Traditional Felucca Ride on the Nile at Sunset

There is no finer way to end a day in Aswan than under sail. Board a traditional wooden felucca at the Corniche and let the northerly breeze do all the work while your captain steers by hand, leaning the boat gracefully across the current just as sailors have done here for thousands of years.

Glide past Elephantine Island with its ancient ruins and Nubian houses painted in ochre and turquoise, round the botanical gardens of Kitchener's Island, and admire the Agha Khan Mausoleum glowing on the west bank. Herons fish in the shallows while children wave from passing boats — the Nile at its most serene.

As the sun sinks behind the desert dunes and the granite islands turn copper, enjoy tea and soft drinks on deck cushions. Choose a shared departure at sunset or book the felucca privately for a romantic moment; longer daytime sails and overnight felucca adventures can also be arranged.