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 Day 1:
Transfer
to your Fantasy Felucca at approximately 10:00am. On-board you will
start your sailing safari. At first, you will not help but,
notice
the dark Nubian eyes of the Aswan people. With their
sun
toned skin and big smiles, they will introduce you to the
primitive way of the boat people. Observing
the wild
life along the river banks, will be amongst the very few
sights
you will take in on this wonderful
journey. You will
enjoy fishing, bird watching, and just simply talking to the locals.
After just one hour of sailing, you will reach Kobana Island. A
wonderful, green oasis in the middle of the river, will be your retreat
for lunch. Feel free to un-wine and put your feet in the cool water
along the river banks.
After lunch we will sail north for
two
hours, reaching El Herdiab before sun-set. You will start your evening
by the crew setting-up camp and cooking a barbeque dinner.
What
ever your fancy, whether it is sitting by the fire, strolling on the
beach, or falling to sleep the deck, life will be
free from
all interruptions. The star lit sky will keep you company
during
the night!
Day 2:
 We
will start the morning with an early breakfast. As you enjoy the fresh
morning air and take-up a game of sport on the
beach, the
crew will be preparing for the next leg of your
journey. We
will set sail for Daraw at approximately 10:30am. After 2 hours of
sailing, we will reach this historical Camel
Village. The
Souk of Daraw is a must see (Optional Tour)!
The
Souk of
Daraw, located approximately 3 miles south of Kom Ombo and 25 miles
north of Aswan, is famously known as the end of
the Forty
Days Road and plays host to the main camel market (souk el
gamal)
between Sudan and Cairo. Thousands
of camels are
brought from Darfur and Kordofan in Sudan, through the Libyan
Dessert to Dongola, and from there they follow the Nile into
Egypt. This dessert trail, one of the last surviving desert trading
routes, takes about a month of walking and is appropriately called the
Darb el-Arba'een (The Forty Day Road). The Sudanese camel
drovers coming from two man nomadic tribes are often dressed
in
their traditional garb, swords included. The camels here,
known to
be cheaper than in surrounding villages, are sold to peasants
from
all over Egypt, including Cairo.
This spectacular
and exotic
site will be a true photo moment! Please feel free to
inquire
regarding this optional tour. Kom Ombo will be are next stop.
As
we approach the Temple mound you will then relise you made "no mistake"
by sailing will us. Known to be best approached by felucca, the sun
turns the sand stones a deep golden color and Kom Ombo will entice you
to its many levels. Here we will visit both
the Temple
of Haruris and Sobek, plus a brief look at the one and
only "mummified crocodile." Lunch will be waiting for you upon
your return to the boat.
Your sail this
afternoon, will
continue on to Maniha Beach, approximately 1 to 2
hours North
of Kom Ombo. We will briefly stop here for you to
take a
swim and cool off in the water, after a long
hot morning
of site seeing. Back on-board, we will again make our way up
the
river to our resting location for the night - Island of Bashir. Dinner
will be served around a camp fire, as the crew shares with you
the old "wise tales" of ancient times.
Day 3:
The
sounds of the crew starting breakfast will be your wake-up
call (approximately 8:00 am). We will
start sailing
for Gabal El Sasilah after
breakfast. After two
hours, you will find yourself approaching Gabal El
Sasilah. The crew will lead your way from Faris to
Sasilah
Temple via a 30 minute walking trail. Don't forget
your
hiking boots! El Hammam will be the next
point of
interest, where we will have lunch at a
local Nubian
House. Here you can feel at-home
to freshen-up,
relax, and refill your safari needs, then back again
to
the felucca for sailing.
Night will fall
on Bisaw
Island. Known for it's "South Egyptian Style" the Sai'di people will be
more than happy to share their oriental life with you. Your felucca
staff, considered your friends by now, will keep the evening new with
chatting and dinner around a camp fire.
Day 4:
You
will awake to an early breakfast at about 9:00am. A day of sailing is
on-the agenda. With two brief stops in El Saraaj for lunch and
Fawaza for dinner. This evening, you will be keeping
the
locals in Fawaza awake, as your crew tunes their instruments for a
night of oriental dancing and Egyptian dress-up. A galabaya
party
is on the menu - food, live music, and dance. What more could you wish
for on your "Grand Finally" night of
sailing.
Day 5:
 Breakfast will
be served at 6:00am, as we must set sail for Edfu
early. Edfu will be are final sailing location and
embarkation point. In this last two
hours, you will say
good bye to this ancient way of traveling and say hello to the modern
civilization of Egypt.
Edfu is home to the Temple of Horus
(Optional Tour), the second largest temple in Egypt and best-preserved,
due to it being completely buried in sand until the
1860's. Edfu Temple is dedicated to the falcon
headed god -
Horus. Allow Horus, being the watchful eye painted on
many feluccas - bid you farewell on your Fantasy
Felucca
Safari with us!
