Visiting the Island Temple of Philae in Aswan, Egypt.
By this point on my Egypt trip, I had seen some pretty impressive Temples, but as the picture perfect island temple appeared on the horizon, it might have just taken top spot!
The Island Temple of Philae captured my attention, and it became clear why it is one of the best temples from Ancient Egypt!
Its turbulent history just adds to the might of the historical landmark, and its ability to stand the test of time, through many civilisations, and as of recent times, a complete relocation.
Following my trip up the Nile to see the wonder, this blog will help you to go and visit the beautiful temple for yourself, including navigating the famous river, and some Egyptian people that don’t take no for an answer.
There is stunning views of the Temple from the Nile.
A brief introduction to the Temple of Philae.
The Temple of Philae was first constructed over 2000 years ago in the late Ptolemaic period on Philae Island near the ever-growing First Cataract of the Nile in Upper Egypt.
It was built in dedication to ‘Isis’, the goddess in ancient Egyptian times, however, it has been used by many civilisations since, all leaving a different stamp on the Temple. You can still see many different languages carved in the stone throughout the site.
Initially, the temple was home to two giant obelisks which stood tall as a pair until 1815, until William John Banks took one back to Dorset in England where it still stands today. The obelisks both have Greek and Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions carved into them, illustrating the different influences on the temple.
Some more recent history has seen Philae go through some turbulence, with a relocation in the 1960’s.
As part of a UNESCO project, the temple was fully dismantled, and moved to Agilika island, and reconstructed, to save it from rising waters, as a result of the construction of the Aswan high dam. This was one of several temples which had to be saved in Southern Egypt!
The Temple is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of Aswan’s most prized tourist attractions!
Stone carvings on the entrance pylon.
How to visit Philae Temple?
Visiting Philae Temple isn’t as straightforward as other landmarks in Aswan.
As Aswan is another Egyptian city which is on the banks of the river Nile, boats are required for some landmarks.
The temple is located on Agilkia Island, therefore, the only way to reach it is by taxi-boat.
You need to head to the Philae Marina which is located a few miles from Aswan.
The marina is the main entrance to the temple and is home to the ticket office, information boards, and boatmen who you have to negotiate your lift with.
Entrance to the boat taxi area.
How to get to Philae Marina?
Using a taxi is the most common way of travelling between Aswan and the Marina, and they are easy to flag down when they drive past.
You need to make sure you agree to a fixed price before you enter, like with everything else in Egypt.
It isn’t a bad idea to arrange return transport, most drivers are happy to wait in the car park for an hour or two, or to take your number and come back for you.
There are some taxis in the marina area, however, it can get very busy and this makes it difficult and expensive!
Here are some additional tips for taking a taxi to Agilkia Island:
The fare should be around 50 Egyptian pounds.
Make sure you bring cash, as most taxi drivers in Aswan do not accept credit cards.
Allow extra time for your journey, as traffic can be heavy in Aswan.
Ticket office.
Philae Temple entrance costs and opening times.
Philae Temple Opening times:
Mondays to Sundays 7 am to 4 pm (October – May) / 7 am to 5 pm (June – September).
Philae Temple Entrance costs:
180 EGP (£4.50) + Taxi boat cost (this is negotiable).
Map of Aswan landmarks.
Taking a boat taxi to Agilika Island.
Making your way to Agilkia Island via taxi-boat takes around 10/15 minutes each way. You do need to negotiate with the drivers and they set the charge high as a starting price.
If you are travelling with friends, or on an official tour, the boat trip will work out cheaper as you can split the costs!
I visited Aswan as a solo traveller, so I had to barter harder to get an acceptable price.
A souvenir seller hopped on the boat with me, but of course I had to pay for the journey.
Once a price is agreed, the service is very good and the boatman will park up at the island and wait as long as you need to fully explore the temple site.
Sharing the taxi boat with a local souvenir seller.
A picture perfect setting.
As you motor up the reservoir of the Aswan Low Dam, the beautiful temple appears in the distance.
