A felucca is the traditional lateen-rigged sailing boat of the Nile, and hiring one for an hour or two is a way to decompress between temples and see Luxor from the river that gave the city its reason for existing. From the water, both banks come into different perspective: the East Bank city with the Winter Palace and the temple pylons, and the West Bank cliffs where the royal necropolis is carved.
Felucca captains wait along the Corniche on both banks. Negotiate a price and duration before boarding — a one-hour sunset sail is the standard option. The boats are basic but sail well when there is a breeze, and when the wind drops the captain sculls. In the evening the light on the cliffs and the river is particularly fine, and the temperature drops to something manageable. Bring cash; there are no card readers on feluccas. This is a low-cost, low-key pleasure that requires no advance booking.