felucca cruise

Felucca vs. riverboat: How will you discover the Nile?

Travelling Egypt without spending time on the Nile, would be like going to Italy and not seeing the Colosseum or visiting Peru and not stopping by Machu Picchu .

Having said that deciding how to tackle this mighty beast can throw up all manner of questions. For instance, when’s the best time to go? How long should I spend onboard? And, most frequently, do I choose a felucca or riverboat?

To quickly address a couple of those queries, October to April is the best time to travel because it’s not too hot (between 25-30°C), making temple pitstops much more pleasant. Also, on an Intrepid trip you can expect to spend a maximum of one night sleeping on a felucca, but three nights if choosing a cruise.

That detail alone should give you some indication of what you’d prefer. But, if you’re still befuddled, don’t worry, all will soon become clear as we help you to decipher the differences between these two river roving options.

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Option 1: Felucca

Photo captured by Ryan Bolton

Simply speaking, a felucca is a traditional Egyptian wooden boat with a canvas sail, but they do come in lots of different shapes and sizes. Aswan is the usual boarding point for felucca rides, although you can also hop on at Luxor. Once aboard you’ll journey along the river between these two spots, but how far you travel is heavily dependent on the wind and water current.

The felucca offers some welcome shade and protection from the sun (and other elements), but there are no cabins or enclosed areas. Passengers will sleep in the open air on a communal mattress for the night. You’ll be provided with a blanket, but you may wish to bring a sleeping bag during the cooler months. It’s worth mentioning that these can be rented locally, so you don’t need to worry about lugging one all the way from home!

RELATED: 7 EGYPTIAN EXPERIENCES EVERY TRAVELLER SHOULD HAVE

Your Nubian sailing crew, which tends to be made up of two sailors and a chef, will cook all the deliciously hearty meals you’ll tuck into on your trip. Get ready to gorge yourself on local delicacies like foul (an Egyptian fava bean stew), falafel, hummus, pitta bread and more.

As well as sharing a sleeping space, which also triples up as your dining and relaxing space, you’ll share a bathroom with your fellow passengers. On an Intrepid trip you’ll have access to a proper Western-style toilet and a shower, the only felucca on the Nile to have one! Who says travelling this way has to be basic?

Hints and tips

1. No shoes are allowed on deck to avoid contact with your sleeping mattress, so they’re left in a basket at the front of the boat when boarding.

2. Swimming is safe (and encouraged). The section of water between Aswan and Luxor is clean and taking a dip is a real highlight.

3. You can enjoy a drink onboard, although these need to be ordered in advance. Please mention this to your guide and crew ahead of departure.

4. We’ve been working with the same felucca provider for 15 years and Captain Jamaica (or JJ to his friends) is a core part of the Intrepid family.

Trips travelling by felucca

• 8-day Egypt Adventure
• 8-day Egypt Family Holiday
• 9-day Essential Egypt
• 15-day Explore Egypt

RELATED: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRAVELLING IN EGYPT

Option 2: Riverboat

meunierd/Shutterstock

If you’d rather not compromise on creature comforts, then a Nile cruise is absolutely the right route for you. These riverboats could easily be compared to boutique four or five-star floating hotels, housing 50-70 private cabins. Just like the feluccas, these vessels operate between Aswan and Luxor. However, they run on a schedule meaning you’ll always spend three nights onboard.

Typically on these trips you’ll get up early to explore before the heat of the day and then have the afternoon to spend at your leisure. You’ll disembark the boat daily, which will give you plenty of opportunities to check out the abundant ancient sights peppering the shore. From Abu Simbel to Kom Ombo temple, you can look forward to seeing it all!

RELATED: 7 MUST-SEE SIGHTS IN EGYPT THAT AREN’T THE PYRAMIDS

Given the capacity of these riverboats, you’ll be sharing facilities with travellers who are not a part of your Intrepid tour. What a great way to meet even more like-minded people though, right? Facilities include a luxury lounge, sundeck, restaurant, rooftop pool and bar. You’ll also enjoy all your meals onboard, the menus for which will feature a wide selection of mouth-watering local dishes. With some boats even able to cater for gluten and lactose-free diets.

We couldn’t tie off this section without mentioning the cabins, which come fully airconditioned, beautifully decorated, with a private bathroom, colour TV, minibar and more.

1. The boat will be anchored at port each evening and only on the odd occasion would you be sailing through the night. So, you don’t have to worry about missing out on the views.

2. Be sure to bring your bargaining skills, as plenty of small boats will approach trying to sell souvenirs and onshore excursions will have their fair share of local merchants too.

Trips travelling by riverboat

• 12-day Egypt Experience

RELATED: THE ULTIMATE EGYPT PACKING GUIDE

No matter which option you choose, you’ll need to bring the following along: swimmers and a towel, sunscreen and insect repellent, a good sense of humour and excellent conversation skills.

Want to experience the best that Egypt has to offer? Check out Intrepid’s diverse range of tours today!

Feeling inspired?

I'm a firm believer in the saying: "you'll always regret what you didn't do, not what you did". So, even after people told me I'd never get a job again if I left London to travel, I did it anyway. 29 countries later, and it will always be one of the best decisions I've ever made (corny maybe, but true). Life's short, the time to get out there and see the world is now!

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Felucca Boat Trip on the Nile: What Is It Like?

There are few things in life as relaxing as taking a felucca boat on the Nile River in Egypt for an overnight trip.

A Nile Felucca cruise is a traditional way to take an enticing journey through the ancient land of the Egyptian Pharaohs. While there are many options when it comes to river cruising in Egypt, there is no experience quite like that of the traditional Felucca boat.

Often referred to as a floating bed, we sailed for 2 days & 2 nights with our feet in the water by day and sleeping under the stars at night. Just the way the Egyptian’s and Nubians have done for centuries.

Taking a Nile River Felucca trip in Egypt is one of the Top 100 Travel Adventures  in the world.  View the list  and follow our mission to complete them.

Sailing a Felucca Boat on the Nile River in Egypt

Table of Contents

What is a Felucca Boat?

Feluccas are solely wind-powered, acting like a sailboat, and have no engines or power aboard.

They cruse the river with large sails, zig-zagging back and forth with the currents and wind patterns. If there’s no wind your trip will take longer if there’s wind you will get there faster. It will be slow but that’s life on a Felucca.

At first, Lina and I really were not sold on floating slowly down the Nile river on a floating mattress in the unforgiving Egyptian heat. I mean, who really wants to do that?

It didn’t even sound fun to us but we dig adventure and this is one of Egypt’s best. So, as we always do, we looked at it as an adventure and if anything it would be two lazy days sleeping on a boat doing nothing.

Now that we’ve done it, there’s really no wonder why National Geographic named this adventure as one of their top 500 journeys of a lifetime. As a result, we have added this to our Top 100 Travel Adventures in the World.

