A felluca is an ancient wooden sailboat that can be seen each afternoon on the Nile. This is the best time for sailing since the breeze picks up at noon and the sun is shining brightly. Many days it is too hot for sightseeing, so this is an enjoyable break.
Since this was included in our cruise package, a large felluca with two sails capable of carrying about 30 guests met us at the dock next to the ship. A staff of three manned the vessel -- one at the sails, one at the rudder, and one to help us about.
We sailed for about 1.5 hours. Plan it after lunch or, better yet, bring some food along. The sailing is very calm and there are lots of seats -- you can even sit on the bow – but you may have to move a bit when the mate adjusts the sails.
The trip takes you down past the marina with all the rafted river cruisers and then up past a few hotels and around Elephantine Island. There are large granite boulders in the Nile -- you sail around these! -- they remind me so much of "The Baths" in Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.
The Egyptologist that accompanied us on the tour was so helpful in pointing out hotels along the banks, tell-tale marks left years ago when the Nile flooded each summer, and also the temples that we'd be visiting the next morning.
There were all sizes of fellucas on the river, some for a romantic sail for two, others family size, and ours, which was group size. All the captains were very adept -- they came close but never hit one another; it seemed to be a game. You should be able to negotiate a sail for about 1-1.5 hours for about US$10-15. Don't forget the sunscreen and camera.