Aswan Felucca Ride at Night

About this trip

The same quiet sail around Elephantine Island, after dark, with the lights of Aswan on the water. One hour, with pickup from your Aswan hotel, boat and entrance fees, and water included.

The day

1. Night

   Pickup from your hotel in Aswan

   We pick you up from your hotel in Aswan and introduce you to your tour guide, who stays with you for the whole outing. Bring a light jacket or scarf: once the sun has gone down, the breeze over the open water can feel noticeably cooler than the streets of the town.

2. Night

   Boarding the felucca

   At the riverbank you step down into the felucca and settle on deck. With the sail up and no engine running, the loudest sounds are the water against the wooden hull and the creak of the ropes. The boatman reads the night breeze to set his course, so the exact line varies a little from one evening to the next.

3. Night

   Around Elephantine Island

   The felucca circles Elephantine, where house lights glow in the Nubian villages on the island and the big granite boulders along its shore show as dark shapes against the water. Your guide explains how this island guarded Egypt's southern border for thousands of years and why its ancient name, Abu, means elephant.

4. Night

   The Botanical Gardens on Kitchener Island

   The route includes the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener Island, which Lord Kitchener filled with exotic trees and shrubs at the end of the nineteenth century, after the island was given to him during his years commanding the Egyptian army. Your guide tells you the story of the island and its gardens while you are there.

5. Finish

   Back to your hotel

   After about an hour the felucca returns to the bank and we take you back to your hotel. Boat and entrance fees, the transfer, the water and all service charges are covered, so you only need a little cash for tips.

Questions about this trip