Introduction to Life on the Nile River

After checking out all of the sights in Aswan,  we were ready to set off down the Nile river on our own traditional Felucca boat.

Once aboard it was time to say goodbye to shoes and to go barefoot for the next two days. We were handed a welcome drink, two pillows and were left to find our spot on the floating mattress.

I know it sounds funny, floating mattresses, but there really is no exaggeration. The boat floor was made with wood slats and then set atop it was a layer of foam mattress, covered with a futon type cover.

This would be where we sat, laid, ate and slept during our trip. Above our heads was a canopy that covered the width and length of the felucca to shield us from the hot Egyptian sun.

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With Elephantine Island to our left and Aswan to our right, we started our trip down the Nile River. Our trip started in the early afternoon, around 11 am, and we set sail upriver with the current.

After sailing for a few hours and enjoying the sights our group decided it was time for a pee break. Felucca boats do not have onboard toilets.

For us guys, it’s no problem, we just go over the side but for the girls, this can be a problem. No worries though, there’s a rope off the back of the boat.

All you have to do is jump in, grab the rope, hold on and do your business.  Alternatively, you can hold it until you pull up to one of the banks, where you are greeted by a bush toilet.

Check out: The Best GoPro Accessories for Adventure Travel

Camping on the Banks of the Nile

After the first day of sailing our Nubian crew picked a spot on the riverbank where we would anchor the Felucca to enjoy the sunset and settle in for the night.

Who can say they have camped on the banks of the Nile River? Well, we did! Not an experience you will get on those larger river cruise boats. Our perfectly chosen spot offered cover for the bush toilets, an area to swim and a hill to watch the sunset from.

I quickly jumped off the boat to climb up that hill to watch the sunset. The view from the top of the hill showed us that there was nothing for miles.

It was what I would imagine the surface of Mars would be like, just sand for miles and rolling landscape. It was just us and the raw nature of Egypt, that made it a special experience in itself.

While the aroma of dinner began to fill the air we took our time to relax, explore the area and go for a swim.

The Nile River is a refreshing welcome after spending a day in the heat. Eventually, the smells of dinner and our selfish stomachs couldn’t keep us away from the felucca.

It’s amazing what the crew cooked up for us and seeing as we were on the Nile River, it was only fitting that we had fresh Nile perch.

After dinner, it was time to enjoy ourselves and take in the moonlight on the river. It was a great time to play some card games and just enjoy the darkness.

Felucca Camping Tips: You sleep on the deck mattress of the boat and will need a blanket or light sleeping bag in the winter months. Canvas walls and a roof are erected at night if it is cold or windy and mosquito nets are also provided at night while you sleep. Mosquito repellent is recommended for the evenings and early mornings, and wearing long sleeves at night is a good idea.

Cruising the Nile River – Day 2

Around 3 am I awoke to fisherman fishing near our felucca. They were in little wooden fishing boats and were hitting the water with their paddles and throwing nets into the water.

We had been warned to put whatever we did not need under the deck during the night so no one could see what we had.

They easily could have paddled up to our boat and grabbed whatever they wanted. These fishermen did not even care that we were parked in their daily fishing hole.

As the rest of our group began waking up, our crew cooked all of us eggs, brewed hot coffee and served us fruit before raising our sail.

The rest of our day would be one of relaxation. After spending the morning lying on our floating mattress we found a great sandbar along the river to pull up on and enjoy an afternoon of swimming.

The local villager was worried that we might damage his crop, so he watched from far away as we all played in the water.

Shortly after lunch, which was another great meal, we were back on the river to sail. A surprise afternoon tailwind put us ahead of schedule and we found ourselves docking for dinner near our stop for the following day.

The night was short and we woke up finding ourselves just steps from the temple of Kom Ombo.

Would we take another Nile River Felucca trip?

Yes, this was a great adventure. It was certainly a little slower then our typical adventures and a lot more laid back but can easily be added as a unique adventure experience to have in Egypt.

Felucca Tips: Don’t bring too much stuff. You’re just going to relax, eat and sleep. Bring a book, I-pad or something to play music on. You can even pass the hours on the Nile playing games on your iPad. There’s nowhere to charge your items so bring a power cell to charge things. Use lots of sunscreen and bug spray. Don’t forget snacks just in case you get hungry between meals. Don’t forget your towel, remember that it can also act as a blanket. It can get cold at night, I was happy in my silk sleeping bag but an extra blanket is always nice.

We took our Felucca trip while traveling through Egypt with Oasis Overland on their 17-week expedition from Cape Town to Cairo.

More on Egypt:

• Is Egypt Safe?
• The Best Places to Visit in Egypt
• Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Valley of the Kings in Luxor

Did you like this story? Share it!

Travel planning resources, about david stock.

I have always been an outdoorsman so becoming an adventure traveler was just the next natural step. I love nature, I love to get off the beaten path and I like to explore. I enjoy scuba diving and cars. And yes, Lina and I have a naked dog.

3 thoughts on “Felucca Boat Trip on the Nile: What Is It Like?”

Awesome trip guys! I’ve always wanted to do that!

Looks amazing! We are heading down the Nile in March.

I think you’re in for a fair bit more luxury than we had!! 🙂 You’ll enjoy it though. Egypt is awesome.

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Felucca Nile Cruises – Sail The Nile In Timeless Tradition

Most Felucca Nile cruises are typically journeys that last from one to three hours, and a trip in one of these traditional sail boats can really allow you to get up close to some fascinating sites which aren’t accessible via larger boats or ships.

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What is a Felucca?

The Felucca is a type of dhow, a traditional boat that originated in the Middle East. They are typically characterized by two tall, lateen sails, and they have been used in one form or another for thousands of years already. They have been historically important to commerce in this region, and in fact, they were the main means of water transport all the way up until the mid Twentieth Century.

These days, they are frequently the option of choice among tourists who want a relaxing, and also very quiet experience of Felucca Nile cruises.

Visiting Archaeological Sites with Felucca Nile Cruises

The Nile River snakes its way through some of the most important archaeological sites in the world. The famed Valley of the Kings; Valley of Queens; Philae Temple and Karnak Temples are just some of the spectacular ancient sites located all along its winding path.

Nile cruise holidays are more popular than ever because unlike most things in life, Nile cruises have become increasingly affordable over the years. All Nile cruises offer travelers an opportunity to enjoy and experience what they will never forget. Making such a journey in a boat that makes no sound save for the wind in the sails and the bow cutting through the water, allows one the peace to reflect upon where they are and the significance of what they’re actually witnessing.

Watching farmers work their fields (just as they have been doing for thousands of years) from the deck on a Felucca Nile cruise while silently sailing is well and truly a magnificent experience. If a Felucca cruise is too “bare-bones” for you, and you would prefer a similar experience but which is far more comfortable and luxurious, then we would recommend a Dahabiya Nile cruise instead.

