Nuba Tod Abouda Guest House

The host was a very nice middle-aged man, Abouda (hence the guest house name!), one of the 10-15 Nubian families on Elefantine. He met me upon arrival and gave me keys (front door & room), showed me the rooftop where I'd have breakfasts, and talked me thru available excursions. I chose the following add-ons and experiences from what the host talked me through upon my arrival: • $30 for a driver + permits for Abu Simbel (incl. a 3:50am motorboat since the ferry doesn't operate that early & a seat there+back in a shared minivan) • $40 for a sunset felucca ride around Elephantine (incl. getting picked up & dropped off at jetties of my choice; the ride was around 1.5hrs) • $100 for a private car & driver from Aswan to Luxor (incl. stopping at Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Esna temples). The driver was excellent, told me a lot about local life & agriculture & how things work in Egypt in general. • $15 for a driver + motorboat to Philae temple (private car, private motorboat, incl. both waiting 2hrs while I explore the temple) I also opted for the $5-a-day Nubian breakfasts (I had 2 on the rooftop terrace, and 1 as a breakfast box for the Abu Simbel trip; I'd 100% get the "for here" breakfasts if I visited again, they were delicious!). The host wasn't pushy about the excursions and extras, and I was happy to invest in them. I paid in cash, and no receipts were exchanged. Beyond that, regarding the stay itself: the room was the cleanest I stayed in during my Egypt trip. The bed was comfortable, the room itself was spacious, and the small kitchenette would've been a special perk if I was the type to eat in my room. There's a number of tasty restaurants in the area serving tasty Nubian food, so the lack of a wider meal offer wasn't an issue.

Unfortunately, the location on Elefantine isn't ideal. I'd advise backpacks rather than a wheeled suitcase. The guesthouse is on a very narrow alley (myself and suitcase barely fit), with a pipe jutting out of the ground. The worst part about the alley, though, was the smell. It mostly came from the dirtiest, stinkiest chicken coop I'd ever seen (I had to hold my breath while passing it for fear of vomiting, and genuinely dreaded the walk to/from my accommodation so planned to stay out as long as possible & avoid multiple back-and-forth walks), and was compounded by a pile of trash in a corner, cat urine, and the heat. Short of renting a private motorboat to pick you up from the neighboring restaurant, there wasn't another way to the guest house, so holding my breath and hurrying over the jutting out pipe was my go-to. Luckily for me, the smell didn't reach my 3rd floor room with windows kept shut, but I wouldn't want to be any lower. Speaking of windows, they weren't fully closable -- so on a night of a major soccer game, when fans gathered in a restaurant next door, I could hear the cheering & booing as the game went on while trying to sleep. Otherwise the area was quiet, though. The only other inconvenience was the result of a family emergency on the host's side, and not a big deal -- we had to delay my check-in as his mother ended up in surgery that day, and I later got some texts meant for another guest while he was dealing with family chaos. It wasn't anything bothersome, and life happens, but if you need everything to be exactly on time, that may not always be feasible with a single-handedly run guesthouse.

Myself and partner travelled around Egypt for 4 weeks so got a good feel for the availability of many types of accommodation, cruise/resort/booking.com and Airbnb. I can honestly say Nuba Tod Abuda was were we felt most relaxed and free from any hassles. We were able to recuperate, turn off totally and chill from our various travels, a major part of this was due to Abouda himself, who is a fantastic communicator and fluent in many languages, including English due to being so well traveled. Abouda kindly accepts you into his home and makes you feel welcome like a returning friend, he is aware what a traveler needs and is well able to provide for your needs, topped with delicious Nubian recipes, large portions of deliciousness! We also went out on his beautiful boat to the botanic gardens which I highly recommend, really memorable trip on the Nile to impressive green sheltered gardens. There is so much to do on Elaphantine Island,the only regret we have is that we did not stay longer. Shall come back again for a longer stay as the place is so comfortable and well equipped, especially the balcony, brilliant space and view. Big thanks again Abouda, you are the Host with the mostest :)

Perfect location on Elephantine Island. Mohamed is a perfect host, who can arrange trips if you want, and also provide suggestions on what to see and where to eat on the island and in the area in general. The rooms are simple but clean and comfortable, and the breakfast is delicious. It's also a nice place to experience Nubian hospitality, culture, and food. It's very close to the public ferry to get back to the city centre, but the location on the river makes it a relaxing, peaceful place to stay away from the city as well. We would happily come back here, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere to stay in Aswan.

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The location was wonderful on Elephantine Island with great views. Fabulous Nubian food at the nearby King Jamaican restaurant. Abouda the ownner was very accommodating and could organise just about anything for you

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1. Location: on the isle in the river where there are some local restaurants with balcony. It’s lovely to have meals and shisha by the river 2. Host: the host arranged daya trips and the next day’s transport for me, I hesitated first but the price is quite fair in comparison to online platforms. Communication is easy with him as he speaks English fluently 3. Room: sparkling clean and has basically everything needed for one night. Beddings are comfortable and clean as well with good smell.

I had an amazing time at Nuba Tod guest house! Originally, I booked for just 2 days, but I couldn't resist extending my stay for one more day. This place is spotless, and every morning, I woke up to the soothing sounds of birds and waves. Then, I headed up to the rooftop for my daily dose of yoga. Let me tell you about the owner, Abouda. He's an absolute gem. As a solo female traveler, I truly appreciated how he'd give me a call to ensure I was safe if I happened to return late at night. It felt like being with family. I can't recommend this place enough! It's a real hidden gem. 😊🌴🏠

The location was close to the pier, about 3 min walk. The room was clean, and with aircon. The owner Mr. Mohammed was the best. ALWAYS ready to help you, help you with your tours, give you options,etc.. He has tours also which has a really good and competitive price. His tours are even cheaper compared online.

I liked how clean the place is, also there's a rooftop with a nice view of the Nile where you can chill. Place is also close to the boat in the island. The owner is really nice and helpful. He will assist you in whatever you need, and would go out of his way to help you. He has tour packages which has a good price and competitive pricing. We booked 1 night here, but then decided to extend 2 more nights. Has also strong wifi. You would feel at home on this place. Highly recommended!

Abouda is an amazing host, he made our trips to Egypt a truly memorable one. He organized our trips to Abu Simbel, Philae Temple, boat trips to another Nubian village, and an amazing felucca ride from Aswan to Kom Ombo. Abouda’s brother Ali was our captain on the felucca and was as friendly and knowledgeable as his brother. We sailed during the day along the Nile, and slept on the boat under the stars, a really incredible trip! The guesthouse is located on Elephantine Island, where farmers work in the fields, kids play in the sandy streets, and donkeys roam around. The island is extremely charming in its authenticity, and we loved having dinner in the restaurants near the guesthouse. Connection with the mainland couldn’t be easier, with boats going back and forth every ten minutes.

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The owner, Mohammed, is very helpful. Very relaxing and clean room.