3-hour tour: felucca ride on the Nile and Banana Island

This is a slow morning on the river, a break from temples and crowds. You board a traditional felucca and sail the Nile for 60 minutes with the wind doing the work.

The boat takes you to Banana Island, a green patch of gardens known for its bananas and other fruit. Your guide walks you around and tells you about local life and history along the way.

We pick you up from your Luxor hotel in the morning and bring you back afterwards, with bottled water on board.

Why take a felucca ride to Banana Island

This 3-hour outing suits travelers who want a break from temples and crowds, and anyone who would like to see the Nile at its own speed. You board a traditional felucca and sail for 60 minutes with the wind doing the work.

On Banana Island your guide walks you through the gardens and fruit groves and talks about local life and history. For background on the Nile valley’s heritage, see Egypt’s official monuments site.

There is little shade on deck, so bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Wear shoes that are easy to walk in on soft paths. Bottled water is provided on board, and a few small notes are useful for tips. Morning light on the river is soft and good for photos of the sails and the West Bank hills.