Design Your Custom Egypt Tour

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Types of “Felucca” Cruises on the Nile

Many modern “Feluccas” are converted yachts that are owned and operated by private captains or by tour agencies, as are the bigger and more elegant Dahabiya boats, as seen in the picture above. Nearly all Nile River cruises , including Felucca cruises, depart from either Luxor or Aswan and head up or downriver, respectively, following much the same route as the large cruise ships.

Felucca tours can be booked for a few days or for longer than a week, and are more often than not private tours booked by families and/or small groups of friends.

Felucca Nile cruises are by their very nature smaller than the majority of the boats you will see sailing up and down this historic river. The original Feluccas (unmodified versions) can typically accommodate between 6 and 8 people, which makes them perfect for a small group of individuals who are travelling together.

Private Felucca Nile cruises can also be arranged, either through a reputable tour operator of by negotiating a price with one of the locals. However, the latter option is not recommended. It’s also worth noting that with very basic cruises, you will almost certainly have to forego any luxuries. Amenities are often very basic or sometimes almost non-existent.

These days, an increasing number of tourists are also making the journey from Aswan to Luxor or from Luxor to Aswan on Feluccas, but it can be quite a costly choice.

An Authentic Experience

For a truly authentic experience, it’s really impossible to beat a Felucca cruise. You’ll be taking part in a history that spans millennia, and you will be doing so just as the people who are native to these lands have done for generations. The boats themselves represent part of Egyptian culture, and the closer to the culture one can get, the better.

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Felucca Ride on the Nile in Aswan

Description.

Enjoy your Felucca ride in Aswan and Take a relaxing ride on an Egyptian sailboat in Aswan and to enjoy the river breeze, a fantastic sailing experience around Elephantine Island and visit the famous Botanical Gardens in Aswan

Tour Details

Why you'll love this trip:.

Board a felucca from Aswan, one of the best places to take a Nile cruise with its scenic shore side landscapes and fascinating ancient sites.

Experience the tranquil charm of the Nile at Aswan on a felucca boat and Learn about local culture, history, and life from your Egyptologist guide

Enjoy a spectacular sunset over the River Nile

Very comfortable – Pickup and drop off from / to your location in Aswan

Suitable for all ages and genders.

Suitable for the honeymooners and romantic.

A great way for relaxation after a long day.

Multiple times offered throughout the day

Late afternoon a tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Aswan, and transfer to the Nile side where your Felucca is waiting. Board your boat and relax on the soft cushions. Experience the peace and tranquility of the Nile water that has been the lifeblood of Egypt since Pharaonic times. Enjoy a cool drink as you gently glide down the river.

The felucca will sail to the Aswan Botanical Garden "Lord Kitchener's Island". The island was given to Lord Horatio Kitchener in the 1890s when he was commander of the Egyptian army. Indulging his passion for beautiful palms and plants, Lord Kitchener turned the entire island into a stunning botanical garden, importing plants from the Far East, India and parts of Africa. Covering 6.8 hectares, it turned to be a paradise of exotic trees and plants in carefully gardens with view walkways. It later passed into the property of the Egyptian government and was used as a research station for examining different food and cash crops.

Enjoy walking among the majestic Royal palm tree, the Sabal Palm tree, the phonic Pam tree, Ficus trees, and the beautiful bougainvillea trees. Take your ride back and watch the sun sets slowly over the trees of the Botanical Island, the nearby Elephantine Island, and the Aswan Nobles tombs with fantastic reflection of a sand dune over the Nile. Back to the Nile side and then transfer to your hotel in Aswan.

What's Included

• Pick up service from your hotel in Aswan and return
• Professional English-speaking tour guide
• Boat fees and entrance fees 
• Felucca ride for about 01 hour
• Bottled water during your trip
• All service charges and taxes

Not Included

• Extras of Personal spending

6 Person & more

Prices: Prices are quoted in US Dollars per person per trip except during Christmas, New Year & Easter holidays.

Children Policy: 0 - 01.99 Free of Charge 6 - 11.99 pay 50% of tour price 12+ pay full tour price as per adult person.

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• Felucca Ride

Feluccas are the traditional sailboats of Egypt Nile. Egyptians and foreigners alike enjoy a relaxing felucca ride, as they are perfect for catching the breeze on a hot summer night, for brisker sails the rest of the year and watching the sunset anytime. They are ideal for an impromptu party after work, a romantic evening, and for soothing the tots on the weekends. It is not unusual for friends to get together and rent a felucca for an hour or two for a small social gathering. Such gatherings, frequently after sunset, may not do much sailing at all, but simply sit in a quiet cove where everyone can enjoy the lights on the banks and the river traffic.

The felucca has remained, over the centuries, the primary transportation of the Nile. Its ancient form still graces the river as it has done since the time of the Pharaohs. Motorized barges transport bulk material and modern cruise ships transport tourists, but the felucca remains despite modern alternatives. The felucca rarely has any form of engine and relies entirely on the breeze which builds during the day and usually subsides at night, and the Nile River’s current. Egypt is blessed with a predominant southerly wind that pushes sailboats upriver, while allowing them to return on its current downstream.

Some of the craft today are used to carry tourists who wish to enjoy an eternally peaceful journey carried along by the gentle breeze and the currents of the river. In fact, a felucca ride is very often included in many standard tours. Some feluccas even carry passengers for longer voyages of several days, but only the most adventurous tourists usually take part in these, as the accommodations are rather primitive.

Few feluccas are now made entirely of wood, but the basic layout has barely changed. They don’t have a keel as such, but a heavy center plate which can be raised in the shallows. The sails are seriously low tech affairs made of native cotton and other natural fibers.

Feluccas are usually furnished with cushions around the circumference and a table fixed in the middle; where one can surely enjoy picnic style lunch or dinner while enjoying a different view of the metropolis. Your captain tucks his Galabeya (tradition Egyptian male dress) about his waist and steers with his feet, while busily drawing and letting the sail to and fro as the vessel tacks up and down the Nile.

This is the perfect short trip if you want to enjoy the best of Egypt in an adventurous and informal style. Beginning with the Great Pyramids and Sphinx in Cairo, we see all the classic sights of Egypt. There’s Luxor and the Temple of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the Colossi of Memnon, and a free day in Aswan to allow an optional visit to Abu Simbel. The adventure comes in our choice of Nile transport, where we have opted for the single-masted, lateen-rigged sailing boat called the felucca. These age-old workhorses of the Nile give us the freedom to cruise between the great sites along the river, watching rural life pass us by. The winds and currents may necessitate some adjustments to the itinerary, but the schedule is designed to allow for flexibility. Throughout the trip you will be accompanied by one of our local guides who are all experts on ancient Egypt.

