Has anyone done one lately, rather than going on one of the big boats? I think they (feluccas) They sound more interesting, with more local flavor, so to speak. We have cruised before, so would like to try something new. We would want to go from Aswan to Luxor, if possible, around Christmas.

Okay - I have heard that you can take feluccas for distances along the Nile, but to be honest - in the 4 years I lived there, I never heard of ANYONE who even considered it. I just don't think they will provide all the "stuff" you would want.

The boats that cruise the Nile are nothing like the big cruise ships that folks in the US are used to. They are all pretty small, and the nicer ones (such as the Oberoi ones) are really quite enjoyable.

If you're really set on a felucca - just make sure you really know what you're getting yourself into.

well, I am trying to find out what I am getting into - I have read that there are felucca's that literally do not have bathroom facilities on board, and then there are some that are air conditioned, and very comfortable. So, I guess my TA will have to give me more details. We would like a bathroom

When your TA provides details of a "lux" felucca, do share it.

From what I've researched, the traditional felucca that does take passengers, they are very very basic, with no loo, poor food. Not much different than thousands of years ago.

Besides, if no wind, without a motor, you're not going anywhere... dead in the water, which we saw one day from the deck of our regular Nile cruise boat.

geez sandi - forgot about the "wind" issue! We got stuck several times on our felucca outings (just in Maadi) when the wind died.

here is some info that I found on an internet search:
http://www.egypthighlights.com/Stati...ge=NileFelucca

or another type of boat, a dahabiyya (sp?):

http://www.dahabiya.com/default.htm

which looks very exciting to me as according to their website, they were made largely in Egypt, using local labor, and traditional crafts and methods. The bathroom issue on the feluccas has me very worried; if I was in my 20's I wouldn't mind going ashore, but, frankly, much as I love adventure, that's a little much for me.
But, these dahabiyyas look great! I do love slow travel, and as I mentioned, I would really like to do something more indigenous, sort of. The cruise ships just look so impersonal to me, I've done that in the Caribbean, and now want more.

Here's a review:
http://tinyurl.com/38elhf

I'm ready to go today!

<<I'm ready to go today!>.

I don't blame you. I kept thinking "Murder on the Nile" (the movie) or is it "Death on the Nile?" when I checked he web site. Anyway the boats look exotic and romantic.

Go and report back!

Darn these fingers.

"checked the web site."

It was many years ago, but my wife and I did the trip from Aswan to Luxor on a felluca as part of an organized tour with a budget travel company - Imaginative Traveler, as I recall. I think they're still in business and still offer the same basic trip. Overall, the itinerary was very good for a very low price and we had a great time, but it is certainly not going to be something most people will go for.

We were in our 30s and although there were 3 older Swedish women with our international mates aboard the little craft, it was mostly 20 somethings. It was quite an experience - one never to be forgotten for many reasons... We slept toe to toe and 5 abreast on the deck of the boat which was one big mattress. There were two boats for our section of the tour group and then another section of the big group took one of the typical Nile tour boats with cabins and bathrooms.

The food prepared by our captain and his crew was very good (to this day I remember a particularly great tomato salad) - despite the use of river water to clean the dishes! And of course, there was no toilet on board and sometimes, not much privacy on the river bank (there's another memory that won't be forgotten!) And if you want to take a dip in the Nile, be my guest - we all did swim in a spot where the river was moving pretty swiftly, but I do question our judgment on that.

If the wind doesn't blow, you simply float down river so we made the trip according to schedule.

The 3 day felluca cruise was certainly a highlight of a really great trip. I would definitely recommend it if you think it is something you would want to do - assuming things haven't changed much in Egypt in nearly 20 years. For some reason, I don't think things do change much there over the years!

Whatever you do, you'll have a great time on the Nile.

Rich

We did a felucca trip from Luxor in 2005 and I thought it was a highly overrated experience in my opinion. But then I cant say I really enjoyed Egypt in general (that might help to put the felucca experience into perspective).

I know of atleast 2 other individuals who planned 5-7 day sailings (separately) from Luxor to Aswan and didnt really enjoy it.

