EN
Home / Tours / Private felucca sail

Egypt Nile Felucca · Cairo

A private felucca on the Nile

A wooden sailboat just for your group, with hotel pickup and drop-off by private car. Pick it for the quiet: an hour on the river with nobody else aboard, for less than any other boat in Cairo.

Private Felucca Sail on the Nile

About this experience

A felucca is the oldest kind of boat still working the Nile: a wooden hull, one tall triangular lateen sail and a crew of two or three (Wikipedia). This listing gives you one to yourselves. A driver collects you from your hotel lobby in a private air-conditioned car, a guide or assistant comes along, and the crew takes you out on the calm city stretch of the river.

Read the timing carefully. The listing runs for 2 hours, but the inclusions say a 1-hour private felucca ride. The rest is the drive, and Cairo traffic decides how long that takes. It's still the cheapest hour on the Nile in the city, and with your own boat you set the mood. Pick a slot just before sunset for the golden light the listing mentions.

Two more catches. No wind, no sail: the operator may swap the felucca for a motor boat at no extra charge. And there's no food or drink beyond bottled water. If you want dinner on your own boat, the Cafelluca felucca dinner costs more and gives you two full hours on the water.

  • Your own felucca and crew, no other passengers
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off by private A/C car
  • Pickup in Cairo, Giza, Al Haram, New Cairo and 6th of October City
  • A guide or assistant along, bottled water included
  • Guides in English, Spanish, Arabic and Russian
  • The lowest price of any boat on this site

How the day runs

  1. 10 min beforeWait in the hotel lobby

    The listing asks you to be in the lobby 10 minutes before pickup. The time can move with traffic, so keep your phone on.

  2. VariesDrive to the river

    A private air-conditioned car takes you to the dock. From downtown it's short. From New Cairo or 6th of October City in rush hour, it isn't.

  3. At the dockMeet the crew

    Your guide or assistant takes you to the boat and hands you over to the crew. Nobody else joins you.

  4. 1 hourSail the Nile

    The crew raises the sail and tacks across the river. If the wind drops, a motor boat or a tow may take over, at no extra charge.

  5. VariesBack to your hotel

    Same car, same driver, straight back to the lobby.

What's included

Included

  • 1-hour private felucca ride
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off by private A/C car
  • Tour guide or assistant
  • Bottled water
  • All taxes and fees

Not included

  • Food and drinks
  • Tips (optional)
  • A full 2 hours on the water: half is the drive
  • A sail in still air: a motor boat replaces the felucca if there's no wind

Who it suits

Book it if

  • You want the river without a buffet or a show
  • Couples and families who want a boat of their own
  • You're on a tight budget
  • You're staying in Giza or New Cairo and don't want to find a dock yourself

Skip it if

What guests say

★★★★★

This was a lovely peaceful tour for just 3 of us.

Karen · Oct 2026
★★★★★

Quiet trip on the river, great view, peaceful and comfortable!

Marharyta · Oct 2026
★★★★★

The tour was exceptional from the pick up to the drop off - i definitely recommend this tour!

Merve · Oct 2026
★★★★★

Very nice felucca trip, young guide who was very professional, friendly and very polite.

Pelini · Oct 2026

Tips before you book

  • Sunset in Cairo falls around 5 pm in December and around 7 pm in June. Book the pickup about 90 minutes earlier.
  • Bring a hat and sunscreen for daytime slots, and a light jacket in the cooler months, as the listing advises.
  • Eat before or after. No food is included, and the hour goes quickly.
  • Strong wind can change the route or the timing, the listing warns. Don't book it right before a dinner reservation.
  • Carry some small notes. Tips are optional, but the crew does the work.

Read next:

Frequently asked questions

How long is the private felucca ride in Cairo?

The listing runs 2 hours from pickup to drop-off, with 1 hour on the felucca. The rest is the drive between your hotel and the dock, which depends on where you stay and on traffic.

What happens if there is no wind?

The listing says the felucca can be replaced with a motor boat, depending on wind conditions, at no extra charge. Strong wind can also change the route or timing.

Where does the felucca pick you up?

From your hotel lobby in Cairo, Giza, Al Haram, New Cairo or 6th of October City. Be ready 10 minutes before the pickup time.

Is food included on the private felucca?

No. You get bottled water and nothing else. For a meal on your own felucca, the Cafelluca private felucca dinner includes a 3-course dinner and unlimited soft drinks.

Ready to book

Book Private felucca sail

A private wooden sailboat for your group, one hour on the water at the time you choose, with hotel pickup by private car.

Compare with

Plan your date before you go

A private wooden sailboat for your group, one hour on the water at the time you choose, with hotel pickup by private car.

Check dates for the private felucca sail