Felucca Adventure Packages

Package 01:, 2 nights aswan / 2 nights nile felucca sailing boat adventure / kom ombo / edfu / 1 night luxor tour package 6 days 5 nights.

you can see details and prices of this package in the following link

http://www.egypt-nile-cruise.com/2-nights-aswan-2-nights-nile-felucca-sailing-boat-adventure-kom-ombo-edfu-1-night-luxor-tour-package-6-days-5-nights/

Package 02:

Aswan / luxor felucca sailing tour 5 days / 4 nights.

http://www.egypt-nile-cruise.com/aswan-luxor-felucca-sailing-tour-5-days-4-nights/

Package 03:

2 nights nile felucca ride adventure sailing boat from aswan to kom ombo and transfer to luxor.

http://www.egypt-nile-cruise.com/2-nights-nile-felucca-ride-adventure-sailing-boat-from-aswan-to-kom-ombo-and-transfer-to-luxor/

Package 04:

Fishing day trip in luxor.

http://www.egypt-nile-cruise.com/fishing-day-trip-in-luxor/

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Cruising the Nile in Egypt: The Complete Guide

Written by Jess Lee Apr 29, 2021

Cruising the Nile is one of Egypt's iconic experiences . Without the Nile, Egypt's grand Pharaonic civilization would never have survived and thrived across the centuries, dominating so much of what we know about the eastern Mediterranean's ancient world.

Today the Nile still controls modern Egypt, with around 95 percent of the population living along its banks and in the river's delta region before it spills into the Mediterranean.

A cruise along this river is a journey into Egypt's epic human history; the river banks scattered with Egypt's most famous vast temples and painted tomb sites.

It's also a taste of Egypt at its most lush and tranquil, and an up-close experience of the country's rural riverine scenery.

Before you head to Egypt, use our complete guide to cruising the Nile to help plan your trip.

On This Page:

Nile cruisers, life onboard, nile cruiser routes and itineraries, dahabiyas: a more intimate and personalized nile cruise, dahabiya routes & itineraries, feluccas: the adventure travel alternative, felucca routes & itineraries, short felucca tours.

The most popular way to take a Nile cruise is on one of the big Nile cruiser boats .

Think of a Nile cruiser as a floating hotel. Normal onboard amenities include a sundeck (or sundecks) complete with a pool and restaurant.

Just like with hotels there is a huge amount of Nile cruiser choice, and boats differ hugely in price and the range of facilities.

Some of the top deluxe boats (often run by, or in conjunction with, five-star international hotel brands) dish up a luxury cruise experience, complete with onboard spa facilities, opulently styled cabins, and gourmet food.

On mid-range boats, you can still expect excellent staff service, but décor will be much less grand (and cabin space will usually be much smaller), and there won't be as many onboard facilities.

Some of the very cheapest Nile cruisers can be rather run down and are best avoided if you want a comfortable cruise experience.

One Nile Cruiser, the M/S Sudan , offers a special heritage cruise stay and the unique chance of cruising onboard one of the original Nile tourist steamships, now refitted for modern comforts but still brimming with 19th-century character.

In general, Nile cruisers carry between around 50 and 100 passengers . Note that this means you will always be visiting the tourist attractions on your included excursions in a large group. If large group tours really aren't for you, think carefully before signing up for a Nile cruise.

Nile cruiser packages usually include all meals and a range of included onshore excursions.

For example, on the most popular Luxor-Aswan cruise route, tours of Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple are included, as well as a tour of Luxor's major West Bank sites .

During the evenings, a range of optional entertainment is included onboard. This can range from musical entertainment to Egyptology lectures depending on the cruise.

As with all cruises, onboard schedules are regimented, as they're corralling a large group. All good Nile cruisers advertise their schedules, so you can check if you're happy with the itinerary before booking.

Cabin accommodation style ranges wildly. More deluxe-style boats offer cabins with big picture windows, which make the most of the Nile views.

Typically, lower deck cabins are the cheapest cruise option. This is because your view will be impeded. If cabin views are important to you, it is worthwhile paying the extra for an upper deck cabin.

The most typical Nile cruiser route is between Luxor and Aswan , with cruises starting from either end.

This route is usually three or four nights , though you will be spending two of those nights at port onboard in your start and end point.

Note that more time than you think will be spent at dock. Actual cruising time upon the river is limited.

On a Luxor to Aswan or Aswan to Luxor cruise, typical itineraries include a guided tour of the highlight tourist attractions of the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's Temple in Luxor's west bank and the Temple of Karnak on Luxor's east bank; stops while cruising along the river at Edfu and Kom Ombo for guided tours of the Temple of Horus and the Temple of Kom Ombo; and a guided tour of Philae Temple at Aswan.

While docked in Aswan , optional excursions to the Temples of Abu Simbel are normally offered, and hot-air ballooning is usually available as an optional extra at Luxor.

Some Nile cruisers offer longer cruises along this route - for example, a seven-night Luxor to Aswan cruise package.

It's important to note that on these longer cruises, the included guided tours and stops mostly stay the same, though a stop in Esna for a guided tour of the Temple of Khnum is usually thrown in.

What these longer tours offer is a less rushed Nile cruise experience with an itinerary that travels from Luxor to Aswan and then returns to Luxor (or vice versa), so that there is more time spent cruising the river, and the offshore guided tours of the temples are more spaced out along the route.

If you're looking for this longer Nile cruise option, though, the Cairo to Luxor or Luxor to Cairo route is a much more interesting route.

This itinerary usually takes between nine and 11 nights . This route usually continues on to Aswan, so you can opt to add in that section as well.

Compared to the amount of boats heading up and down the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, only a handful of Nile cruisers ply the full river route, and there are much fewer sailings through the year.

This itinerary is something of a dream trip for historically minded travelers , heading to all the major Ancient Egypt tourist attractions along the Nile between Cairo and Luxor.

Typical stops along the route (heading north to south) are Beni Suef, to visit the Pyramids of Maydom and Hawara; Minya, to visit the archaeological sites of Tell Al-Amarna, Tuna Al-Gebel, and Beni Hasan; Sohag to visit Abydos and its Temple of Seti I; and Qena to visit Dendara.

As with the Luxor to Aswan cruises, sightseeing tours at your embarkation and disembarking points are also normally included. In Cairo, this is usually a guided tour of the Giza Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum.

The most exclusive way to cruise the Nile is on a dahabiya. These sailing boats brim with character and hark back to the early days of Nile tourism , before steamboats began plying the river; all the famous 19th-century Nile tourists, including Gustave Flaubert and Florence Nightingale made their journeys on dahabiyas.

The boats generally only take between 10 and 20 passengers .

What you lose in facilities (you won't find a restaurant or swimming pool onboard), you make up for with personal service, itinerary flexibility, and a lack of crowds.

If you are looking for a more intimate Nile cruise experience but still want the comfort of a cabin, dahabiyas are an excellent alternative to the big Nile cruisers.

Instead of docking for the night amid a crowded Nile cruiser dock, dahabiyas usually anchor at Nile islands for the night , so passengers can have a taster of the Nile at its most tranquil.