Check-out
will be upon
reaching Edfu dock. As you say your good bye's, your
Egyptian friends on-board (the crew) will forever hold you in
protection of the evil eye! Caught youconvoy to Luxor.
This rate including:
- 4 Nights Accommodation on
a Nile Felucca
- Full Board (Starting with
Lunch; Ending with Breakfast)
- 1 Bottled Water - Per
Person/Per Day + Tea
This rate Not include:
- Entrance Fees to Locations
Mentioned in the Itinerary Above
- Gratuities for Crew Members
- Transfers To and From the
Main Docking Areas (Aswan & Edfu)
- Additional Beverages Not
Mentioned Above
what to pack on board :
- Sleeping bag / or Sheet / or
blanket
- Sun tan Lotion
- Bug Spray
- Personal towels
- Beach attire
- Cotton T-Shirts
- Toilet paper/ sanitary
products for your journey
- Walkman's
- Warm clothes for you, it
does get slightly cold in the evening and in the early hours of the
morning
- Torch
- Plenty of film for your
camera.
- Snacks for yourself
throughout on board
- If you have a weak stomach
bring some medications for Diarrhea and Vomiting with you
- Drink plenty of water whilst
on the felucca so you do not get dehydrated as in summer it can reach
up to 41 degrees
Tap
water in Egypt is very heavily chlorinated and U.S embassy tests have
confirmed the water to be safe and fit for consumption. However, if you
are in Egypt for a relatively short- term stay, - doctors recommend
that you stick with bottled mineral water, in order to avoid gastric
upsets. It takes a while for our digestive systems to adapt to even a
minor change in water content, so by drinking mineral water, you'll be
a happier, healthier traveler-ultimately! Siwa or Baraka or Schweppes
branded bottled mineral water is safe reputable brands. Just ensure
that the bottle sealing is not broken!
Advices
on Felucca :
- To
keep the boat clean as this is where you will be sitting, eating lying
and sleeping. Take your shoes off when boarding the boat and rinse your
feet in the water bucket. You should not walk with shoes on, whilst on
the boat. As you get off the boat on to go to the toilet or walk on the
island put your shoes back on.
- Put
all your
valuable items, passports, documents and money in your big bag to be
stored beneath the boat. You will not need any of these items for the 2
days.
- It is a good
idea to pack a small day
pack with all of the items you will need for the 2 days as you will not
have access to your big bags as they are stored beneath the
mattress/floor of the boat.
- Keep
all lose
items in your small daypack to avoid them blowing away with the wind or
as the boat tilts falling over the side into the water.
- At
night put everything beneath the boat. Fishermen come past during the
night and items can be easily lost
- There
is a garbage bin located at the front of the boat. All rubbish is to go
in the bin. No rubbish is to be thrown into the Nile or left on the
islands.
- When you need
to go to the toilet
collect a plastic bag from the front of the boat, go to the toilet on
the island, after use place your toilet paper in the plastic bag and
return it to the rubbish bin on the boat. Egypt has a huge waste and
rubbish problem and we do not want to add to it.
- Each
felucca has life jackets stored beneath or at the front of the boat.
- Never
jump into the water whilst the felucca is sailing. You can be easily
dragged by undercurrents and dragged under by debris in the Nile.
- Dress
modestly on the boat – swimmers, shorts and t-shirts are
acceptable, though anything less is an invitation. After swimming wrap
a towel around you, do not walk around the islands or the boat in just
swim wear
- At night if
leaving the felucca always take someone with you. Never walk the
islands after dark alone.
- Public
displays of affection are frowned upon and can lead females into
unnecessary trouble with crew and locals.
- Your
crew will prepare and cook breakfasts, lunches and dinner. The food is
simple, good and there is plenty of it.
- You
should assist your crew by keeping the boat clean and assisting with
cleaning and cooking duties.
- Remember
your crewmembers are working, and need to look after your safety; you
should refrain from offering them alcohol etc, lengthy conversations or
putting yourself in unnecessary danger.
- If
you have had an enjoyable 2-day cruise, upon departure please feel free
to tip your felucca crew for their services.
Please Note:A felucca is
truly a boat
and considered adventure travel. The
felucca
used in the above itinerary is considered camper equipped. for people
interested in more modern facilities (ie. bed,
private
bathroom, and refuge from the sun). The boat crew do
not
provide alcoholic beverages. However, please feel
free to
bring along your own. We recommend that campers
purchase any
alcoholic beverages at a duty free shop prior
to exiting any of the international airports
here in
Egypt. If you are interested in a more modern style
felucca
or dahabia travel, please feel free to inquiry about other
options
that are available or click on www.nilecruiseegypt.net for
more
information. Extended Programs are
available upon
request. Please feel free to inquirer about additional hotel,
site
seeing or transportation reservations.
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