Egypt With Omar Sharif

ASWAN FULL DAY TOUR

The tour duration is 12 hours approximately

At 07:00 A.M. Join the local tour guide in Aswan and visit;

The ancient quarry of granite houses the unfinished obelisk most probably belongs to Queen Hatshepsut, one of the rulers of the 18th dynasty and the royal wife of king Tuthmosis II. The unfinished obelisk is considered the largest piece of stone ever handled. Four boats were strapped together, and three obelisks were laid crosswise. The Egyptians then waited for the flooding waters to carry the boats away. Hatshepsut recorded that work on one of her obelisks took 7 months. It weighs about 1200 tons.

When the obelisk was about to be finished, they found a flaw in the rock so they stopped the construction, and began in a new one.

The High dam In 1952, the interim Revolutionary Council government of Egypt decided to build a High Dam at Aswan, about four miles upstream of the old dam. In 1954, Egypt requested loans from the World Bank to help pay for the cost of the dam (which eventually added up to US$1 billion). Initially, the United States agreed to loan Egypt money but then withdrew their offer for unknown reasons. Some speculate that it may have been due to Egyptian and Israeli conflict. The United Kingdom, France, and Israel had invaded Egypt in 1956, soon after Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal to help pay for the dam.

The Soviet Union offered to help and Egypt accepted. The Soviet Union's support was not unconditional, however. Along with the money, they also sent military advisers and other workers to help enhance Egyptian-Soviet ties and relations.

In order to build the dam both people and artifacts had to be moved. Over 90,000 Nubians had to be relocated. Those who had been living in Egypt were moved about 28 miles (45 km) away but the Sudanese Nubians were relocated 370 miles (600 km) from their homes. The government was also forced to develop one of the largest Abu Simel Temple and dig for artifacts before the future lake would drown the land of the Nubians.

Philae temple Built during the Greco-Roman era and dedicated to Goddess Isis, the Egyptian goddess of Magic. The temple was reorganized on the island of Agilkia as it was on Philae Island. The construction of this temple consists of the Mammisi, which is in the center and the ambulatory is behind it, then there are two pylons to the north and to the south.

To the left of the smaller pylon, there is the main temple of goddess Isis. To the right of the large pylon, there is the long open court which extends to the south of the island.

Ptolemy I made this island to be a cult center of goddess Isis to create a struggle between the priests of goddess Isis - which was the goddess of Philae temple - and the priests of god Khunum. According to this struggle, he could be able to know what happened in the southern borders of the country.

On the way to the High Dam, the van will cross the river over Aswan Dam built in 1889. This dam was insufficient to hold back the water of the Nile and was subsequently raised in 1912 and 1933. In 1946, the true danger was revealed when the water in the reservoir peaked near the top of the dam.

The tour duration is 3 hours approximately.

Transfer back to the hotel

In the afternoon, you will explore the magic of the river Nile by sailing in a felucca "sailing boat" around the historical Elephantine Island and visit the botanical garden.

The tour duration is 2 hours approximately.

Transfer back to your hotel.

THE TOUR INCLUDES:

-Transportation as listed in an air-conditioned van/bus.

-An English speaking tour guide and Egyptologist to the sites listed.

-All entrance fees to the sites mentioned.

-Felucca ride.