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.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller 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

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.