Aswan's slow hour
Aswan Felucca to Elephantine and the Botanical Garden
Two hours under sail around Aswan's islands.
An Aswan felucca ride is the city at its own pace: a wooden sailing boat, the granite islands, and no engine. This two-hour sail takes you around Elephantine Island, which was Egypt's southern gateway and a centre of the ivory trade, with ruins, temples and Nubian villages on its banks.
You land on Elephantine to walk among the remains, then sail on to Kitchener's Island, home to the Botanical Garden, where shaded paths wind between rare plants and palms. You sail back to the landing and are driven to your hotel.
Hotel pickup, the entrance fees for both islands and an English-speaking guide are included. The boat carries up to 20 guests, and the guide explains the islands' history as you sail between them. It is an easy, gentle outing that suits every age, and it is the best counterweight in Upper Egypt to a morning of temples. Fit it into an afternoon in Aswan, before or after your Nile cruise.
- Travel time
- Short transfer to the river
- Time at sites
- About 2 hours on the water and the islands
- Group
- Up to 20 guests
- Transport
- Felucca; air-conditioned vehicle to the river
- Meeting point
- Your Aswan hotel
- Guide languages
- English
- Best time to go
- Late afternoon, for the light and the breeze
- Intensity
- Easy
What the day includes
- A traditional felucca sail on the Nile
- Elephantine Island's ruins and Nubian villages
- The Botanical Garden on Kitchener's Island
Places you visit
- Elephantine Island
- Kitchener's Island Botanical Garden
- Nile at Aswan
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Aswan
- Entrance fees to the Botanical Garden and Elephantine Island
- Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking guide
- Taxes and service charges
Not included
- Tips
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Entrance tickets
- Included: Botanical Garden and Elephantine Island
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund.
- Tour format
- Small group
How the day runs
Pickup
From your Aswan hotel to the river.
Sail
Board the felucca and sail around the islands.
Elephantine Island
Ruins, temples and Nubian villages.
Botanical Garden
Kitchener's Island and its plants and palms.
Return
Sail back and transfer to your hotel.
Questions about this tour
What is a felucca?
A traditional wooden Nile sailing boat with a single large sail and no engine.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. It is a gentle two-hour outing.
How much does it cost?
$35 per person, or $34 each for groups of 8 or more, in US dollars.