Kom Ombo is a small town along the Nile. In the heart of one of Egypt’s fertile agricultural regions, it is surrounded by vast fields of sugarcane and corn. The village is home to a large Nubian population, many of whom were displaced when their homes were submerged by construction of the Aswan High Dam and the creation of Lake Nasser. The town’s highlight is its namesake temple, perched on a low hill overlooking the Nile. Construction was started by an Egyptian pharaoh in the 2nd century BC and completed by a Roman emperor around 30 BC.

Shore excursions vary by each itinerary and are subject to change.

Visit a local village with your guide and meet a traditional Nubian family. Learn about their lifestyle and gain insight into the traditions the Nubians have followed for thousands of years. Visit a school in the village and spend time playing with the children. Next, you will board your motorboat and visit the Temples of Philae—built to honor Isis, construction began in around 690 BC. The structure was moved from its original location on Philae Island, to its new location on Agilkia Island, after the flooding of Lake Nasser. As the waters of Lake Nasser rose, the temple complex was relocated here. The UNESCO Nubia Campaign Project took nine years to complete, protecting this and other complexes before the completion of the Aswan High Dam. Later, stop at the Papyrus Institute to learn how the delicate paper from its namesake plant is created.

See the fascinating dual temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to two gods, Sobek and Horus. This remarkable temple, very near our berth, is unique for many reasons. Two temples in one, Kom Ombo is perfectly symmetrical. One half is dedicated to Horus, the falcon god of the sky, and the other to Sobek, the crocodile god, a protective deity thought to have created the world. It is believed that the temple’s builder went to great lengths to ensure that both halves were precisely alike, so as not to offend either god. You will walk a short distance with your guide to the temple and learn about its Greco-Roman style, first built by the pharaohs of Egypt and completed by an emperor of Rome. Upon arrival, you will admire its duplicate gateways, chapels, courtyards and columns. During your visit, you can view some mummified crocodiles discovered in the area.