Private boat
A private motorboat hired by the hour or the day, with its owner steering. It is not a journey — it is how you get around Aswan’s islands when you are on a clock or the wind has not turned up.
A local motorboat, negotiated at the corniche, that takes you where you ask and waits.
- 1–8 hours
- Your group
No. Engine.
Anywhere around Aswan. Not an overnight option.
None.
No — a step down onto a moving deck.
Nothing. Bring water.
An afternoon around the islands on a schedule, reaching Qubbet el-Hawa or St Simeon, or getting to Philae without a tour.
Anything overnight, and anyone hoping for sailing.
- What is the total for the whole trip, not per stop?
- How long will you wait at each stop?
- Does the price change if we stay longer?
Agree the fare, the stops and the waiting time before you get in. All three, out loud.
The unglamorous one, and the one that quietly makes a two-day trip work. If you want to see Elephantine, the garden and the west bank in one afternoon, this is how, and the public ferry covers the rest.
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Not for Elephantine — the public ferry goes to the same island for a fraction of the price. Use a private boat when you need several stops in a fixed window.