Unfinished Obelisk

Tickets and tours: all the options

The Unfinished Obelisk has its own ticket, sold at the booth by the entrance to the quarry and payable by card; Egypt's monuments have largely moved away from cash. Foreign visitors pay a modest fee, Egyptians much less, and students with an international card pay half. There is no combined ticket with Philae or the Nubian Museum, and nothing is sold as a timed slot.

Almost everything sold online is a city tour of Aswan that uses the quarry as a short stop. The standard format covers the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae in about four to five hours, with an air-conditioned car or minibus and an Egyptologist guide; some add a felucca sail or a boat trip to a Nubian village on the west bank. Private versions use the same route with a car to yourselves. Prices often exclude entry tickets and the boat to Philae, so check what is included before booking. Nile cruise passengers usually see the quarry on the ship's included tour.

For most visitors the sensible choice is a half-day tour of the three main sights. If you are independent, a taxi from the Corniche, agreed in advance, makes the quarry an easy half-hour stop.

A short history

Aswan's red and grey granite was quarried from the Old Kingdom onwards for statues, sarcophagi and obelisks that were floated down the Nile. The Unfinished Obelisk dates from the New Kingdom, probably the 15th century BC, and it may have been ordered by Hatshepsut as a partner for the obelisk that later stood at Karnak and was taken to Rome. When cracks opened in the granite, work stopped and the piece was left in place. The engineer Reginald Engelbach studied it in detail in 1922, and an unfinished obelisk base was found nearby in 2005. The quarries belong to the UNESCO site of the Nubian Monuments, listed in 1979.

Getting there

The quarry lies in the southern part of Aswan, about 2 km from the Corniche and next to the Fatimid Cemetery. Taxis take about 10 minutes from the city centre; agree the price first, including waiting time. Hotels can book a driver for a fixed fare. From Aswan airport, about 20 km south-west, allow 30 minutes. Trains from Luxor reach Aswan in about three hours, and Nile cruise ships moor along the Corniche. The site is on the way from the city to the High Dam and the Philae boat landing, so tours stop here in passing. Walking from the centre is possible in winter but hot and dull along busy roads.

Rules and what to bring

Stay on the stairs and walkways and do not climb onto the obelisk itself or chip the stone. Drones are banned in Egypt without official permission and can be confiscated at the airport. The rock reflects heat strongly, so bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and water. Toilets are near the entrance, and drinks are sold at the stalls. Expect to be offered unofficial guiding; a short tip is customary if you accept.

When to go

Aswan is one of the hottest cities in Egypt, and the bare granite of the quarry has no shade at all. Go at opening or in the late afternoon; between about 10 am and 1 pm the tour buses from cruise ships and hotels arrive together and the walkway becomes crowded, although groups rarely stay more than half an hour.

October to April is the comfortable season, with warm days and cool evenings; December and January are the busiest months, with Christmas and New Year crowds. From May to September afternoon temperatures often pass 40 degrees, so visit early and spend the middle of the day indoors, perhaps at the Nubian Museum. During Egyptian public holidays local families add to the numbers. Thirty to forty-five minutes is enough for the obelisk and quarry, and half a day covers it with the High Dam and Philae.