour or so meandering through the temples we set off back to Aswan City, making a rest stop for coffee and to admire the mirage forming in the desert with the heat of the day. Mr. Mo Ali, owner of Deluxe tours, was very kind to speak with my over the phone on the way back to make sure I was having a good time.
Mohamed asked what I would do for the rest of the day, since it was about 1pm and I told him I had plans. He recommended I see Philae, his favorite site - which would be on the way back. Boy am I glad I decided to go! We reached Philae boat landing on the way back into the city, around 1:30pm and descended to the boat landing where we took a very clean and spacious boat across the water to Philae Island. We must have arrived at the perfect time of day because there were almost no other tourists so we could enjoy the temple in peace. He explained the history of the temple - how it was also moved, why it was dedicated to Ptlomey, and its history in Roman times in terms of the temple’s use as a Coptic Christian inhabitation site. As we walked through the temple, Mohamed illuminated some of the hieroglyphs which explained dedication of the Temple to Isis - and why it was located on that island, across where Osiris’ tomb supposedly lies. As per my interest, Mohamed also described how the temple was transferred, piece by piece, from being almost completely submerged at another island where it had been until the 80’s. After a leisurely ride back on the motorboat, Mahmud picked us up and dropped me back at the front doors of my hotel. I give this tour my highest recommendation, I truly felt like a VIP! It was so good to be in good hands, as Mohamed knew everyone where we went and was eager to tell me lots of very good information about Abu Simbel and Philae, and answer all of my questions - including those about sites I had visited the day prior. Deluxe Tours is a great and outstanding service. When I come back to Egypt for a longer trip I will be sure to book with them and ask for Mohamed, AKA Mr. Aswany!