Pyramid Compass › Pyramids & Sites
Three sites within an hour of central Aswan. Most visitors do them in the wrong order. This tool picks the right sequence for your arrival time, mobility, and boat preference ?with total cost in EGP and USD.
Run the tool to see the order.
Three sites, two transport modes, four order permutations. Most Aswan visitors do:
A better order: Unfinished Obelisk first (cool, shaded, 30 min), then High Dam, then motor launch to Philae when the day-trippers leave. Or: Philae by felucca at sunrise, High Dam after lunch.
The tool returns a numbered order with rationale, plus total cost in EGP and USD. Reference rate ~50 EGP/USD.
Felucca vs motor. Feluccas cost ~150 EGP per boat (not per person) and take 30?5 min each way with wind. Motor boats are 100?50 EGP per person and take 10?5 min. The felucca is slower but atmospheric; the motor is reliable in any weather.
High Dam truth. It's a Soviet-era concrete dam. Visually underwhelming. Most visitors spend 15?0 min and move on. Don't skip it ?the story of how it nearly destroyed Philae and the Nubian monuments is essential context ?but don't expect a temple experience.
It's a 15?0 min stop, not an attraction. The reason to go is the story it tells about Philae's relocation. The lake itself is striking from the viewpoint.
Felucca if wind is light and you want atmosphere; motor if you're heat-sensitive. Avoid felucca in heavy wind ?Lake Nasser chop is real.
4 hours with motor launch + Unfinished Obelisk + High Dam. 5? hours with felucca and a relaxed lunch.
Yes if you've never seen one. The crack that ruined it is striking ?and the scale of the carving is unique. 30 minutes is enough.
Page last updated: October 2026.
What it is. A small order-decider for the Aswan trio (Philae, High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk). Inputs are your day length, arrival time, mobility, boat choice, and obelisk add-on. Output is a numbered order with cost.
Who it's for. Aswan visitors with half-day or full-day slots trying to avoid the cruise-bus wave at Philae. Useful for visitors deciding felucca or motor.
What it isn't. Not a substitute for verifying the Philae Sound & Light schedule. Not a substitute for confirming felucca price at the dock before boarding.
Limitations. Felucca pricing is informal; the figures assume standard negotiation. Treat as a planning estimate.
Last updated: October 2026.
What this site collects. Pyramid Compass does not collect, store, or process personal data. There is no login, no account, no email capture, no analytics beyond what Google AdSense requires, and no first-party tracking. You can use this calculator without entering any personal information.
Google AdSense & third-party advertising. This site displays ads served through Google AdSense. Google AdSense uses cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this site or other sites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on visits to this site and/or other sites on the Internet. You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. You may also opt out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting www.aboutads.info or www.youronlinechoices.eu (EU/EEA/UK).
Cookies. This site itself does not set any cookies. Third-party vendors, including Google, may use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits.
EEA / UK consent. If you are visiting from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, Google AdSense serves non-personalized ads by default and may request consent for personalized advertising.
Children. This site is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect any information from children.
External scripts. This site loads exactly three external resources: Tailwind CSS CDN, Font Awesome 6.5.1 CDN, and ?when ads render ?Google AdSense.
Last updated: October 2026.
Not professional advice. The information on Pyramid Compass is for general informational purposes only. It is not professional travel, legal, financial, medical, or safety advice.
Accuracy. We do our best to keep prices, ticket tiers, opening hours, EGP rates, and rules current. Conditions in Egypt change quickly ?always cross-check with your hotel concierge, your embassy, and the official site.
Personal responsibility. Travel in Egypt carries real risks. You are responsible for your own safety, insurance, visa, and choices.
Affiliate disclosure. This site is supported by anonymous advertising through Google AdSense. We do not run affiliate links, sponsored placements, or paid recommendations.
No warranty. The tools are provided "as is", without warranty of any kind.
Last updated: October 2026.