Felucca Ride on the Nile

NileGuide Expert tip:

The best time to do a felucca ride is at sunset.

Description:

• The Greek historian Herodotus described Egypt as the "gift of the Nile". One of the best things to do in Cairo is go for a sail on the Nile on a felucca. A felucca is a traditional Egyptian sailing boat, that can be crewed by just one man.
  
  Sailing the Nile on a felucca is one of the few ways to escape the chaos of Cairo, and actually get some peace and quiet! All you can hear is the gentle lapping of the water against the hull, and the flapping of the sails (OK, you will probably still hear some traffic, but it will be muted)! Time ceases to have any meaning, since you are at the mercy of the elements.
  
  There are a number of places to do a felucca ride in Cairo, such as from opposite the Grand Hyatt hotel, but the best place is down in Maadi. There are no bridges here to interrupt your sailing, and it is a lot more peaceful. You can pick up a felucca from the local ferry port on the cornice, next to the Grand Café.
  
  The standard charge for tourists is 60 LE for an hour, though you can certainly bargain this down. Note that you should also tip the captain on top. You can do a felucca ride at any time of day or night, but by far the best time to do it is for sunset.
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