Over the waters of the Nile, the first floating boutique hotel in Aswan sails luxuriously past the sacred landscapes of Upper Egypt. Derived from the Nubian Fajiki term for ‘My boat’, Anakob boasts gorgeous Nile views from every room, each of which is dressed up with vibrant interiors that celebrate Nubian heritage and local partisanship.

The two-story boat is as much a local concept store as it is a hotel, carefully-curated for your ultimate browsing experience. You can expect to get your hands on specialty brews from Brown Nose Coffee, handwoven carpets from Kilim and local Nubian brand George Saad. You will also be able to peruse 100% natural bodycare products from Nefertari, handmade leather bags from Waad Nizamy and Nubian hats from local artisan Captain Hamtto, to name just a few. Local artists working with Kingfisher Studio, meanwhile, provide a feast for the eyes with their craftsmanship.

From the docks of Elephantine Island and Sheyakhah Oula in Aswan, the boat allows you to explore Aswan’s rich heritage sites such as Philae Temple, the temples of Kom Omboo and Edfu, Kitchener’s Island and Tombs of the Nobles. Visitors can access Elephantine Island via a public ferry between 6 AM to 11 PM.