The ancient structure is modernised by the lush greenery which surrounds the island, offering a contrasting colour to the golden temple.
There is a mirror reflection of the temple on the lake, which creates a unique double image of the iconic wonder.
I found the setting of Philae to be like an island paradise, with some beautiful palm trees adding to the tropical ambience.
Along with the Temple of Hatshepsut, Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, and of course, the Pyramids of Giza, this is my favourite setting in Egypt, so should be a must on your Egypt itinerary.
The picture perfect temple.
Ancient Roman seating area.
The hieroglyphics paint a picture of some vast history.
Reading hieroglyphics is one of my favourite things to do in Egypt, so as I walked around the island, I was observing the stone carvings, which appear to depict the ancient history and traditions of civilisations throughout history.
They cover the interior and exterior of the Temple, including huge images on the entrance pylon and the columns leading to it.
I spoke to a knowledgeable local about the different hieroglyphics and learnt some interesting history.
Some other notable areas with interesting hieroglyphics are:
Gate of Hadrian.
Located near the Isis Temple, this monumental gateway features scenes depicting the Osirian myth, a central narrative in Egyptian mythology about the death and resurrection of the god Osiris. Look for hieroglyphs representing Osiris, Isis (his wife and sister), Horus (their son), and other deities involved in the myth.
Mammisi.
This birth house dedicated to Isis showcases hieroglyphs describing her role as the protector and giver of life. Scenes of childbirth, offerings, and rituals related to motherhood are commonly depicted.
Temple of Isis.
Inside the majestic temple dedicated to Isis, hieroglyphs adorn columns, walls, and ceilings. They chronicle the goddess's various aspects, including her role as a healer, protector, and bringer of magic. I saw some depictions of her with outstretched wings, holding the ankh (symbol of life) or accompanied by sacred animals like the cow and the falcon.
I even saw some hieroglyphs in shadow from peeping through one of the structures off the blinding midday sun.
Hieroglyph shadow.
Some carved columns in front of the Entrance Pylon.
Is the Temple of Philae safe to visit?
As with many other Egyptian landmarks, some international tourists wonder whether it is safe to visit this famous temple.
My personal trip to Egypt went smoothly throughout my time in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, however, it is important to plan your trip correctly to help with this.
In terms of a day trip to the Temple of Philae, here are some concerns addressed:
Entering the pier area at the Marina.
You will have your ticket inspected and have to go through a security scanner before catching the boat.
The boat journey.
The boats appeared to be well maintained and checked, and I did spot some life jackets. They are very experienced boatmen and help you to navigate the pier and to enter the boats in a professional manner.
On the island.
There are armed guards on the island at several points on the island, which put my mind at ease while I was exploring.
I visited out of season, therefore, the crowds weren’t as busy as they can be, so I had no issues with petty crime etc, but this is something you should be aware of throughout Egypt.
The security is tight in all the famous Egyptian Landmarks.
Interesting facts about Philae Temple.
The Temple of Philae could write a whole book on the history of Egypt itself, however, here are 5 interesting facts which tell some of its history in a more simplified way:
The temple had to be rescued through a relocation, from rising waters following the construction of the Aswan Dam as recent as the 1960’s, which was overseen by UNESCO.
Philae Temple was one of the last bastions of ancient Egyptian religion, as Christianity swept the nation.
When inspecting the wall inscriptions inside the temple, there is evidence of ‘Greek’ and ‘Coptic’ influence, alongside the original hieroglyphics. This contributes towards its unique features. This temple was one of my favourites in terms of art and hieroglyphics.
The temple is dedicated to the goddess Isis, Philae served as a powerful pilgrimage site. Devotees believed visiting the temple brought blessings, healing, and protection.
The temple has always been a popular tourist attraction - even in ancient times, when it was one of the most popular sites.
The interior of Philae Temple.
Original hieroglyphics on site.
Sound and light show at Philae Temple.
