Feluccas
are the traditional sailboats of Egypt’s 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.
Feluccas
are the traditional sailboats of Egypt’s 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. 
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.