Hiring a felucca for a few hours is one of the best things you can do in Aswan. These traditional wooden sailboats, driven only by the wind, drift past Elephantine Island, Kitchener's Island, and the west bank cliffs in a silence that makes the distance between the twenty-first century and ancient Egypt feel suddenly very small. Sunsets, when the granite turns pink and the desert hills glow orange, are particularly spectacular.
Feluccas are available for hire at the main dock on the corniche. Negotiate a price and duration before boarding — an hour to two hours is typical. Some owners also offer multi-day trips downriver toward Kom Ombo and Edfu for those with more time. The wind on the Nile tends to blow from the north, so a round trip in the afternoon is usually reliable. Bring water and sunscreen.