- DurationApprox. 3–4 hours
- Tour typePrivate tour
- StartsPickup from your Aswan hotel or Nile cruise
- PriceFrom $42 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This private Aswan Nubian village tour takes you by motorboat upriver to Gharb Soheil, a Nubian village on the west bank known for its brightly painted domed houses. The boat ride is half the pleasure: you weave between the granite boulders and small islands of the First Cataract, with sand dunes sloping down to the water.
In the village you walk the sandy lanes with your guide, visit a Nubian home for tea and hear how families lost their original villages when Lake Nasser rose behind the High Dam in the 1960s. Gharb Soheil welcomes many visitors, with guesthouses, cafés and craft stalls, so expect a lively village rather than an untouched one.
Highlights
- Private motorboat through the islands and granite rocks of the First Cataract
- The painted houses and sandy lanes of Gharb Soheil on the west bank
- Tea and conversation in a Nubian family home
- The story of the Nubian resettlement after the High Dam
- Optional camel ride, henna painting or swim stop at extra cost
- Hotel pickup, guide and boat included
Itinerary
Pickup and transfer to the dock
Your guide meets you at your hotel or Nile cruise and drives you to the boat landing on the Corniche. Tours run in the morning or the afternoon; the late-afternoon departure brings you back on the water as the sun sets over the west bank dunes.
Motorboat through the First Cataract
Board your private motorboat for a ride of around 45 minutes upriver. You pass Elephantine Island, Kitchener’s Island and the rocky islets of the First Cataract, where the Nile breaks around smooth granite boulders. Your guide points out birdlife and the rock inscriptions left by ancient expeditions.
Walk through Gharb Soheil
Step ashore and walk through the village, where houses are painted in blues, yellows and pinks and decorated with murals and dried crocodile skins. Your guide explains the Nubian language, the vaulted mud-brick architecture that keeps houses cool, and how the community rebuilt its life after resettlement.
Tea in a Nubian home
Relax in the courtyard of a Nubian family home over hibiscus or mint tea. There is time to ask questions, look at local crafts and, if you wish, try henna painting or a short camel ride along the riverbank, paid directly at modest prices. Please ask before photographing people.
Return by boat and drop-off
Your boat brings you back downriver to Aswan, often in the softer light of late afternoon. Your guide then takes you back to your hotel or Nile cruise, about three and a half to four hours after pickup.
What’s Included
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at your Aswan hotel or Nile cruise
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for transfers
- Private motorboat to Gharb Soheil and back
- English-speaking guide
- Tea in a Nubian home and bottled water
- All taxes and service charges
Not included
- Camel ride, henna painting and handicrafts (paid locally)
- Meals and other drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips for the guide and boatman
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $119 |
| 2 travellers | $69 |
| 3–5 travellers | $52 |
| 6+ travellers | $42 |
Per person in USD. Child prices depend on age and the services included – ask us for a child price before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the village visit authentic or staged?
Gharb Soheil is a real village where Nubian families live, work and run guesthouses. Because it welcomes many visitors, some homes and shops are set up for tourists. Your guide focuses on conversation and history rather than shopping, and you are never under pressure to buy.
Can we go by felucca instead of motorboat?
The village is upriver against the current, so a felucca can take much longer and depends on the wind. We use a motorboat to reach the village reliably. If you would like a felucca sail as well, we can add one before or after the visit.
What should we wear?
Light, comfortable clothes that cover shoulders and knees are respectful in the village. Wear shoes you can walk in on sand, and bring a hat and sunscreen for the boat. In winter, evenings on the river can be cool, so a light jacket helps.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, families enjoy this tour. Children usually love the boat ride and the animals in the village. Life jackets are available on the boat. The walking is short and on sandy lanes, so pushchairs are not practical.
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Want to combine tours or change anything? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp and we will tailor it for you.