Note that there is much less choice of boats and sailings than with Nile cruisers, so it's best to organize and book as far in advance as you can.

Due to the small size of dahabiyas, if you are traveling in a group, you can also book a completely private dahabiya cruise .

As with Nile cruisers, all meals (served communally on a dahabiya) are included in the cruise price, but the inclusion of guided tours and entry fees to tourist attractions depends on the individual cruise operator. Always check and compare schedules and inclusions.

Dahabiyas most typically sail a route between Esna (58 kilometers south of Luxor) and Aswan (with departures available from either end) with a three-night or four-night itinerary. Transfers from Luxor to Esna are included in the cruise price.

The small size of these sailing boats mean they can dock at places along the river that the large Nile cruisers can't, so itineraries take in interesting monuments and places that the Nile cruisers miss.

A typical three-night itinerary on a dahabiya, with guided tour excursions included could encompass tours at Edfu's Temple of Horus and Kom Ombo Temple, as well as stops at local riverside villages, the ancient quarry and monuments of Gebel El-Silsila, and the village of Daraw with its camel market.

Feluccas are the traditional single lateen-sail boats of the Nile. This is a Nile cruise for the more adventurous . What you lose in facilities, you gain in scenery, tranquil star-filled nights, more time spent on the river, and a close-up experience of river life.

Feluccas generally take up to eight passengers and have a two- to three-person crew that do the sailing and cooking during the trip.

There are generally no bathroom facilities onboard. Passengers don't expect to shower until they have disembarked, and the felucca anchors at a Nile island or bank when passengers ask for a toilet break.

Passengers sleep on the cushioned deck at night . It's a good idea to bring a sleeping bag although feluccas usually provide plenty of blankets if needed.

Meals are simple but tasty Egyptian home-style cooking, often kept vegetarian due to the only refrigeration being the onboard icebox.

Time spent on a felucca is life reduced to the basics , so don't expect Wi-Fi onboard or electricity. At night, the felucca is lit by candle lanterns, while daytime cruising activity is basically lazing about on deck admiring the scenery, or reading, with plenty of time for swim stops as well.

Guided tours and monument fees are not included in a felucca cruise price. Felucca cruises are priced in the budget price-point , and the cost usually covers the felucca transport, meals, and copious cups of tea.

Unlike Nile cruisers and dahabiyas, felucca cruises are often arranged and booked on-site in Aswan.

Always check out the boat before agreeing, and discuss what amenities will be available - for example some feluccas will stock their boat with soft drinks and water to sell to passengers, while others will expect the passengers to bring these extra supplies with them.

Feluccas start from Aswan to follow the flow of the river . Journey itineraries are generally sold as one-night, two-night, or three-night cruises.

Itineraries are very relaxed (sailing speed depends completely on the wind and weather conditions) and can be customized completely, with stops at local villages and lesser-visited sites along the river such as Gebel El-Silsisa.

The one-night option includes almost two full days on the river, so it's a great choice if you really want to experience Nile life up close but are not sure if you can handle more time without creature comforts.

One night felucca cruises finish at Kom Ombo Temple. The most popular felucca cruise option is the two-night cruise , which stops along the way at Kom Ombo and finishes at Edfu for the Temple of Horus. Three-night cruises disembark at Esna.

Transfers to Luxor (or back to Aswan) at the end of the journey can be included in the cruise price, but as feluccas are all individually operated, all inclusion details need to be agreed on before sailing.

If you love the idea of felucca travel but don't think you would be comfortable on a felucca overnight tour, fear not - you can experience cruising the Nile in this traditional style on a day trip.

Both Luxor and Aswan are prime destinations for short felucca trips , which are usually priced by the hour.

Some Nile cruiser itineraries offer a short felucca ride around Aswan's islands as one of their included excursions while at dock there.

Short Aswan felucca tours loop around the islands, usually making stops at Kitchener's Island and on the west bank near the Monastery of St. Simeon. For a longer felucca tour, head south to Seheyl Island.

For the best photography options, time your trip for just before sunset.

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Felucca cruise on the Nile

• 1 Understand
• 5 Stay safe

A felucca cruise is a great way to experience the life source of Egypt : the Nile .

Understand [ edit ]

A felucca (Arabic: فلوكة, Falūka ) is a traditional wooden sailboat and relies on wind and river currents for propulsion. It can be a slow experience, but that's half the point. All meals will be taken on the boat, and you sleep on the boat when night temperatures can drop dramatically.

Prepare [ edit ]

The most convenient place to begin a felluca boat trip is Aswan. The felluca trip will be personally arranged with a boatman. They leave whenever they are available for your convenience. Contact the boatmen on the Corniche and make personal arrangements. It is best to have a sleeping bag with you to use to keep warm at night (this is especially important in the winter - it can be very cold at night) otherwise you can ask your boatman to help you purchase a blanket in a local market.

If you are a solo traveler, you can approach your hostel or a middleman on the corniche and ask to join a group. Be assertive that you will not ride with more than 8 people plus crew; anything more is going to be pretty tight for sleeping. Six or seven is preferable. The trip shouldn't cost much more than 60LE per night.

A possible better solution is to get three or four people together (ask around at your hostel) and approach the felucca captain directly. Make sure that you are dealing with the captain himself and not a middleman; many middlemen troll the corniche and act like captains. You will likely be able to negotiate a price that's better for everyone.

Ask to see the boat and decide for yourself whether or not you are comfortable with the boat and the captain. If you ask about the boatman from a hotel - they will take a commission, so it is cheaper to work directly with the boatmen.

The arrangements will include food, and transportation from Edfu to Luxor. The three day trip will include a tour of a Nubian Village, stops at Kom Ombo , and Edfu .

Get in [ edit ]

Bring a sleeping bag for sleeping on the boat, because it gets cold. Drinking water is a good idea, along with any other beverages or small snacks you may want. Sun screen is a good idea, as the sun on the water is intense even in winter.

Float [ edit ]

The traditional felucca ride sails for three day and two nights to Kom Ombo, then minibus service runs to Edfu and on to Luxor . A one day trip on the felluca is possible, but it will only be a round trip, and a short visit to a local village. If you have a group together, you could also try a two-night trip to Edfu , or even more.

Stay safe [ edit ]

Bring xerox copies of your passport to give your fellucaman, they need copies to get a license from the police for taking tourists down river.

Go next [ edit ]

Transportation to Aswan from Luxor includes train, and airplane. Convoys have been eliminated, so travel is easier. Getting from your felluca trip to Luxor will be provided by your boatman. Sometimes travel from the river to Edfu is on local buses, which is lots of fun.

