Aswan Corniche

The Aswan Corniche is Egypt's loveliest riverside promenade — a palm-lined walk along the Nile where feluccas moor in rows and the desert light turns the water gold at dusk. Across the river lie the sandy slopes of the west bank and the Tombs of the Nobles, while granite boulders break the current into glittering channels.

This is Aswan at its most relaxed: stroll the waterfront, watch the white sails catch the breeze, and negotiate a sunset felucca from the steps. Cafés and hotel terraces line the road, perfect for a mint tea as the sun drops. Few urban riversides in the world feel this calm, or this beautiful.