Nubian Holiday House Aswan
by the TopOfHotel team
Nubian Holiday House is the cheapest bed in our Aswan list — a real Nubian house from about $20 a night.
Nubian Holiday House is the cheapest bed in our Aswan list — a real Nubian house from about $20 a night.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The rooms are plain in the best way. Walls are painted in the blue, white and turquoise that mark out a Nubian house, with woven local rugs on the floor and patterned curtains, and the feel is a world away from a city hotel. Reviewers keep saying the same thing: it is like stepping inside the local culture rather than looking at it from a tour bus. The rooms are clean, the beds are soft and the air-conditioning works, which matters in Aswan heat. At rates starting near $20 a night, this is the cheapest pick in our Aswan roundup.
Food and amenities
The dining balcony is the part guests photograph. It looks out over a slice of the Nile and the western desert, and the Nubian family serves homemade food there rather than a buffet line: chicken stew, spiced rice and fresh fruit, with breakfast included in the rate and built from local produce. Facilities are deliberately simple beyond that, so there is no pool, no spa and no lift, and Wi-Fi is the main extra. Several reviews single out the meals as a genuine experience you will not get at a chain.
Location and getting there
The house sits in the Nubian village on the west bank of the Nile, which means you cross by local ferry to the Corniche on the east side to reach the main town. The fare is tiny and the ferry runs through the day, and Felucca launch points are within walking distance for a sail at sunset. Aswan airport (ASW) is about 25 km away, roughly a 30-minute drive. It is the right base for travelers who want Nubian culture on a budget and would rather spend on an Abu Simbel trip, about three hours south.
Things to know before booking
Set your expectations to guesthouse, not hotel. There is no pool, spa or lift, so this is for people who want character over extras. The west bank location adds a ferry hop to every trip into town, which is cheap but is a step to plan around if you are short on time. Peak-season rates climb toward $43, and some rooms show a bit of wear, so ask for a recently refreshed room when you book ahead.
Our take
For backpackers, Nubian Holiday House is the easiest yes in Aswan: a real Nubian home from about $20 a night, run by a family who feed you on a balcony over the Nile. You trade resort comfort for a ferry crossing and basic facilities, but you keep the money and the memory. At 8.8/10, it earns its place as the budget end of this list.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- This is an actual traditional Nubian house, not a hotel dressed up as one. The blue, white and turquoise walls, woven floor rugs and patterned curtains give it a character that reviewers repeatedly describe as feeling like stepping into local life.
- Rates start around $20 a night, the lowest of any hotel in this Aswan roundup, which leaves real budget for a day trip to Abu Simbel or a Felucca sail.
- The dining balcony is the feature guests keep mentioning. It looks out over a slice of the Nile and the western desert, and the Nubian family serves homemade food there, including chicken stew, spiced rice and fresh fruit, with breakfast included in the rate.
- The Nubian owners live on site and look after guests personally, so you get local knowledge on ferries, Felucca prices and the village rather than a front desk reading off a script.
- Scores are strong and consistent across the booking sites, at 8.8 on Booking.com and 8.7 on Agoda from real recent guests, which is reassuring for a place at this price point.
- Facilities are basic by design. There is no pool, no spa and no lift, so it suits travelers who want a clean, characterful room and not resort extras.
- It sits on the west bank, so reaching central Aswan and the Corniche means taking the local ferry across the river. The crossing is cheap but adds a small step to every trip into town.
- Peak-season rates climb toward $43, and some rooms can show wear, so it is worth asking for a recently refreshed room when you book ahead.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Aswan
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Insider Tips
- Ask the owners to arrange a Felucca sail from the village launch points; booking through them is usually cheaper than the touts along the Corniche.
- Take the local public ferry rather than a private motorboat to cross to the east bank, the fare is a tiny fraction of the price and it runs through the day.
- Have the family cook the homemade Nubian dinner on the balcony at least one night, the chicken stew and spiced rice are a different experience from any chain hotel restaurant.