A spiritual journey by sailboat in the Nile River
No visit to Egypt is complete without a Nile cruise by sailboat on the Nile, the longest river in the world and the source of life for Egypt and its ancient civilization. We knew we had to do it, but not on a regular cruise ship, this is too traditional, so we chose to sail down the Nile on a boat of wooden dhows of traditional Egyptian manufacture, which had existed for centuries and was known as "felucca".
Show key points
- The writer chose to experience the Nile River on a traditional Egyptian felucca instead of a regular cruise ship for a more authentic and unique journey.
- Their three-day felucca trip started from Aswan, included a visit to a Nubian village, a full day of sailing, and ended with a transfer to Luxor.
- Life on the felucca was simple but enjoyable, with activities like eating, lounging, and sleeping all taking place in an open covered area.
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- The visit to a Nubian village allowed them to engage with local families, enjoy home-cooked meals, and interact with local children.
- Sailing during the day provided ample time for reflection, cultural conversations, and admiring the lush Nile banks set against the desert.
- Watching the sunset and sunrise on the Nile from the felucca left a lasting emotional impression and was a highlight of the journey.
- For travelers short on time, brief felucca rides are available in cities like Aswan and Luxor, offering a taste of this tranquil experience.
In total, we spent three days sailing the Nile on a felucca, a completely new experience for us. A quiet and pleasant journey along the Nile allowed us to get to know Egypt a little more.
The beginning of the journey. Aswan
Our journey began in Aswan, where we stayed for a few days while exploring southern Egypt, including the Abu Simbel temple. The typical route to sail the Nile is between Aswan and Luxor. However, since the "felucca" is a dhow that requires either wind or currents favorable to work (without motor!), this route is only valid for longer trips. The plan was to sail across the Nile as much as possible towards Luxor. The Nubian felucca crew told us all about the boat and, with the help of our guide, explained the detailed plan for the next few days. In short, on the first day, we sailed to a Nubian village on the bank of the Nile for a meal and sleep. The second day, a full day of sailing. On the third day, we set sail early in the morning to the place where the minibus waits for us to continue our journey to Luxor.
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The felucca was very large as its owner renovated and developed it, so it became more spacious with a bathroom. In case you're wondering, the felucca is a very simple boat, with an open covered space area (this deluxe version of it!) where everything happens, everything like eating, drinking, sleeping and talking. The experience of sailing the Nile on a sailboat is a very relaxing experience. The sounds of sails and nothing else accompanied by seeing the banks of the Nile from a different perspective were fascinating.
There was also plenty of time for a quick stop to jump into the Nile. Well, we just go down in knee-high shallow water and there are no crocodiles!
Nubian Village
Aswan is located in an area with many Nubian villages and a number of them are still found on the banks of the Nile. Our stop today was in one of those Nubian villages. The idea was to learn more about Nubian culture while staying with a local family. These Nubian families get some vital income from hosting tourists in their homes. We shared two meals and the food was delicious! We had a great time playing with the local kids (after finishing school!).
Full day on felucca
The second day of sailing was to be long. We started sailing very early in the morning and only stopped in the evening. Can't sail during the night.
And what have we done for so long? We must say that it was not an easy feature. Let us tell you a little more about life aboard the "felucca".
Noon
The most interesting part was during the afternoon when we were discussing different topics of the daily life of the Egyptian and how they can compare to other countries. It's really interesting to discover the cultural differences between distinct countries and regions, and that's one of the things that makes us want to travel.
The top of the felucca was accessible and was a good place to catch some sunshine and enjoy the view. It's amazing to see how everything is green on the banks of the Nile, and at the same time, the desert there is behind it.
Sunset
Later in the day, the boat stopped on the bank of the Nile where we spent the rest of the evening sleeping. It was a very nice location, perfect for watching the sunset on the Nile. There is nothing more wonderful than seeing the sun at sunset in the Nile River on a felucca. A scene that makes you think a lot about what the ancient Egyptians gave the sun such tremendous importance because of this picturesque scene, a thousand pictures of the sunset are not enough for you to feel the depth of the feeling that this scene conveys to you. But it is truly one of the most memorable scenes.
Evening
Speaking of the first, sleeping on an open boat was also new to us. It was a bit cold during the night but we had a few blankets to keep us warm. This was a great experience!
sunrise
One of the advantages of sailing long in the Nile? Sunrise like this.About an hour later we arrived at the place where the minibus was waiting to take us to Luxor. And this is a story for another time!
Short felucca trips in Aswan and Luxor
If you don't want or don't have time for a long sailboat and felucca cruise, short excursions are available from multiple cities along the Nile such as Aswan and Luxor. Short trips from 30 minutes to an hour or even half a day are available for this unique experience.