I would certainly recommend getting a realistic idea of what the felucca experience is going to be like before booking it.

thanks for the info - I have decided against it. We are not 20 somethings, and it all sounds a little too basic. I did want to do something a little less "touristy" which is ridiculous when you think of it since we are tourists, but, those Nile cruises do look big and anonymous and polluting, and I bet they have changed the view at Luxor and Aswan. But they also look really fun and relaxing.

Amol, that's too bad you didn't like Egypt.

Momliz -

Not all the boats that cruise the Nile hold 100+ guests. There are some smaller boats with maybe 10 to 25 cabins. No doubt, these maybe a bit more expensive than some of the larger boats, but do inquire into smaller boats.

And a reminder, unless things have changed since we visited, the Movenpick boats dock at Crocodile Island in Luxor. This is where Movenpick has their resort hotel and is away from the main bulkhead where the other boats dock, even the A&K and Sonesta boats.

One nice thing I noticed was that the "named" boats, A&K, Sonesta, Oberoi and Movenpick, seemed to get docking rights at the bulkhead (in other words: priority docking), so not tied up behind lots of other boats. Whether this was just fortunate or the rule... another item to ask about.

sandi - I didn't realize that the Movenpick boats dock at Crocodile Island, altho it makes perfect sense. We were on the Oberoi Shaharazad when we did our cruise, but the fall before we spend several days at the Movenpick in Luxor and just loved it. It was such a beautiful location right there on the Nile. I loved sitting and having a drink at sunset. And it was so nice wandering the grounds. We also took a 1 hour fellucca ride - where my son was introduced to peppermint tea (which he still loves!).

Of course, when we were at the Movenpick, it was the Thanksgiving after 9/11 and the place was SOOO empty! I felt so bad for the people. We were the ONLY people in the Valley of the Queens when we visited.

Momliz - I feel like we have really "torpedoed" your fellucca cruise, but I hope you realize that our concerns are for your comfort and safety (dishes washed in water from the NILE.....OMG...I'd die!!). I hope you have a wonderful time in Egypt - it's a fabulous country!

Grcxx3 -

Not until we docked did we realize we "weren't IN Luxor" or what we expected. We left the boat and a short walk thru rather dark and sand, finally reached the cement walkway that took us to the resort. What a suprise, as we really had no idea where we'd come out... our little adventurous group.

The Movenpick Resort here is built much like the one in Cairo, with large low cottage buildings on lovely grounds. We were actually glad to be here rather than in Luxor proper. And, using the resort's shuttle service it was easy enough to get into Luxor (about 7-10/min); when returning, taxis were only glad to take us right up to the gangplank to reboard.

Like you, I almost tossed my cookies reading "they washed the dishes in the Nile"

A number of the budget operators offer the felucca option, and from my reading and confirmed above this is "backpackers world" Sleeping topside toe-to-toe, head-to-head, isn't my idea of a comfy night sleep and with lots of strangers, no less! Probably not even in my 20s or 30s.

Sure, I've slept topside on many a yacht, but that's another story.........

Grcxx3 - you didn't torpedo anything! I appreciate the feedback! DH is dubious about this trip anyway, so really want to have it be just right. I don't mind the mattresses on deck as much as the bathroom facilities, and those dishes - Holy Smokes, Nile water? even if it flows pretty fast, it's a loooong river, with lots of chances to pick up all kinds of organisms. No, thanks, my personal flora and fauna aren't up to that.

So, thank you all for your help! This forum is the greatest!

Hi there,

Sounds like you may have already decided against the felucca, but I wanted to let you know that I've been in touch with Imaginative Traveller about setting up a private trip for a group of 4 (in addition to their group trips, they will run the same itinerary or custom itinerary for your private group). We are looking at just doing an afternoon sail and one night on the felucca, just the 4 of us and a guide. I really want to have this experience, but I was not sure about roughing it with no bathroom for, say, three days. Our group thought this sounded like a fun compromise, just doing it for one night (although, of course, you do not really "cruise the Nile" in the same sense if you don't go for multiple days). Just another possibility to throw out there...