Benben Hotel
An eco-conscious island retreat on Aswan's Nubian island of Heissa, with Nile views, terrace jacuzzis and a 24-hour water shuttle, near the Temple of Philae.
Benben Hotel asks for a little patience to reach, and repays it the moment you arrive. The hotel sits on Heissa, an old Nubian island in the Nile near Aswan, accessible only by a water shuttle that runs around the clock. The crossing itself is part of the welcome.
Once there, the city’s bustle falls away. Rooms are eco-conscious and unhurried in their design: high wooden ceilings, natural light, terraces that open onto the river. Several come with in-terrace jacuzzis positioned squarely at the Nile, which is as good a reason as any never to leave your room.
The hotel leans into its setting rather than competing with it. A hot spring bath, a spa, a hammam and an open-air bath give the days a slow, restorative rhythm. This is a place built for stillness, for travellers who measure a stay by how rested they feel at the end of it.
Location is the quiet luxury here. Benben sits within easy reach of the Temple of Philae, the Aswan High Dam and the Nubian Museum, so the great sights of the region are close without ever intruding on the calm.
Part of the Dhara Hotels collection, Benben is the considered choice for Aswan: a soulful island hideaway where simplicity is the point. Book a terrace room with a Nile-facing jacuzzi, and let the river set the pace.
