Traveling the Nile independently: Can you find feluccas on-site?

hi fellow travelers, we’d like to go to EGYPT, but independently... is it possible to find spots on a felucca to sail up the Nile once we’re there? Thanks for your tips

Hi there,

I traveled solo in Egypt 20 years ago now, and even though I didn’t do a Nile cruise, I used feluccas from Luxor to get from one bank to the other. If the situation hasn’t changed too much, it should still be totally doable. I only used public transport for this destination—buses and trains. I never ran into any problems at all, even in the White Desert.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, we’d love to be independent and choose a felucca on the spot based on how we feel about it... I don’t like being too structured during my trips...

Hi there, Which direction? Sailing up means heading toward Aswan. You can find feluccas either in Luxor, but you won’t go farther than Esna—in fact, just before the lock, since feluccas can’t pass through locks. From Aswan, it depends on the number of days: you’ll either be dropped off around Edfu and continue by train or car to Luxor, or in Esna, but as mentioned, it depends on the number of days and the wind. The best period is from October to May, though from November to February, nights can get very cold. If you're interested, I can privately share some felucca contacts—just be aware it’s very basic, and some have toilets. Have a great day! Thoutmosis

Hello, Yes, you can find feluccas in Aswan to sail down the Nile for a few days. You need to pay attention to the boat's condition and the crew members (at least 2-3), as well as the provisions and equipment on board. I think it’s a bit of a hit-or-miss situation when it comes to quality and safety, but it’s doable. After all, the amount of money involved might make quality and safety take a backseat for a greedy felucca captain.

If you want to explore the small villages along the Nile, you’ll need a permit and must be accompanied by someone who holds the permit to move around freely.

thanks so much for your reply... yes, I’d be interested in your local contacts. Have a great day! Dominique

Hi everyone,

Yes, it’s easy to find feluccas—they’re not in short supply—but you need to know who to ask and not just anyone. As for provisions, it’s not up to the clients to handle that. They won’t know anything about it anyway. It’s definitely the felucca owner’s responsibility, same for everything related to the "cruise." And as mentioned before, feluccas are pretty basic. Not all owners are greedy, though. For small villages, if you’re on a felucca, you won’t have time to visit—they never factor that in. Besides, the "villages" are rarely right by the Nile, if ever.

Have a great day! Thoutmosis

Hello everyone, I’ll send you the contacts in private. Thoutmosis

Hello there, Which direction? Going upstream means heading toward Aswan. You can find feluccas either in Luxor, but you won’t go further than Esna—in fact, just before the lock, since feluccas don’t pass through locks. From Aswan, it depends on the number of days: you might be dropped off around Edfu and continue by train or car to Luxor, or in Esna, but as mentioned, it depends on the number of days and the wind. The best period is from October to May, knowing that from November to February, nights can be very cold. If you're interested, I can give you some private contacts for feluccas—just be aware it’s very basic, and some have toilets. Have a nice day, Thutmose

Hello Sergius,

I’d love to get your contacts for a felucca cruise from Aswan.

Thanks in advance for your valuable tips.

Best regards, Florence