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A mound of dried chillies in a woven tray, beside a basket of turmeric roots.

Aswan · Sharia el-Souk, Aswan

Aswan's Nubian market

Pyramids of spices, karkadeh, baskets and perfumes, over a kilometre of street.

€ Budget

Aswan's souk street is Egypt's most colourful: mounds of hibiscus, sacks of chilli, woven Nubian baskets, and an unbroken flow of sellers. Prices are gentler than in Luxor and the sales pressure lighter.

The extra bit

Buy karkadeh as whole flowers, not powder: the quality you will not find elsewhere.

Know before you go

The souk comes alive after 5 pm, when the heat drops; by day, half the shops doze.

Directions

Sharia el-Souk, Aswan

Directions

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