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Egypt Nile Felucca

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Private Felucca Ride on the Nile River

Short Felucca Trip On The Nile In Cairo

Felucca Ride on The Nile River and 4 Stars Dinner Cruise

4 Days 3 Nights Egypt Travel Package To Cairo Luxor & Aswan

2 Hours Felucca Ride on the Nile River from Cairo With Lunch

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Egypt Nile Felucca - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Felucca Nile Cruise in Egypt: a Must Do Activity

Egypt is literally built along the Nile, it’s the lifeline of the country since the ancient history of the country. The 4000-mile long river connects almost all the cities of Egypt. A highly recommended activity during your visit to Egypt is to do a Nile cruise and especially in a traditional felucca.

We visited Egypt in October while the weather was still pretty hot and traveled all around the country. From Aswan, we went up to Luxor during an overnight trip with a traditional felucca Nile cruise. Sailing along the river, sleeping on the open boat, and having dinner on the water was an amazing experience. In this blog, we tell you everything you need to know about the felucca Nile cruise from our own experience.

Find cheap flights to Egypt here!

Where to Start the Cruise

Most of the Nile cruises are in between Luxor and Aswan and you can start the cruise from either of these cities. If you are traveling all over Egypt we would advise starting in Aswan since it’s the most south of the country. If you take a train from Cairo you can sleep in and arrive fit in the morning and from Luxor it’s easier to go to the next place since it’s located more centrally. The river flows from south to north so in this direction you go with the flow, but either way is possible.

Felucca Nile Cruise

There are many Nile cruises, most of them are big cruise boats but when you want a more authentic experience we would recommend a felucca Nile cruise. A felucca is a traditional wooden sailboat, without a backup motor. It’s a very relaxed way to travel the Nile. We went with Egypt Nile Cruise and the felucca we traveled with was a double-deck boat. At the top deck you can relax, enjoy the sun, and watch the sail swing from one side to another while on the bottom deck you can chill out in the shade and enjoy the fresh wind blowing through the open boat.

Where Do You Eat & Sleep?

The bottom deck of the felucca was covered with cushions and makes one big bed where you can sleep with a lot of people. When we took the felucca cruise we were only with 5 guests and 3 friendly crewmembers. In the back of the boat is a small kitchen part where the crew cooked the most delicious local meals and it was honestly better than in most restaurants we ate.

During the day we sailed among the Nile and after sunset the boat anchored at a pier. While the cook was preparing dinner, we were invited to walk with another crew member to the Nubian village where they lived and he showed us his house and offered us tea. It was great to experience their culture, and for once they didn’t do it for the tips but just to show us their way of living.

Upon return at the boat dinner was served, and afterward, we stayed docked at the pier overnight.

How Long Does the Cruise Last?

The Felucca Nile cruise we joined was 2 days one night, but they also had a 3 days 2 nights option . With the 2-day tour, we spent the first day on the boat sailing on the Nile. On the 3 day tour, you have 2 days of sailing on the river. While you zigzag along the river you will see Egypt from a different perspective. It’s calm and peaceful and you get totally relaxed.

On the last day of the tour we were dropped off after breakfast and the tour continues by can/van. First, we visited the temple of Kom Ombo where a guide explained to us everything about the temple and the hieroglyphs. Afterward, it was a 60 km drive towards Edfu where we visited the Temple of Horus. After this temple, it’s another 120 km drive to Luxor where we were dropped off at our hotel. The transfer and a guide during the visits were included in the price of the Felucca Nile Cruise.

Where to Stay After the Felucca Nile Cruise

In Aswan, we stayed a few nights on Elephantine Island. It’s a 5-minute ferry to the mainland but on the island, it’s way quieter and nobody will bother you with tours and such. We stayed at the El Prince Guest House , it was not very clean but the owner was so friendly and helpful which made up for the dirtiness.

Find all hotels in Aswan here! 

When we arrived in Luxor we stayed at the Nefertiti Hotel Luxor . It is opposite the Luxor temple and it was a great and affordable place to stay. They also offered drivers to explore Luxor and the West Bank for a reasonable price. We can advise you to book a driver from the hotel instead of negotiating with drivers on the street because at the end of the trip they always want a ridiculous tip or let you pay more than agreed on.

Find all hotels in Luxor here!

Read all our other blogs about Egypt here!

This felucca Nile cruise was a great experience which we really enjoyed. Especially with the friendly crew, the relaxed day on the water, and the beautiful views along the way. We would definitely recommend trying it out.

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A Sail Through History: The felucca boats of the Nile

Travel the river nile as people who have in the time of the pharaohs on a felucca boat with travel writer paul manser..

The mudbrick farmhouse casts a long shadow over pale, sun-scorched sand. Date palm silhouettes stand dark on the horizon. A late afternoon gust breaks the surface of the river pushing water high onto the muddy bank. The aged wooden boat moves at speed away from the land’s edge, its off-white sails full and stretched with momentum.

The boatman raises a hand over his brow. He stands looking into the blurred, sun-reflected distance where the water should end and sky begin. His face looks like a well-loved leather shoe; worn in and creased in all the right places. When he stands to smile and wave at every passing boat, our small vessel rocks and rolls with all of the pent-up enthusiasm of a hungry dog’s tail at dinnertime.

A larger river cruise ship ambles past heading in the same direction. A few passengers sit out on deck and we get close enough to see them raise their all-inclusive cocktails into the air as a greeting. Just as fast as it appeared, the river cruiser is out of sight, around a bend in the river before the last of the sun’s rays are spent and we have finished a conversation around how sometimes there are places where the journey is worth taking your time.

The river we are on is worth the wait. It can be argued that there is no body of water in the world that is flanked by so much history. The River Nile is not just the longest river in the world, but has also been the mythical life source for one of the greatest civilizations in human history.

There would be no conversation today about ancient Egypt without the River Nile. The annual inundation, or flooding of the Nile, millennia ago allowed for large-scale food production to support a growing population and led to the refinement of modern farming techniques like irrigation.

Such was the centrality of the Nile to ancient Egyptians, that river plays a core role in one of the most important myths of the Egyptian gods. In mythology, the god of the dead and regeneration, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was killed by his brother Seth on the banks of the River Nile and put into it in a coffin before having his corpse cut into pieces. Although his widow, Isis, succeeded in reassembling his body, with which she eventually conceived a son — the god Horus. Osiris, however, did not return to life and became king of the underworld. The ancient Egyptians believed that the dark shadowy waters of the Nile, and the sediment the river left after the annual flooding, were the result of Osiris and the afterlife.

Today felucca cruises offer travellers a slow meander through history; the chance to travel the River Nile as people would have in the time of the Pharaohs. The cruises commonly range from a short voyage of a couple of hours out of Cairo to see the modern metropolis that has grown up along the riverbanks, to a multi-day journey between Aswan and Luxor. The popular Aswan-to-Luxor leg will take travellers to some of ancient Egypt’s most important sites like Nekheb (or El Kb), which was the capital of Upper Egypt prior to the construction of the Pyramids, and the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the two gods Sobek (the crocodile god) and Harveris (the sun god).

