Eco Nubia Ecolodge Spring 2019
Eco Nubia
Winner of the 1st UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition
Eco Nubia Ecolodge
Reviving the Nubian heritage - Creating a new Ecotourism spot in Egypt
Eco Nubia project is located on Bigeh Island, which is considered as an archaeological site situated along
the Nile River in historic Nubia, and within the Aswan Governorate of southern Egypt. The island has been
situated in the reservoir of the Old Aswan Dam, since the dam's initial completion in 1902.
Eco Nubia is a new Ecolodge aiming to promote the eco-friendly lodging with authentic Nubian food and
beverages, and unique beach area directly on the Nile surrounded by the amazing nature of the island. The
project also includes a community center that is suitable for organizing events with a unique view overlooking
the famous Philae temple.
Best month to visit us
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Project Map Facilities Our Prices Photos Sustainability
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Bigeh was formerly an island in the First
Cataract of the Nile River, and its
fortification controlled the access to
ancient Upper Egypt and Nubia. It is
Aswan a World Heritage Site, located close
to Philae and Agilkia Islands and their
City ancient archaeological sites in the
reservoir.
Aswan Dam
Bigeh belonged to the "islands of the
Osiris graves " and was considered in
ancient Egyptian mythology as a primeval
mound of creation. Osiris acted in this
context as the patron of the ancestors, in
order not to disturb the "rest of creation"
by making music, hunting or fishing, every
non-priest person was forbidden to enter
an Osiris grave island.
Our aim is to give Bigeh back some of its
High Dam lost glory, by raising knowledge and
increasing visits to this sacred island.
Philae
Temple
Awad
Island
Bigeh
Island
Heissa
Island
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Eco Nubia Spring - 2019
Bigeh Project Scope
We aim to help original inhabitants of the island to rebuild their
houses, using the same old techniques of Nubian Architecture, in
parallel to develop a complete utilities network and infrastructure
(Water – Sewage – Electricity) in an eco-friendly way to protect
the island’s natural heritage.
As for job creation, we aim to add the island to the Egyptian
ecotourism map, and introduce this unique type of tourism in the
whole area around it, with all related services such as: lodging in
Nubian houses, revive authentic Nubian food recipes and drinks,
community center for local and visitors’ events, Nubian handcrafts
preservation.
Project Deliverables
Phases & The project should deliver the following tangible products:
Timeline - Reconstruction of 5 Nubian houses on Bigeh island
- Design & implement Furniture from Nubian heritage for the
5 reconstructed houses
Project was divided into 4 - A complete utilities network (Water – Swage – Electricity)
phases: for the village of Bigeh
- Phase I: Nubian Food - Water treatment and waste management natural
Heritage Revival methodologies
(Nubian Restaurant) - Landscape for the whale village of Bigeh
- Phase II: Nubian Art & - Construction of Nubian Restaurant on Bigeh island
Architecture - Construction of community center on Bigeh island
Preservation (Houses
- Design & implement workstations for eco-friendly Nubian
rehabilitation) handcrafts
- Phase III: Community
Center Model The intangible deliveries:
- Phase IV: Nubian - Preserving the island’s natural heritage
Handcraft Heritage
- Preserving the old architectural techniques of Nubians
Revival
- Reviving old Nubian food recipes
Project kickoff was back in - Protecting the Nubian handcrafts heritage
June-2017, expecting to - New ecotourism destination in Egypt
finish last phase by Oct-
- Successful prototype for interaction with Nature, which is
2019
copy able
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Our Facilities: Philae
Temple
Lodge: Awad
The remaining of the houses on the island give us an idea about Island
how it was originally built. The masons used only mud and rocks
(granite) to build all houses, with mud break in case of building a Bigeh
vault. Island
Our plan was to rebuild the houses of Bigeh using the same Heissa
material with the same building techniques, as this might help in Island
introducing the old concept of building with rocks and mud to the
Nubians again (as they lost it) and encourages them to build their
new coming houses with the same way.
About the Ecolodge
First stage of the project is completed by the rehabilitation of 3
houses in the small village of Bigeh, while utilities network (Water – Activity Type:
Swage – Electricity) is implemented for the whole village. Hiking – Nubian food &
All material used in buildings and furniture is eco-friendly material beverages – Locals
from the area around, and we also recycle our sewages and use it interaction – History –
for our landscape. Swimming – Beach – Yoga
& Meditation – Conference
Our ledge consist of the following available rooms: Hall – Fishing – Bird
- 4 Small rooms (Single or Double) watching – Kayaking
- 4 Large rooms (Triple rooms) Physical Demand:
Our capacity can reach 20 guests maximum. Medium fitness
Comfort Level:
Eco Friendly rooms –
Comfy – No air-conditions 4
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Eco Nubia Spring - 2019
Our Facilities:
Bigeh Beach:
Swimming in the Nile was always an exotic idea for many visitors
in Aswan, because of the beauty and the clear water the Nile enjoy
in this area.
The water between the 2 dams (where our island is located)
considered as the best fresh water in Egypt, as it comes directly
from Nasser Lake, and then cross the Aswan dam to continue its
journey in the Nile. We don’t have any source of pollution in both
Lake Nasser and in our area between the 2 dams, that is why this
water is considered as clean fresh water suitable for drinking, and
actually most of the Nubian communities living around our island
drink directly from the Nile.