If you want to see the Philae Temple from a different perspective, then visiting at sunset for the ‘sounds and light show’ is a great way of experiencing Aswan’s island treasure.
This after-dark spectacle uses vibrantly coloured lights, laser projections, and audio commentary to resurrect the pharaohs of old and dramatically bring the legends of Isis, Osiris, and Horus to life.
There is something extra special about the temple being lit up at night below the starry sky.
This option also teaches you some of the temple’s vast history in a visual way.
The Temple glows in the dark night on an evening.
A historical highlight - The Kiosk of Trajan.
The most Instagram worthy structure on the island is the ‘Kiosk of Trajan’, which is also known as ‘Pharaoh’s bed’.
Its 14 columns are 20ft high and I found them to be a work of art in terms of architectural design, and very similar to the Acropolis in Athens, but on a much smaller scale.
It was built in 113 AD by Roman Emperor ‘Trajan’, and is a testament to the skills of ancient civilisations.
The Kiosk once served as a main entrance into the Temple from the river Nile, however its construction was never fully completed.
An interesting aspect that I found inside the structure were reliefs showing Trajan as a pharaoh making offerings to Osiris, Isis and Horus.
Learning the ancient trivia made my day more enjoyable.
The magnificent Kiosk of Trajan.
Tips for your visit to the Philae Temple.
Give yourself enough time to explore.
When planning your visit, make sure you leave at least one hour to explore the island fully, Keep this in mind if booking a tour, or when negotiating with the taxi boat drivers. The island is abundant with ancient treasures, so you don’t want to rush. I visited the temple the day after I arrived in Aswan, so I had my bearings of the city first.
Have some lunch beforehand.
I would recommend grabbing some lunch before you head to the temple, as it is a long day in the heat. There is a small cafe serving refreshments, however, you will be overcharged significantly. As the only source of refreshments on the island, the cafe holds all the bargaining power.
Visit early in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds and heat.
As with other Egyptian landmarks, they tend to get very busy from midday onwards, so an early morning visit is always a good idea.
Try to share taxi-boat costs.
Sharing the boat fare works out much cheaper. If you are alone, then stay strong with your price - if you walk away, the locals will drop their initial prices for you.
Tourists on the Nile.
Local merchandise sellers at the Temple Marina.
Where to stay in Aswan?
Aswan is a city which can offer a different experience, depending on exactly where you stay and your budget.
Here are some choices for you to consider:
A night of luxury in a world famous hotel.
Although pricey, this hotel has hosted some world famous people like Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie.
Its beautiful rooms are just one aspect of a great retreat, with the private pools and exceptional restaurants offering a touch of elegance and class for your Aswan adventure.
The famous Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan.
Staying with the locals in a Nubian Guest House on an island.
Elephantine Island offers a much more tranquil experience, with many of the guest houses offering Nile views from the homes. Bob Marley was a great place to stay, as I particularly liked the hosts and the terrace restaurant overlooking the River Nile made my evening dinner extra special.
A cheap option to save pennies for the temples and museums.
A budget option with a sociable vibe in a shared lounge to meet other travellers. An ideal option for a solo Egypt trip. The hostel will help to plan tours to Abu Simbel and other popular day trips. It is located very close to the Nubian Museum just off the main Corniche.
Can’t decide between Aswan and Luxor on your Egypt trip?
Planning your Egypt trip and struggling to decide between Luxor and Aswan?
Luxor is abundant with beautiful temples, grand museums and some of the most famous tombs in Egyptian history, but the vibe is absolute chaos, and the hassle culture is at its peak in this city.
However, visiting the Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, and Medinet Habu Temple made my East Bank & West Bank tour extra special!
Aswan offers more of a chilled vibe, especially if you stay in a high end resort, or a Nubian guest house on Elephantine Island. A trip to the colourful Nubian village is also a unique activity in Aswan.
Both cities are picture perfect and tick boxes on any bucket list, including camel rides with awesome backdrops.
You can read in more detail about the cities here.
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