Fewer and fewer of the vessels are made entirely out of wood today, however the basic structure of the felucca has not really changed since the time of the ancient Egyptians. A felucca is an open-decked boat often covered in colourful cushions and pillows for passenger comfort, complete with canvas shelters to block the searing desert sun. Made for sailing over shallow waters, feluccas don’t have a keel as such, but a heavy centre plate that can be raised over sandbars or when depth is an issue. Accommodation for passengers is on the deck of the boat itself, so travellers are advised to bring a sleeping bag or blanket for the cooler evenings.

As the traditional sailboats of Egypt, feluccas are written into the country’s DNA. The iconic image of the single-sailed craft sitting low in the water is often what comes to mind when we think of this part of our world. While feluccas may not have the in-room wireless connectivity, mini-bar or tiled bathrooms of the larger ships that ferry passengers along the ancient river, the opportunity to sleep on the open water of the Nile — looking up at the same star-freckled night sky as those who built the pyramids — is a travel experience not to be missed.

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5 days on our felucca A NEW LIFE

An unforgettable sailing adventure.

Luxury takes second place to the natural world all around us and its wealth of sounds and scents, with nights spent under the starry sky.

A felucca is a traditional small lateen-rigged sailing ship, about 12m long and 4m wide. Our felucca has a keel, which allows it to tack across the current. You will spend your days on board on our comfortable deck cushions, watching the riverbank scenery glide past. We moor at small islands to allow you to swim or go for a stroll. We take you on walks through villages and plantations and along the fringes of the desert. The children in the villages are always particularly delighted to see guests. If you wish to bring them small gifts, pens or crayons are suitable. Instead of walking, you can also travel by donkey.

Enjoy some impressions of a felucca Nile cruise and listen to what our guest has to share about his experience in this video: “Felucca Nile Cruise”

Prices are available on request.

SAILING THE NILE ON OUR FELUCCA ``A NEW LIFE``

We will be happy to stop at any of the sights along our route. Our tour guide is a knowledgeable and experienced Egyptologist and will accompany us for an additional fee, or guides at the individual temples will explain the special features of the sites for a tip.

You will spend the nights on comfortable mattresses on the felucca or the companion ship, in a curtained berth for privacy. Or you can sleep under the stars on the roof of the companion ship.

Hygiene: The River Nile is your bath – or we are happy to set up a shower cabin on shore for you.

• Romantic journey on the Nile
• Breathtaking views
• Visit all the sights en route you want to see
• Dreamlike sunrises & sunsets

STOPS ON THE FELUCCA NILE CRUISE

We will start your adventure by taking you to Edfu where you will embark on the felucca A NEW LIFE. Then, we’ll start the adventure in Edfu, where you can visit the Temple of Horus, the best preserved temple in Egypt. After that we set sail and start your magical journey. You can enjoy the breathtaking views of the Nile. For the night we moor at a peaceful island.

At Wadi Shatt, we invite you to walk through plantations, villages and along the edge of the desert. The felucca will moor at Gebel el Silsila.

Gebel El Silsila

Gebel el Silsila is a quarry where the stone needed for the major buildings of the age of the Pharaohs was hewn from the rock. You will also find “chapels” carved into the rock faces.

In Kom Ombo we visit the fascinating temple of the gods Sobek and Haroeris and marvel at the collection of mummified crocodiles.

Darau is home to the famous camel market, a unique experience for visitors where you can observe camel dealers bargaining over prices. Afterwards we stroll through the lively, bustling streets of Darau, drinking in the colourful wealth of produce on display. We take a seat at a coffee shop to watch the world go by.

After a leisurely breakfast, you disembark in Aswan. We take you to your hotel or to the airport or train station. Have a good journey and all the best!

NILE CRUISE ON OUR FELUCCA ``A NEW LIFE``

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If you would like to book a cruise on our dahabiya ABUNDANCE or MINYA or our felucca A NEW LIFE, please complete this form. We will then get back to you to confirm availability and discuss your special wishes.

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-- Choose your cruise -- Cruise to El Minya 8 Day Dahabiya Nile Cruise on ABUNDANCE 8 Day Dahabiya Nile Cruise on MINYA 5 Day Dahabiya Nile Cruise Luxor-Aswan (each monday) 4 Day Dahabiya Nile Cruise (Aswan-Luxor, each Friday) Sunset Cruise Felucca Adventurer's Nile Cruise on Felucca (5 Days) 3 Magic Days in Cairo

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Egypt Explorer - Felucca cruise & Red Sea

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Places You’ll See

• Visit the Pyramids of Giza and see the mythical Sphinx
• Enjoy the scenery as you sail along the Nile on felucca
• Explore the stunning Aswan and the West Bank of Luxor
• Go sightseeing in Cairo and experience the open market

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• Introduction
• Day 1 Airport pick up to hotel in Cairo
• Day 2 Cairo, Giza
• Day 3 Aswan
• Day 4 Felucca Cruise
• Day 5 Kom Ombo, Luxor
• Day 6 Luxor to Hurghada, Red Sea
• Day 7 Hurghada, Red Sea
• Day 8 Hurghada, Red Sea
• Day 9 Cairo
• Day 10 Cairo airport transfer

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Operated by Timeless Tours

We are a travel agency that knows time must be treasured; therefore together with our tour suppliers we aim to provide comprehensive introduction to the history and traditions of the country you are visiting. We offer a range of tours with fully qualified and educated guides to suit every traveller. Not only you will see the famous sights of your chosen destination, we also want you to experience it in depth with local tour guides who were born and bred there. It is vital to us that you have a memorable and authentic experience the tours – by combining the well-trodden tourist spots with moments of real adventure you are fully immersed in the heritage and culture of the country. Since we began, we have helped to create unforgettable travel experiences for thousands of travellers from all over the world. That is down to the quality of our people. Our staff members have extensive and firsthand knowledge of the region and are passionate about what they do. We have a close knit, friendly team who will take care of you on your travels and be there to answer your questions every step of the way. We look forward to welcoming you on your Timeless Tour.

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation policy.

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 4.6
• Itinerary Excellent 4.7
• Guide Excellent 4.9
• Transport Excellent 4.4
• Accommodation Excellent 4.4
• Food Good 4.0
• Tour Operator Timeless Tours 4.6
• Most Recent
• Most Popular
• Highest First
• Lowest First
• PH Penny · 3rd May 2024 Mina was an absolutely amazing guide! Would definitely recommend!! :) Trip date: December 2023

Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024
• December 2024
• January 2025
• February 2025
• August 2025
• September 2025
• October 2025
• November 2025
• December 2025
• January 2026
• February 2026
• -45% Saturday 11 May, 2024 Monday 20 May, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,190 €654 Confirm Dates
• -45% Get Instant Confirmation Wednesday 15 May, 2024 Friday 24 May, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,190 €654 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -45% Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 18 May, 2024 Monday 27 May, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,190 €654 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -45% Get Instant Confirmation Wednesday 22 May, 2024 Friday 31 May, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,190 €654 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -45% Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 25 May, 2024 Monday 3 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,190 €654 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -45% Get Instant Confirmation Wednesday 29 May, 2024 Friday 7 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,190 €654 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -45% Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 1 Jun, 2024 Monday 10 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,190 €654 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -45% Get Instant Confirmation Wednesday 5 Jun, 2024 Friday 14 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,190 €654 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -45% Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 8 Jun, 2024 Monday 17 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,190 €654 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -45% Get Instant Confirmation Wednesday 12 Jun, 2024 Friday 21 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,190 €654 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips are not included in the tour price however this is at your own discretion and a guide for tipping will be provided to you with your finalised travel documents.

