Death on the Nile Travel Guide: Everything You Need to See in Aswan

April 12, 2023 by jordangassner

Death on the Nile Travel Guide:

How To Spend 3 Days in Aswan

Reel Places Series

Welcome to “Reel Places“, a blog post series where I create a travel guide that allows you to you enter the world of your favorite film through real destinations around the globe. In this post, I’ll be sharing my recommendations for Aswan, Egypt through the lens of the Agatha Christie murder mystery, Death on the Nile. This post will cover real locations from the book-turned-film as well as a few new spots that fit in with the film’s glamorous, classic and mysterious aesthetic. So come aboard with me on this epic mystery-inspired tour through Egypt:

reel places – death on the nile travel guide

Where To Stay

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner reading a book on a balcony overlooking the Nile and pool at the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel

There are plenty of budget-friendly accommodations in Aswan, but for a truly authentic Death on the Nile type of stay, look no further than the Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel and a luxe Nile Cruise Ship.

Sofitel Old Cataract

Sitting along the Nile River, this former Victorian-era Palace is a prime location in Death on the Nile and also where the original story was penned by renown murder mystery writer, Agatha Christie.

Sofitel Old Cataract – $$$$

Nile Cruise Ships

Steam Ship Sudan – $$$$$

The historic steamer where Agatha Christie once stayed while accompanying her husband during an archaeological visit

Movenpick SS Misr Steamer – $$$

A 9-10 day journey down the Nile from Cairo to Aswan, Roundtrip.

A straw lounge chair and set of sofas overlooking the Nile River from the top of a balcony at the Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan, Egypt

A vintage red and white car in front of the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan, Egypt

The corner of the library inside the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in Aswan, Egypt

reel places – death on the nile travel guide

What To See

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner wearing a long sleeve blue patterned maxi dress and a green scarf, shielding her eyes from the sun under a row of columns outside of the Philae Temple ruins on Philae Island in Aswan, Egypt

Death on the Nile Travel Guide: Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner smiling from a seat on a covered, open-air boat on the Nile River in Aswan, Egypt

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner wearing a 3/4-length sleeve white shirt, purple skirt and holding a straw sun hat while walking and looking up at the hieroglyphs dotting the high walls of the Inner Passageway of Edfu Temple in Egypt.

Philae Temple

Beginning with a site near the city, Philae Temple is unique for its location on a small island at the center of the Nile River. Built during the reign of King Ptolemy II, Philae Temple is dedicated to the gods Osiris, Horus and most importantly, Isis, the ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility, magic and health.

Early-on in Death on the Nile, Simon and Linnet Doyle enjoy a romantic excursion to Philae before joining the SS Karnak at Shellal.

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner wearing a green dress and with a hand holding a sunhat on her head while looking up in awe and away from the camera on the walkway leading up to the four massive sitting statues of Ramses II at Abu Simbel Temple in Egypt

Abu Simbel

A major site in real life and in Death on the Nile, Abu Simbel is an archaeological complex consisting of two rock-cut temples commissioned by Ramses The Great. If you’re looking to feel like Hercule Poirot solving your next big mystery, this site is a must-see.

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner wearing a green dress staring up at the four massive sitting statues of Ramses II at Abu Simbel Temple in Egypt

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner wearing a green dress and straw sunhat walking toward the secondary temple in Egypt's Abu Simbel

Qubbet El-Hawa

Located on the opposite side of the Nile from the Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel, Qubbet El-Hawa is an archaeological site containing the tombs of many Old and Middle Kingdom priests and nobles from ancient Egypt.

Death on the Nile Travel Guide: Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner peering out on a covered motor boat while traveling on the Nile River in Egypt

Boat Ride on the Nile

Cruise the nile in style via a classic Felucca or Motor Boat. To maximize your time in Aswan, combine your trip down the river with a visit to Aswan’s Nubian Village, a traditional village with bright blue houses, spice shops & cafes.

Kom Ombo and Edfu

An easy day trip down the Nile, Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples are excellent day trips from Aswan. Visit Kom Ombo for its Ancient Egyptian calendar and Edfu for its inscriptions of the “Sacred Drama” of Horus defeating Seth.

A female traveler holding a straw sunhat to her head and wearing a white shirt and purple skirt reads the heiroglyphs on the remains of a column at the Ancient Egyptian Temple of Kom Ombo

reel places – death on the nile travel guide

Where To Eat

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner reading "Death on the Nile" by Agatha Christie during High Tea at the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel

Where To Eat

As for restaurants, I looked for open-air and historic spots near-and-around the Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel, where a large part of the book and film takes place.

1902 Restaurant – French Fine Dining

Orangerie – International Cuisine

Saraya – Mediterranean Dishes

Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel Terrace – Mediterranean Cuisine & High Tea

Vienna Cafe – Light Snacks and Drinks