Swimming in the Nile won’t be a strange act in this area, as we will
be copying what local communities do. Still we can be the source
of pollution to the Nile, that is why one of our beach rules is to take
your shower before getting into the water (not after) to remove any
Our Project chemicals like sunblock or creams before your swim.
Scope
We aim to help original
inhabitants of the island to
rebuild their houses, using Eco Nubia Community Center: (Osiris Hall)
the same old techniques of Nubians were always famous with their community centers
Nubian Architecture, and named: “Gameya”. They do it in any place they settle in. our plan
develop a complete utilities
was to build Nubian Gameya with the aim of using it as a gathering
network (Water – Sewage –
point for island’s citizens, and also to rent it - when available - to
Electricity) in an eco-
friendly way, to protect the other entities for events and retreats.
island’s natural heritage. The Hall is 10M X 8M with total area of 80 meters square, and
We also wish to add it is built with the same concept of Nubian architecture using rocks
the island to the Egyptian (Granite) and mud.
ecotourism map, with all Osiris Hall is located on top of the small mountain behind the
related services such as: village in order to have a wide view of 360 degree, and is available
lodging in Nubian houses, to be rented for your events.
revive authentic Nubian
food recipes and drinks, Currently we rent the hall with no furniture inside, still we can
community center for provide the needed furniture / setup according to the nature of your
locals and visitors’ events, event.
Nubian handcrafts
preservation. 5
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Our Restaurant
Solaih Nubian Restaurant
Part of Eco Nubia project – first Ecolodge in Aswan
Nubian kitchen is rich with its recipes, but unfortunately these recipes are not commonly used
right now among Nubians and started to disappear.
We aim in this phase to establish a Nubian restaurant that provides only Nubian cuisine with
old and new recipes. The restaurant will be in a premium location on the island overlooking the
famous Philae temple. All restaurant buildings, utilities, furniture, and even tableware will be made
of eco-friendly material from the area.
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Our Price List
Price
Service Notes
Weekend Weekday
Single Room 75 $ 65 $ Per Room (BB)
Double Room 95 $ 80 $ Per Room (BB)
Triple Room 115 $ 95 $ Per Room (BB)
Beach Day use (without
30 $ 25 $ Per Day
room)
Osiris Hall 20 $ 15 $ Per Hour *
25 $ Open Buffet / Guest
Solaih Nubian Restaurant
15 – 20 $ Average per Meal
* 50% discount for our room residents
- Prices are with US Dollar / you can pay equivalent in Egyptian Pounds
- Weekends are: Thursday / Friday / Saturday
Validity:
These prices are valid till Apr. – 2020
315 el Mehwar el Markazy (B) – 6 October – Giza, Egypt
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Phone: +201001230755 – Email: Ahmed.yehia@eco.com.eg
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Our Activities Price List
Service Price Notes
Birdwatching on Kayak 15 $ Per Hour / Per Person
Kayak tour around the island 10 $ Per Hour / Per Person
Camel Ride in Qobbet el Hawaa 20 $ Per Person *
Sand Boarding in Barbar 15 $ Per Person *
Lake Nasser Tour (with lunch) 25 $ Per Person *
Swimming Free Free **
Hiking on Bigeh Island Free Free **
Full-day fishing at Lake Nasser 60 $ Per Person
Fishing in the Nile around our
15 $ Per Person
island
* Including transportation from / to our island
** For our Ecolodge residents
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Our Eco Nubia team are looking forward to host you…
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Eco Nubia is the Winner of the 1st UNWTO Tourism
Startup Competition
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Eco Nubia Project & UN SDGs
We see ourselves aligned with 7 goals of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
We found that our activities (planned and accomplished) are matching many of the UN
SDGs as following:
- 5-Gender Equality
Our jobs are distributed between the 2 genders in Nubia, right now we have 70% male Vs 30% female and still
working in balancing the opportunities
- 6-Clean Water and Sanitation
We use natural filtration to produce clean drinking water, and we also recycle our swage to have water for our
landscape. A new concept in the Nubia area
- 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Our energy sources divided between electricity from the dams around us, planned solar system, implemented
bio-gas system.
- 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Our project provided 12 permanent jobs so far, and we plan to have 25 job opportunities by the end of the
project, workers doesn’t need to have any degrees to apply, only experience and to be from Nubia. Income is
much higher than Aswan average salaries.
- 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
We plan to revive the disappeared Nubian handcraft industry to create a market for it, we also implemented a
new concept in the island’s infrastructure that is copyable in other areas.
- 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
We always think about how this model can survive, and we will explain more about that in the coming section of
Sustainability
- 13-Climate Action
Our CO2 footprint is the minimal in the area of Nubia. 18
Sustainability in Bigeh project
Project is designed to survive by the people of Bigeh
Project will work on the following
methods in order to insure
sustainability of all activities:
- Training for island’s inhabitants on the
methods of building with rocks and mud to be
able to fix whatever needed in their buildings in
future
- Training the island’s inhabitants on the new
water treatment and waste management
techniques in order to be able to maintain the
system in future
- Involve the islands people in the management
of the ecotourism activities in order to be able
to run the business them selves in future
- Help craftsmen and craftswomen of the island
to find suitable markets for their products, and
train them on Sales and marketing techniques
- Make sure that the economical value for
activities on the island is more appealing than
working outside.
ECO Group
Ahmed Yehia
Founder & CEO
315-el Mehwar el Markazy, 6 October city
Giza, Egypt
Tel: +2 0100 1230755
Email: ahmed.yehia@eco.com.eg
www.eco.com.eg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/econubia/
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