Floating Down the Nile in a Felucca!

After two nights in Aswan we move on to Luxor floating down the Nile on a Felucca.  We have enjoyed our stay at Aswan, gazing in awe at the majestic temples and browsing the huge markets on the banks of the Nile.  Now it is time to travel at a slower pace.

Feluccas have been plying the Nile for centuries and while many tourists today opt for the larger cruise boats that dominate the river, I think there is no better way to experience this river than on a slow boat to Luxor.

The boat is quite comfy and we lie down on the mattresses that have been spread out on deck and get ready to spend a day sailing the Nile.   

The banks of the Nile are very developed and we sail past mosques, and coloured houses but also spot more laid back scenes of village life & camels grazing on the banks of the river.   The feluccas have no facilities on board, so we occasionally pull into shore for a toilet break and a chance to stretch our legs.  Our felucca operators cook us both lunch and dinner and I can’t think of a better way to travel the Nile.  I pass the time reading about the Middle East, chatting to my fellow travellers and writing my blog.  My fellow travellers loll around, chat and snooze from time to time.  Many of us have been travelling for awhile and this is welcome break from the hectic pace of our travels. 

It was during a bit of a lull on the boat, as most of my fellow passengers were drifting off to sleep that the silence was broken by the shouts of Emily.  Victor and she had been sitting up at the front of the boat when Victor had slipped off the boat while trying to manoeuvre to a more comfortable position.  Fortunately, he is pulled back into the boat in minutes by the Captain of the Vessel who reacted quickly to Emily’s call for help. 

As the sun sets over Egypt, we pull into shore for the evening.  We have a lovely candlelit dinner on the boat and enjoy the stillness of the evening before turning in to sleep under the stars.  The heat of the day is replaced by a much cooler evening and we are thankful for the blankets that we snuggle under. 

We wake up early to witness a spectacular sunrise before sailing for a short time and pulling into shore.  A 3 hour bus ride will take us into Luxor where more temples await. 

I chat to the local Egyptian men who help load our bags in to the minivan that has been pre-arranged for us.  They are quite happy to pose for me which is a welcome change in these parts.  I snap away but am unable to communicate with them due to my very limited Arabic. 

Sadly, it is the end of our trip on the Nile and is an another experience I will treasure and  definitely recommend if you visit these parts!    

“The one who voyages the Nile must have sails made of patience.”