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ayu•jidda

[a'yuw - j - (i) ddah]

NOUN In Nubian language: mother of the mother or great-grandmother

إيوچيده

باللغة النوبية: مامت ماما او الجدة الكبيرة

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Experiences

  • FELUCCA

    Unwind with a peaceful felucca ride

  • KAYAKING

    Kayak through the untouched side of the river Nile

  • HIKING

    Hike through the Islands to find Nubia’s true treasures

  • SAND BOARDING

    Slide the sandy dunes with a spectacular view of the river Nile and Heissa Island

  • HERITAGE VISITS

    Discover the ancient sites of Aswan and visit it's outstanding monuments

  • NUBIAN GASTRONOMY

    Immerse yourself in the rich flavors of Nubian cuisine

Our Story

After years of hard work, Ayujidda finally opened its doors at the end of 2022. Built on the Nubian island of Heisa, the lodge embodies the unique character of its surroundings, offering guests a comfortable and authentic experience. Khairy's great grandmother lived in that old Nubian house on the place in the early 1900s. Hence, the name "Ayujidda" which means "mother of the mother" or "great grandmother" in the Nubian language, paying homage to the island's rich history and cultural heritage.

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  • It was a lovely place and exceeded all of our expectations. It was clean and comfortable. We spent the best night there and woke up well rested. The location is very calm and gave us the perfect serene getaway. The people there are very welcoming and helpful and made us feel at home. The only minus is since the place is on an island one cant move as flexible from place to place as on land, but still the boat that took us to the land was always quickly available. All in all me and my husband had the best stay and can only recommend.

    Thiziri

    Frankfurt, Germany

  • The best place in Aswan with a very resourceful host! Tamer arranged for eveything - our pickup from Luxor, our driver through Aswan for touring before our bus departure, and also for the felucca to visit the Isis temple. He literally knows everyone in the location and can help you with anything. The place is also nice with a cozy terrace to memerize yourself with the Nile River view and host mini-parties.

    Ashish

  • A lovely and clean accomodation, on a tranquil island with stunning views! Lovely staff, good service, and great communication 👏

    Sarah

  • I had a wonderful stay at Tamer’s place on Heissa Island. The experience was truly memorable. The room was spotless, comfortable, and professionally prepared, and the setting was peaceful and authentically Nubian. The team’s kindness and generosity really stood out — always smiling, always helpful, and making me feel at home. Special thanks to Mohamed Khairy, Hassan, Reem, Yousuf, and the young boatman Mohamed for their warm hospitality. The place is quite remote, which is perfect for anyone seeking nature and quiet away from city noise. However, the distance from downtown Aswan does add to transportation costs. The boat transfer to the other side of the Nile drops you at another remote spot with no transportation available, so you’ll need to rely on pre‑arranged rides through the team. This is usually convenient, but it can be quite expensive, especially very early in the morning or late at night. Overall, it’s a clean, well‑run stay with exception hospitality. Thank you, Tamer.

    Hossam

    Ottawa, Canada

  • Beautiful, modern, and spotless apartments in a peaceful area of Aswan. The place feels luxurious, with great facilities, warm water, and delicious meals prepared by the team. I ended up staying longer than I originally planned because it felt so comfortable and welcoming. Tamer is an incredibly kind and helpful host, always ready to assist with anything you need. What makes this place even more special is Tamer’s inspiring vision to work together with the local community to make the island greener and more sustainable. Thank you, Tamer, for such a wonderful and heartwarming stay!

    Lisette

  • Loved it! So clean beautiful and clear energy Great communication

    Kaylee

    California, United States

  • Amazing place - highly recommended!! I had such a beautiful time.

    Jenny

  • We loved the place, of all my stays in Egypt this was the one that really made me feel the atmosphere of the country, it is located on an island but that is not a problem because they solve everything for you, both check-in and check-out without any problem, the food is DELICIOUS, I would only advise having a terminal to make payment by card for the food, the view is beautiful from the terrace and you can take a kayak and tour the Nile at no cost! We loved it

    Rodrigo

    Mexico