Aswan Nile Felucca Sailing 4-Day: Temples & Nubian Culture

Four days sailing between three temples, a sandstone quarry, a camel market and the Nile itself

A 4-day sailing tour on a traditional felucca from Aswan to Luxor, visiting Kom Ombo Temple, Gebel El-silsila quarry and Edfu Temple while sleeping aboard under the stars. The felucca includes meals, bathroom and sundeck. You travel with a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language, and local transport to Daraw village is arranged. Entry tickets to the temples are not included and can be purchased separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Board and sail Felucca to Daraw

• Meet at KFC Aswan at 10 am
• Board Felucca sailboat
• Sail along Nile banks until sunset
• Enjoy lunch and dinner on board
• Sleep on Felucca under stars

Day 2: Visit Daraw village and Kom Ombo Temple

• Sail to Daraw village in morning
• Visit vegetable market and camel market
• Sail to Kom Ombo Temple
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Sail until sunset
• Sleep on Felucca under stars

Day 3: Explore Gebel El-silsila sandstone quarry

• Sail to Gebel El-silsila quarry
• Explore sandstone quarry site
• Sail until sunset
• Sleep on Felucca under stars

Day 4: Disembark and visit Edfu Temple

• Have breakfast on Felucca
• Disembark Felucca sailboat
• Visit Edfu Temple
• Transfer to hotel in Luxor

The experience

You board the felucca at KFC Aswan at 10 am and sail until sunset on the first day, relaxing on deck while the crew cooks lunch and dinner aboard. The boat has a bathroom and sundeck, with sleeping bags and mosquito nets provided for the night under stars. The routine repeats across the next two days: mornings bring sailing to the next stop, afternoons hold the temple or quarry visit, evenings return to the boat for sunset and sleep on deck.

On day two, you reach Daraw village by morning and ride local transport to the vegetable market. If you travel on Saturday, Sunday or Tuesday, the camel market operates there too: animals brought from Sudan, traders and the daily commerce of a working village. After an hour at the market, you return to the felucca and sail for a couple of hours to Kom Ombo Temple, dedicated to Sobek the Crocodile and Horus the Falcon. Day three takes you to Gebel El-silsila, the sandstone quarry where ancient workers cut stone for the temples you are visiting. You spend an hour there, then sail until sunset. On the final morning, breakfast comes aboard, then private transport carries you to Edfu Temple, the best preserved in Egypt, before dropping you at your hotel in Luxor.

The main rhythm is five to six hours of sailing daily, broken by stops at villages where you chat with locals about Nubian culture and traditions. The crew cooks fresh meals throughout, and tea and coffee are available. You swim in the Nile when the boat is anchored. A guide travels with the group and speaks your language. If you want an Egyptologist to explain the temples in detail, that can be arranged for an additional cost.

What’s included

• Felucca sailboat with bathroom and sundeck.
• lunch and dinner cooked aboard each day.
• tea and coffee.
• sleeping bags, blankets and mosquito net.
• local transport to Daraw village.
• private transport from Edfu Temple to your Luxor hotel.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.

Options for this experience

5 options

Mighty Nile Felucca for 2 hoursGuide in 5 languages · 16:00JJ Jamaica Felucca: Sail around Elephantine Island for 2 hours on a traditional Felucca sailboat while enjoying a romantic sunset. Lasts 2 hours: Meet at 4 pm at KFC Aswan to board and watch the romantic sunset. Cakes, tea and coffee: Enjoy Nubian cakes and drinks while watching the sunset. Around Elephantine Island: Board at 4 pm to take in the view of the Nile banks and desert sand dunes.

Mighty Nile Felucca for 6 hoursGuide in 5 languages · 12:00JJ Jamaica Felucca: Board the Felucca at 12 noon at KFC Aswan and sail around Elephantine Island, with a visit to the botanical garden. Lasts 6 hours: Meet at 12 noon at KFC Aswan to sail until sunset, swim in the Nile, and enjoy a romantic sunset. Lunch: Enjoy Nubian flavors on board. Sail around Elephantine Island: Take in the spectacular views of the historic Elephantine Island, Kitchener Island and Aga Khan.

Mighty Nile Felucca for 1 nightGuide in 5 languages · 10:00JJ Jamaica Felucca: Spend the night under the stars on a Felucca sailboat with a private bathroom, a sundeck, cozy blankets and a mosquito net. Sail, swim, and listen to Nubian music: boarding is at 10 am at KFC Aswan, and you can enjoy sailing until sunset. Take a swim in the Nile and listen to Nubian songs. Lasts 2 days. Day 1: Board at 10 am and sail until sunset. Day 2: Sail while having breakfast, reaching the area near Daraw, then disembark. Meals: lunch, dinner and breakfast, featuring traditional Nubian food freshly cooked by our crew. Aswan to Luxor: Start in Aswan, then visit Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples on the way to Luxor. Private AC transport: A private air-conditioned vehicle takes you to Luxor via Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples.

See 2 more options

Mighty Nile Felucca for 2 nightsGuide in 5 languages · 10:00Spend the night under the stars on a traditional Felucca sailboat fitted with a private bathroom, a sundeck, cozy blankets and a mosquito net. Sail, go for a swim, and listen to Nubian music: boarding is at 10 am at KFC Aswan, and sailing continues until sunset. Enjoy a swim in the Nile and Nubian songs. Lasts 3 days. Day 1: Board at 10 am and sail until sunset. Day 2: Sail to visit the village of Daraw, then continue to the Kom Ombo Temple. Meals: 2 lunches, 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts, plus tea and coffee. Aswan to Luxor: Begin in Aswan, sail past Daraw and Kom Ombo, then leave the boat for a private air-conditioned ride to Luxor via Edfu. Private AC transport: On Day 3, leave the boat near Kom Ombo and travel by private air-conditioned vehicle to Luxor via Edfu Temple.

3-Night Mighty Nile Felucca AdventureGuide in 5 languages · 10:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 12:00 and 16:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (5 to 80 years) · Child (under 5): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by JJ Jamaica Felucca

Is this one for you?Choose the 4-day option if you want the full arc (three temples, the quarry, the camel market and the rhythm of the Nile) without splitting your time between a boat and a hotel. Shorter options (2 hours to 2 nights) work if you have limited days or want to test the felucca before committing to the longer sail.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 5): free.

Can I visit the camel market at Daraw if I'm not traveling on a Saturday, Sunday or Tuesday?

The camel market at Daraw operates only on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays. You will visit the vegetable market on any day, but the camel trading happens only on those three days of the week.

What happens if I want to learn more about the temples we visit?

A live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language travels with the tour. If you want detailed Egyptological commentary at Kom Ombo, Gebel El-silsila or Edfu, you can request an Egyptologist when you book, which is available for an additional fee.

Do I sleep in a cabin or on deck?

You sleep on the felucca deck under the stars each night. The boat provides sleeping bags, cozy blankets and a mosquito net around the boat for protection. A bathroom is available on board.

What meals are included, and can I buy drinks on the boat?

Lunch and dinner are cooked fresh by the crew each day, and tea and coffee are available. The crew sells additional drinks at reasonable prices if you want them.

Do the temple entry tickets come with the tour?

Entry tickets to Kom Ombo Temple, Gebel El-silsila and Edfu Temple are not included in the tour price. You purchase them separately when you arrive at each site.

How much time do we actually spend sailing versus visiting temples?

The tour includes five to six hours of sailing daily. You spend about one hour at each temple and quarry (Kom Ombo, Gebel El-silsila and Edfu) with the rest of the day on the water or at villages like Daraw.