Shopping: for a traditional Egyptian market experience, head for the Sharia as-Souq where you’ll find a variety of vendors selling everything from textiles to perfume to edible goods. Vendors are somewhat on the militant side with their sales techniques but don’t let that put you off. For fixed-price shopping and slightly less hassle, the city’s collection of modern retail outlets, are the place to head.

Camel ride: is a trip to Egypt complete without a ride on a dromedary? Many would say not and so for an authentic old-fashioned Egyptian experience, be sure to get yourself a ride atop one of Aswan’s ‘ships of the desert’.

Nile cruise: cruise boats travelling from Aswan to Luxor can accommodate around 150 people and are equipped with sleeper cabins, restaurants, bars and decks on which to relax and view the fantastic Nile scenery.

Eating out: as with any city in Egypt, there’s little in the way of negative comments to be made about Aswan’s dining scene as a whole, with local restaurants responsible for dishing up some truly mouth-watering dishes. Kebabs and kofta are regulars on most menus of course with shawarma (shredded meat sandwich) and mahshi (stuffed vine leaves) also among the most popular dishes on offer.