Anba Hedra Church, Botanical Island & Aga Khan Mausoleum Tour

Start at about 8:00 am with a motorboat ride across the Nile to the West Bank and the Church of Anba Hedra, named after a 4th-century bishop of Aswan who lived as a hermit in the nearby desert. Your guide explains the long history of Christianity in Aswan and the connection between the church and the ruined monastery that also bears his name, known today as St Simeon.

Around 9:30 am, cross to Kitchener's Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden, a shady oasis of palms, flowering trees and rare plants from Africa and Asia. Walk its paths, spot the many birds that live here, and enjoy the views of the river from the island's edge.

At about 11:00 am, head to the hill on the West Bank crowned by the Mausoleum of Aga Khan III, the leader of the Ismaili Muslims, who spent his winters in Aswan. Built of pink granite in a style inspired by Fatimid architecture in Cairo, it stands in a beautiful position overlooking the Nile and the city.

Finish at around 12:30 pm with a relaxing felucca sail on the Nile, drifting between the granite islands with the wind in the sails, as drinks and snacks are served. Then you return to your hotel in time for lunch.