Nubian Villages: Gharb Aswan

Gharb Aswan (in English: West Aswan) is north from Aswan on the west bank: Nubian villages with more than 10.000 inhabitants. On the way to one of the the villages you can see a cow moving a wheel to pump water for the fields. I had been so fascinated, I sat down and watched, making photos and finally I had to leave again, without visiting the village itself, because it became so hot I just needed to swim.

Of course I came again: to sail along "the skyline" of Aswan, relax with a glass of tea, visit friends of Mustafa who live there, spend a beautiful afternoon on the Nile, especially when its so hot, that there is no way to visit any other sights by foot.

Gharb Aswan is not where tourists go usually, its where Nubians live, who had to leave their villages south of Aswan, after the building of the highdam. Who built new homes in their old traditonal architectural style with cupolas, painting most of the houses blue or yellow. Its not a place you will find in your guidebook, but its beautiful to make photos there and to get an insight near Aswan about a non-touristic Nubian Village.

(Carol Waller from Idaho made such beautiful photos, that I used them for the picture on the top. Also the second one on the left is hers. Thank you Carol, for the copyright! See more pictures from the Wallers.)

Felucca when good wind, (motorboat possible if wind is missing) to drive to Gharb Aswan, visit and see the Nubian Village, be guest in a Nubian house.
Back to Aswan with the boat. All together takes about
4 hours,
60 EGP each hour for the felucca
(85 EGP each hour for a motorboat).

Please bring some baksheesh (small Pound Notes) for the visit in a Nubian House and the tea.