NUBIA FROM ASWAN TO ABU SIMBEL

Our basic 5 or 6-day programme goes from Aswan to Abu Simbel. On a 5-day programme you will start the safari in Abu Garf, a little harbour situated at 1½ hours drive from Aswan. Depending on the water level of the lake, which can vary from 3 to 6m, and climate conditions, the itinerary is subject to changes if necessary. The itinerary can go from Aswan to Abu Simbel or Abu Simbel to Aswan, depending on where the boat is located at a certain date. It is always possible to charter the boat privately and define a new itinerary and programme on demand. The lake has still many undiscovered places!

This cruise & safari programme can be done with two types of boats:

§  With traditional safari boats, the “Ganoub“ and “Bahr el Nouba“. One these boats you will sleep in your own sleeping bag on the boat in camping style under the beautiful night sky. Toilets and a shower on board.

§  With “Nubiana“, our luxury cabin cruise boat with extra comfort.

Please check our boat descriptions

Day 0: Arrival day in Aswan

Arrival at any time of the day in Aswan by plane, train or bus. We can organise you pick up and hotel (4 or 5*****) in Aswan on request. You may spend your time in Aswan by taking a Felucca (Egyptian sailing boat) on the Nile or visit the lively markets of Aswan. There is a variety of attractions in this beautiful town of Upper Egypt.

Day 1: Boarding and first day on Lake Nasser

In the morning, after breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you by bus to the lake near the high dam of Sadd el-Ali. Warm Welcome by your Nubian boat staff and boarding. Departure and cruise towards Fennec Island in the Gazal archipelago. Light lunch during navigation. First stop in the early afternoon in a beautiful creek for a first contact with the desert. Opportunity to swim and discover the island. Later in the afternoon you will continue navigating to the strait of Abu Stetta. Evening walk at sunset for crocodile spotting. Dinner prepared by your cook and first night under the amazing desert sky.

Day 2: On the way to Sukaar and Madiq

Breakfast early in the morning on the way to the peninsula of Abu Stetta. Upon arrival, morning trek of around 2 hours into the desert. You will join a beautiful laguna with a large variety of birds. On your track you might also see crocodiles or a monitor lizard. Once back on the boat, navigation towards Madiq, a little stop over on the way in the bay of Sukaar for lunch and a refreshing swim, and a sandy beach. Beautiful evening walk on Madiq for around 1½ hours. Cold evening beer on the upper deck. Dinner and night in the beautiful creek of Madiq.

Day 3: Temples of Wadi es Seboua

Breakfast and visit of some very interesting ancient Egyptian engraves in a nearby cave, one of our discoveries. Morning cruise to Wadi es Seboua, the first temple site on the way to Abu Simbel. Visit of the beautiful temples of Wadi es Seboua, Dakka and Maharraqa, which have been saved from the flooding of the lake construction. The Alee of the Sphinx is magical in this desert landscape. After the visit, lunch and further navigation to Wadi el Arab. Swimming and relaxing, before your evening walk through beautiful sand dune valleys and a splendid end in Wadi el Temsah, in Arabic: the Crocodile bay. Aperitif on the sun deck. Dinner and night in Wadi el Temsah at the foot of a long stretched sand dune.

Day 4: The big dune of Wadi el Arab and Korosko

Wake up early in the morning for breakfast and then a desert walk at sun rise. The trek will bring you to the big dune of Wadi el Arab, a magnificent pure sand dune that plunges into the lake. At the end of the dune you will find beautiful sandy beaches and your home base, the boat. Continuation in the direction of Korosko passing through the spectacular canyons of Korosko West and then to El Marsan for lunch, swimming, fishing and relaxing. Light afternoon trek to some fascinating prehistoric graffiti’s. Then, navigation towards the Amada region. Dinner and night in a creek near to the temples of Amada.

Day 5: Temples of Amada and Kasr Ibrim

Early wake up. Light breakfast (coffee, tea and cake) and then walk at sunrise to the temple site of Amada. Visit of the 2 temples and 1 tomb: Amada, Derr and the tomb of Pennout. The paintings of these temples are in a very good condition. The boat will meet you after the visit. Breakfast while navigating across the lake to Kasr Ibrim, the fortress and the only cultural site that has not been displaced from its original site. Visit of Kasr Ibrim before swimming in front of the fortress. Lunch and relaxation. Navigation to Toshqa East in the Nubian Desert. On the way there are thousand of islands and a new landscape appears. Evening walk in Toshqa. Once we meet our boat again, we will navigate across the lake to Besharia Island for the last night. Aperitif and dinner in a lovely creek.

Day 6: Last day on the lake and Abu Simbel, UNESCO World Heritage

Breakfast and then last morning trek across the Besharia Island surrounded by a moon like landscape. Many beautiful black Milan and other hawks will follow you on the way. The trek will end on top of a dune overlooking a stretched sandy beach with crystal clear water. There will be time for a last swim, enjoying the beach, fishing or just relaxing. After lunch you will depart towards the famous temples of Abu Simbel. After disembarking, visit of Abu Simbel and the temple of Nefertari, Ramses II preferred wife. In the afternoon transfer by private bus in a convoy from Abu Simbel back to Aswan, around 2½ h drive. End of your cruise with us. We can organise you pick up and hotel (4 or 5*****) in Aswan on request.