A felucca ride in Aswan
A felucca is the traditional single-sail boat of the Nile. In Aswan it is the simplest way to be on the river for an hour, without a cruise. A private ride runs every day, with about 1 hour of sailing around Elephantine Island and a visit to the Botanical Garden on Kitchener Island.
A ride around Elephantine does not mean you step onto Elephantine itself, and a landing on both islands is not guaranteed. Wind decides how fast the boat moves, and nobody can promise it. The prices below are package rates, not a harbour tariff. Check before you book.
Our picks: felucca rides
Our take: the sunset sail is in Luxor, the three-night trip sleeps on deck from Aswan, and the one-hour ride is in Cairo.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
3-night felucca sail from Aswan towards Luxor
- 3 nights on a felucca
- Meals
- Transfer to Luxor
Sleep on deck past Kom Ombo, Gebel el-Silsila and Edfu, with meals and a transfer to Luxor.
Check availability →
Private sunset felucca sail in Luxor
- 2-hour felucca sail
- Tea on board
- Private transfers
Two hours on a private felucca with tea, with transfers from selected hotels.
Check availability →
Private felucca ride on the Nile in Cairo
- 1-hour private felucca ride
- Private hotel transfers
- Water
An hour on a private felucca in Cairo, with hotel transfers.
Check availability →Felucca rides and Aswan boat trips
Sailing trips, island visits and Nile excursions around Aswan, with live prices and availability.
Felucca prices by group size
Price per person in 2026. The price falls as the group grows.
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $75 |
| 2 people | $49 |
| 3 people | $43 |
| 4 people | $39 |
| 5 to 6 people | $36 |
These are per-person package prices, valid until 30 April 2027. They do not apply to a whole boat you hire directly at the riverbank. The package includes hotel pickup and return in Aswan, an English-speaking guide, the boat, the entrance fee, water, taxes and service. Tips are extra. Children from 0 to 5 years go free, children from 6 to 11 pay 50 percent, and from age 12 the full price applies.
For most visitors, a package is the easier choice if you want a fixed price and a pickup. A boat arranged on the Corniche suits you if you want to choose the length and stops yourself. In that case, agree the price, the duration, the stops and whether the price is for the boat or per person before you board.
The route around the islands
What a one-hour felucca trip passes.
Elephantine Island
The boat sails around the island, which has a village. For a visit on foot, see the Aswan page and the Elephantine Island guide.
Kitchener Island
The Botanical Garden is the stop in the package, and the entrance is part of the package price.
Evening light
The package does not fix a sunset departure. If you want the light of the evening, ask for a late-afternoon start when you book.
Package or a boat from the Corniche
Two ways to get on the water.
| Package | Boat from the Corniche | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Per person, $36 to $75 in 2026 | Agreed on the spot, per boat or per person |
| Hotel pickup | Included in Aswan | – |
| Guide | English-speaking guide | – |
| Length and stops | About 1 hour, Elephantine and Kitchener Island | Agreed with the boatman |
| Water, taxes, service | Included | – |
For most visitors, the package is the easier fit. The Corniche boat suits travellers who want a different length or stops and who are comfortable agreeing every detail first.
Practical tips for a felucca ride
Short and useful.
Wind and comfort
No operator can promise wind. A calm day means a slower ride. Bring water, a hat and sun cream for the open deck.
Safety on board
The UK Foreign Office warns about Nile boat accidents from overcrowding and weak safety standards (advice updated August 2026). Pick a boat that is not overloaded and ask about life jackets.
Do not swim
The German Foreign Office advises against bathing in fresh water in Egypt because of schistosomiasis. Stay in the boat.
Philae is a separate trip
The temple island of Philae is reached by hired boat, and a temple ticket does not pay for the boat. Foreign adults pay EGP 550 and students EGP 275 for Philae in 2026.
Tipping
Tips are not part of the package price. Settle the amount for the boatman and the guide at the end of the ride.
Add other Aswan stops to your day
Entry prices for foreign adults in 2026, with student prices in brackets.
Philae
EGP 550 (students EGP 275). Open daily from 7 a.m., with the last entry at 3 p.m. The boat to the island is hired separately.
Unfinished Obelisk
EGP 220 (students EGP 110). Open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The stone lies in the granite quarry, where it was left after it cracked.
Nubia Museum
EGP 400 (students EGP 200). Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with ticket sales until 4 p.m. On Thursday and Friday it also opens from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Children under 6 enter these sites free. Student prices need a valid student card, with an upper age of 24.
Plan the rest of Aswan
Where the felucca ride fits.
Aswan sights
Philae, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Nubia Museum.
Where to stay in Aswan
Corniche, islands, the west bank or a cruise ship.
Dahabiya cruise
A multi-day sailing trip between Esna and Aswan.
A Nile cruise on the classic route starts or ends in Aswan, so the ride fits before or after it. For the Nubian side of the river, see the felucca guide.
Felucca ride in Aswan: frequently asked questions
How long is a felucca ride in Aswan?
The package includes about 1 hour of sailing around Elephantine Island, plus a visit to the Botanical Garden on Kitchener Island. Boatmen on the Corniche may offer other lengths.
How much does a felucca ride cost?
In 2026, a package costs $75 for one person, $49 for two, $43 for three, $39 for four and $36 each for five or six people. These are per-person package prices valid until 30 April 2027.
Is there a fixed price for a felucca?
There is no official tariff. Agree the price per boat or per person, the length and the stops before you board.
Can I go at sunset?
The package does not fix a sunset departure. Ask for a late-afternoon start if you want the evening light.
Do children pay?
In the package, children aged 0 to 5 go free, children aged 6 to 11 pay half, and from age 12 the full price applies. Other boatmen set their own rules.
Is the-nile.org run by a felucca operator?
No. This is an independent guide with no connection to boat operators, travel agencies, authorities or museums.