Elzeth

Has anyone taken a 3-day trip down the Nile on a felucca? Care to share your experiences?

DJCat

I did a tour of Egypt with Imaginative Traveller which included a 3 day felucca trip. I really enjoyed it and found it very relaxing. Amenities are very basic though - no toilets. You sleep on a big mattress that is on the deck of the felucca. The meals that were prepared for us were very good but nothing fancy. We had good winds so were never becalmed. I would definately do it again, but then I love sailing and cruises do not appeal to me.

Elzeth

Thx DJCat! We would like to do the same. I will contact Imaginative Traveller. Elzeth

Elzeth

DJCat can you tell me a bit more about the trip itself. What did you see? Did they give you an option if you need a toilet? We do not want to take a normal cruise ship, but we do not want to get ourselves into something which is too much for us either. We are in our late fifties, but still very adventurous. What do you suggest?

MissGreen

No toilets???!!!! (I have a thing for nice bathrooms!)

DJCat

We stopped at both Kom Ombo and Edfu temples and because we were on our own felucca we were not on a tight schedule like the cruise boats are. The felucca only goes as far as Edfu and then you go by vehicle the rest of the way to Luxor.

At night the felucca is docked on shore. At one stop we got to watch some local farmers training their bull to pull a plow.

When you need to use the toilet you just tell the captain or in our case our tour guide who told the captain and he found a place to pull up on shore that had some cover. A little easier for the guys then us gals. Our guide was very strict about not leaving toilet paper behind on shore and provided plastic bags for us to put the paper in until we got back to the boat and the garbage bin. I believe some boats setup some type of toilet on shore but we just went behind a bush. If you have never been camping this may not be for you - it is very basic.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Joanne

Grcxx3

Joanne - you are a brave soul!

I have done lots of camping, including several camping trips in the Fayoum area (east of Cairo) - but "roughing it" on a feluca on the Nile was WAY beyond my comfort zone!!

I loved the relaxed atmosphere of the Nile boats, didn't care about crossing thru other boats to get to ours (I was nosy and wanted to see what they were like!!)

But - everyone has their own comfort level and needs to make choices accordingly.

Elzeth

I'm also a bit nervous about taking a felucca for 2-3 days. Maybe someone can suggest something a bit more comfortable but not a cruise ship?
E

Grcxx3

I know you said NOT a cruise ship - but just keep in mid that the cruise ships are NOT the big things you usually think about with cruises. They are smaller, more intimate, and quite comfy.

http://www.right-travel.com/images/h...Zahra_Main.jpg

http://www.nile-cruises.co.uk/images/oberoi_philae.jpg

DJCat

There are also Dahabeeyahs - a step up from the felucca but quite expensive.

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/dahabeeyah.htm

Elzeth

I think I found a solution. I will let you know as soon as I have confirmation.

BeniciaChris

Ohhhhhhhh this sounds absolutly dreadful-what if you had mummy tummy and had to keep pestering the captain. Plus one needs a bit of privacy. I can't even imagine it. Chris

Elzeth

True!