Felucca Sailing in Egypt

Felucca's are simple, traditional Egyptian sailboats, that have plied the mighty Nile since ancient times. Our feluccas are proudly owned and crewed by friendly local sailors and they have been adapted to comfortably carry our travellers.

Being a wind-powered craft with no motor, felucca's are dependent upon the wind to propel them forth. The itinerary is not rigidly defined, for this reason. However, during our cruise, we make plenty of stops to visit points of interest, areas for swimming and for the purpose of performing our ablutions. The felucca sails during the day, taking in the colourful sights of the Nile village life en-route with various stops, planned or impromptu. The peaceful routine of life aboard allows us to escape the stress of everyday life! Prior to sundown, the anchor is dropped and we moor at the riverside for the night. Nothing beats the experience of sleeping under a blanket of stars!

Feluccas carry between 8 - 12 passengers comfortably. The boat’s deck is draped with soft colourful cushions that serve as your lounging and meal area during the day and as your sleeping area at night. Relaxing under the shade of the canopy, you can top up your tan in the sun, share evenings with new found friends, after whiling away another leisurely day.

You'll need to bring a sleeping bag/sleeping sheet and also a towel with you. The crew, as well as being experienced sailors, are responsible for the preparation of the included meals, though they welcome would-be helpers! The food is simple but there is plenty of it. Water, soft drinks and beer can be purchased aboard at a very reasonable cost, a tally for which is kept. On the last day, everybody pays his or her drinks bill.

There are no ablution facilities on board; however, the captain makes regular en route stops for sightseeing, ablutions and swimming (in the safer areas of the Nile, where water is fast flowing, minimising the risk of bilharzia).

Preserving the natural state and beauty of the Nile basin and in support of reducing environmental damage on board our felucca cruises, we operate a simple yet effective and hygienic waste disposal system. Please ensure that you abide with our request that all toilet paper and sanitary items are deposited in the bags we provide. We will then dispose of the bags. All other organic waste should be buried. Drink cans should be compacted and cigarette ends disposed of responsibly. That means - not in the Nile!

Upgrade to 5 star Nile Cruise

If you don't fancy this ancient mode of transport, why not treat yourself and cruise the Nile in style? You have the option of upgrading to a 3 night, 5 star Nile Cruise, see our Pharoahs Pass or Nile Cruise Upgrade for details. Please note, if you are a single traveller, you will have to pay a single supplement for the cruise. If you have any questions, please contact us.