Aswan is known for the remarkable preservation of its ancient archaeological sites. But beyond the otherworldly temples and rich history, Aswan is a city of open-air marketplaces, felucca cruises, and tranquil views.

The Abu Simbel temple was constructed as a place for people to worship Pharaoh Ramses II as a god following his death, as well as to be a show of power toward the recently conquered territory of Nubia. The most notable feature of the Abu Simbel temple are the four colossal statues of Ramses II on the outside.

The Temple Esna, known as Latopolis in ancient times, was dedicated to the worship of Khnum, the ram-headed god associated with creation, fertility, and the annual flooding of the Nile. Khnum was believed to be the creator of humankind, shaping them from clay on his potter’s wheel.