Nice not for profit people who put you in touch with providers, direct with no middleman. You save money and the locals still do far better.
No financial risk as you pay when you arrive; visit local houses, cruise on a felucca, visit the sights with proper guides who know what they are talking about.
They are based in Germany, but the website is all in English. Also, you can get to Luxor on Easyjet from London, and they can pick you up if you don't fancy the train.
I was delighted to read this article dated Jan 29 about Nile cruise tours. It brought back such wonderful images about my own cruise on “El Nil”, one of Nour el Nil's striped sail dahabiehs.
Hieroglyphs, temples, palm trees, sun, sand desert, floating down the Nile in absolute bliss on this beautiful dahabyeh, full moon above the Nile, billions of stars : it is one in a life time experience! The charming owners, from Nour el Nil not only show you sites that others do not visit, but also take you for wonderful walks that show you todays Egypt and its people.
My travel tip is the following: before booking a cruise, ask full information about both the boat and itinerary, since some so-called dahabyehs are fake ones and incapable of sailing under sails. They are actually small cruise boats exclusively motor driven which do trips of 2 ½ to 3 days in a similar manner as the big cruise boats.
And instead of having a gourmet dinner that you are looking forward to, you end up with a dull fast food sandwich…
You would not want to fail your one in a life time experience for not asking these key questions, would you?
Ruined tombs cut into the cliffs overlooking the Nile. Wonderfully romantic - you'll feel you're in 'The English Patient'. No tour-groups, just you, the pillared halls, the hieroglyphs, the desert, and the views. Easy to get to with a short sail by local felucca (ask for Nassir Ramadan on the corniche by the Ferial Gardens).
On the west bank of the Nile opposite Aswan.
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
Search Been there
Your tips about Aswan
Aswan basics
- Population:
- 1.150m
- Currency:
- Egyptian pound
- Time zone:
- GMT+2
- Dialling code:
- 20 (0) 97