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| Traditional Nile
Felucca Sailboats: |
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| What’s felucca? |
A felucca is a sea-craft, made to a
traditional design, with broad canvas
sails. Essentially, the craft is reliant
on wind-power with no motor, and are
dependent upon the wind factor to propel
forth, so itineraries are subject to
change from time to time. The craft
carries between 5-10 passengers
comfortably and the deck is strewn with
soft colorful cushions and rugs and
equipped with a canopy that offers shade
and protection from the elements. Your
felucca will cruise from picturesque
Aswan through to Kom Ombo, taking in
some stops at points of interest
en-route with various stops, planned or
impromptu, the peaceful routine of life
aboard allows us to escape the stress of
everyday life! We dock at shoreline for
dinner and later sleep under the stars
All meals are included in the cruise and
cooked on board by the crew.
Accommodation is on the cushioned boat
deck itself. There are no ablution
facilities aboard, however the captain
makes regular stops en-route, for both
sightseeing, ablutions and indeed
swimming in safer areas of the Nile
River, where the water is fast flowing
and the swimmer is at minimum risk of
contracting bilharzias.
Traveling down the Nile by felucca is a
'must-do' in Egypt. The sun setting
across the Nile in the evening aboard a
graceful felucca can't be beaten!
Please be an environmentally friendly.
While on the Nile please place all
toilet paper and sanitary items in the
bags provides and we will dispose of
them.
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| What to pack on
board? |
- Sleeping bag / or Sheet / or
blanket
- Sun tan Lotion
- Bug Spay
- 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
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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!
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| Felucca captain and
stuff |
The felucca captains (crew) are
totally responsible about make it sail
and stop in some routes, also they cook
all the meals on board
Water, soft drinks and beer can be
purchased aboard at very reasonable
cost, a tally for which is kept. You are
not permitted to take on board any
drinks that the crew sell. Drinks for
sale will be stored in a cold box and
the crew will ensure they are kept icy
cold. On the last day, everybody pays
his or her drinks bill with the felucca
captains.
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| Drink costs: |
Water 3LE
Soft drinks 2.5LE
Beer 10LE
We would suggest tipping EGP20-30 per
person for the Felucca captain (for
entire tour) for a job well done.
Ultimately, it is up to you! |
| Facilities on felucca |
There are no toilet facilities on
board. You can use the toilets provided
at the sites you visit during the day,
at night you are moored by the riverbank
and will need to find somewhere onshore.
In general, and that is why it is a real
adventure, you can use the toilets in
the sites (temples & museums) the
general standard of public toilets, when
you can find them, is to a poor hygienic
standard. Most come with a water
squirter for washing yourself, so always
have toilet papers with you!
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| Entertainments on felucca |
Our Nubian felucca crew entertains
you with their music and dance; have fun
and join them in this; also you can play
cards, read a book, chat with the other
people on board, swim, or help the crew
in preparing the meals.
By now you will have become accustomed
to the traditional felucca sailing boats
as we use them to visit the West Bank at
Aswan and the islands of the First
Cataract. Nevertheless the thought of a
two day sail can be a little daunting
for some, so we take time to give you an
introduction to this part of our
itinerary.
During day trips we sit on padded
benches at the edges of the boat with
our legs resting inward towards the
centre. On overnight trips the felucca
is transformed into a 'floating hotel'.
Wooden boards are placed across the
felucca's centre (from bench to bench)
to make a deck on which mattresses are
placed to make a comfortable platform
from which to lay back and watch the
river-banks pass by (underneath the
decking makes a secure place for our
luggage). An awning can be erected above
this platform to protect you from the
sun if needed. Overnight the awning is
put in place and canvas sheets are
erected around the outer sides of the
felucca to form a cozy, tent-like place
in which to eat and sleep. We recommend
you bring a sleeping bag with you, but
the crew will supply blankets too.
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| Practical Felucca advice |
- 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 takes 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.
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