Day 1 – Depart Aswan and board the felucca
You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Aswan at around 9:00am and taken down to the jetty, where your traditional felucca will be waiting. It’s worth packing a small day bag with everything you’ll need for today, tonight and tomorrow morning, as your main luggage will be stored out of reach. We suggest bringing a warm layer, towel, mosquito repellent, slippers, a torch and your toiletries. Blankets and pillows are provided on board, but a sleeping bag liner can be a nice extra for comfort.
Your felucca is a simple wooden sailboat with a billowing white sail – a classic Nile scene. It’s not large, but perfectly suited for a relaxed couple of days on the water, shared only with your travel companion(s) and crew. Days are spent lounging on deck, with mattresses laid out for you, and at night you’ll sleep under the stars. Facilities are basic – sometimes there’s a toilet on board, otherwise stops are made along the riverbank – but that’s all part of the charm of this easy-going, back-to-basics experience.
As your felucca slips away from the jetty, you’ll begin a gentle, unhurried glide along the Nile, with no engine noise to disturb the peace. From the deck, everyday Egyptian life unfolds along the banks – farmers at work, children playing, and donkeys and buffalo cooling off in the water. Depending on the wind, you’ll stop along the way to visit a village, share tea with locals, enjoy lunch and even take a dip in the river. By sunset, you’ll moor up for the night, where a freshly prepared dinner is served on board, followed by a peaceful evening under the stars before settling in to sleep on deck.
Day 2 – Sail to Kom Ombo and arrival in Luxor
Wake and watch the sunrise over the river as you continue sailing for another hour. You’ll moor near Kom Ombo and enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking. From here, you’ll visit the striking twin temples of Haroeris and Sobek, set dramatically along the river, before continuing towards Luxor with a stop at the remarkably well-preserved Temple of Horus at Edfu. No matter how many temples you see, the scale and craftsmanship of ancient Egyptian architecture never fail to impress, bringing your Nile journey to a memorable close.
Accommodation