We strongly recommend bringing a backpack or duffel bag, as suitcases can be oversized and difficult to store in buses, under seats, etc. You are allowed to bring one main piece of luggage weighing no more than 20kg and one small soft bag for hand luggage. Please bear in mind you will have to carry your own luggage at some points on the tour.

After breakfast, the trip will end in Cairo where it began and transfer to the airport is provided without an additional cost.

Day 1 of the tour is an arrivals day, so you can arrive at any time. Airport transfers are included and there will be a briefing in the evening.

Airport transfers are included in the tour price and can be served at any time 24 hours a day.

Of course, we can! Once you have a confirmed booking on this tour, we can request additional accommodation for you with the tour operator.

This tour has a minimum age limit of 16 years old and a maximum age limit of 70 years old. That means that this tour is not suitable for children under the age of 16.

This is a list of hotels that they typically stay at, but please be advised that they are subject to change: 2 nights at 4-star hotel in Cairo "Oasis Hotel Pyramids or similar" 1 night at 4-star hotel in Aswan "Basma Hotel or similar" 1 night on board Nile Felucca 1 night at 3-star hotel in Luxor "Lotus Hotel or similar" 2 nights at 4-star hotel in Hurghada "Sunny Beach Resort or similar Hopefully, this list will give you a better idea of what kind of accommodation you can expect while on tour.

Flights before and after the tour are not included in the tour price. You can organize your flights separately at any point.

Yes, it's still possible to join the tour even with your late arrival on the first day. While the rest of the group will be on the Pyramids tour, you could join the tour once you arrived and if you have enough time on the last day before your departure flight, we could arrange for you to visit the pyramids with no extra charge.

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Good to Know

• Currency £ Egyptian Pound Egypt

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F.

• These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
• Typhoid - Recommended for Egypt. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis A - Recommended for Egypt. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis B - Recommended for Egypt. Ideally 2 months before travel.
• Rabies - Recommended for Egypt. Ideally 1 month before travel.
• Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an infected area for Egypt. Ideally 10 days before travel.
• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 8th July 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 8th July 2024, a minimum payment of 10% is required to confirm your booking with Timeless Tours . The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Timeless Tours will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "Timeless Tours " tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
• TourRadar is an authorised Agent of Timeless Tours . Please familiarise yourself with the Timeless Tours payment, cancellation and refund conditions .
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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• Felucca Nile Cruise From Cairo to Luxor

Felucca Nile Cruise From Cairo to Luxor 9 days

• Private tour
• Family friendly
• Book now pay later*
• Question and answer

Explore Egypt's ancient wonders in an 8-day tour. Starting in Cairo with the Pyramids, Sphinx , and Egyptian Museum , travel by train to Aswan for a felucca Nile cruise and Nubian village visits. Marvel at Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo Temples , and relax on board. In Luxor, discover Edfu, Karnak , Luxor Temples, the Valley of the Kings , and Tutankhamun's Tomb , with an optional hot air balloon ride. The tour concludes with a return train journey to Cairo.

Day 1 Cairo

Meet and assist at Cairo International Airport, transfer to the hotel, dinner.

Overnight in Cairo.

Day 2 Cairo

Breakfast at the hotel then start your tour by visiting the Pyramids and Sphinx. Have a lunch and afternoon visit Egyptian Museum then visit old Cairo. Dinner then transfer to the train station for a train 1st Class seats to Aswan.

Overnight in the train.

Day 3 Aswan - Nubian Villages

Arrive to Aswan by early morning then transfer to the sail boat (Felucca) to discover the country side and visit the Nubian villages. Lunch on board made by the crew then afternoon start visiting High Dam and Philae Temple, later back to the Felucca, dinner on board.

Overnight in Aswan.

Day 4 Abu Simbel Temples - Kom Ombo

Breakfast on board then you will the chance to visit Abu Simbel Temples (300 km south of Aswan - it is an optional) then back to Felucca and sail north to Kom Ombo. Have dinner.

Overnight on board the Felucca boat.

Day 5 Kom Ombo

Relaxing on the Felucca board, breakfast, lunch and dinner on board.

Visit Kom Ombo Temple which had 2 Gods Horus and Sobek.

Day 6 Relax onboard

Overnight at the Felucca boat.

Day 7 Edfu Temple - Luxor Temple - Karnak Temple

Breakfast then check out from the Felucca boat and visit Edfu Temple. Transfer to Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple then transfer to the hotel.

Lunch and Dinner.

Overnight at Luxor.

Day 8 Valley of the Kings - Habu Temple - Tutankhamun Tomb

Breakfast at the hotel, check out (and there is a chance to do Hot Air Balloon ride early morning - it is an optional) then visit the West Bank of the Nile (Valley of the Kings and Habu Temple), Tutankhamun Tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Lunch and dinner then transfer to the train station for 1st Class seats train back to Cairo.

Over night in the train.

Day 9 Cairo

Arrive in Cairo early morning around 07:00 then transfer to Cairo international Airport for flight back home.

What's included

* Please check prices for full list of inclusions and exclusions

• Accommodation
• Guiding in selected language
• Meals (full board)
• Pick up and drop off
• Transportation
• Park/ museum entrance fees

Available in

Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Please, note that the language(s) offered (if applicable) )

Available for

Children, Students, Adults, Seniors

Departure & Return

Start city : Cairo , Egypt

Pick up times available: 07:00

Pick up location: Cairo International Airport

Ends at: Cairo International Airport

Nearest airport : Cairo International Airport (CAI)

We are Eco Aware:

• Licensed tour guide
• Local or indigenous tour guide(s)

Cancellation policy

0% cancellation fee - 7 days or more before the travel date 50% cancellation fee - between 3-6 days before the travel date 100% cancellation fee - between 0-2 days before the travel date

There are no questions about the product. Be the first to ask a question.

Other itineraries

The Treasures Of Cairo Tour

10-Day Egypt Tour: Cairo, Aswan, Nile Cruise, Luxor And Hurghada

King Tut From Birth To Glory Tour In 15 Days

5 Day Egypt Tour: Cairo, Alexandria And Luxor

Explore The Land Of Pharaohs: 4-Day Tour Of Cairo And Luxor

Egypt In 6 Days: Cairo & Nile River Cruise

from $455 per person

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