Private Tour: St Simeon's Monastery. Ride a camel to St. Simeon’s Monastery on a private, 3.5-hour tour on Aswan's Elephantine Island. Glimpse faint traces of fresco paintings as you explore the 7th-century site, and take in stark views from the fortified walls. Learn the story of the monks that used Elephantine Island as a basecamp for missionary trips into Nubia, and find graffiti left by Islamic pilgrims during their long journeys to Mecca. Book and Save 10%: Private Tour: St Simeon's Monastery.