Riverboat to Cairo.

[WIZARD]

Riverboat down the Nile to Cairo.

Planning to take a Riverboat trip on the Nile from Luxor to Cairo soon. Has anyone made such a journey recently? Any details would be gratefully received.

[carrie]

Please tell us more about it Wizard it's something I would love to do.

[LovelyLadyLux]

I'd love to hear about your trip too and would LOVE to see photos of the shore as you pass by.

[HEPZIBAH]

I know there was a flurry, a year or more ago, of interest in the Cairo - Aswan cruise, and I believe they did eventually get started. Whether they continued to run, given the economic downturn in tourism, I wouldn't like to hazard a guess.

[Scottishtourist]

Ain't gonna happen anytime soon!
Too many problems with it,security,etc.
My erstwhile friend,waiter on Nile cruise boat hoped for same!
Idea has been abandoned!

[carrie]

But can you travel on a felluca or private motor boat?

[HEPZIBAH]

I don't think you can Carrie. I don't know how far the Dahabbia's (and I know I've spelt that wrong but can't get my head round it now) are allowed to sail. I doubt it's that length of the Nile though, at least not with passengers on board.

[HEPZIBAH]

So...just did a quick spot check online. Immediately found one company - Egypt Uncovered - that has dates and prices listed though to 2015 but, as you can see, all state 'subject to boat operation'.

Price

1 Sep 2014 15 Dec 2014 Subject to boat operation UK£1,750 Reserve
16 Dec 2014 8 Jan 2015 Subject to boat operation UK£1,950 Reserve
9 Jan 2015 31 May 2015 Subject to boat operation UK£1,750 Reserve
1 Jun 2015 23 Sep 2015 Subject to boat operation UK£1,650 Reserve
24 Sep 2015 15 Dec 2015 Subject to boat operation UK£1,750 Reserve

[BENNU]

But can you travel on a felluca or private motor boat?

From Luxor to Cairo?

[carrie]

Well it is downstream and they used to travel that way years ago. I was speaking to someone once and they thought it would take about two weeks.

[Chocolate Eclair]

I think Hepzi is correct on this one, i have not heard of a sailing on the Cairo Luxor route for a long time now, like Hepzi said they did start, but it is thought due to the dramatic downturn in tourism they stopped again.

Regarding motorboats, I believe they have to get a permit to go beyond the bridge, and also one north beyond the Luxor boundary, so I would think that a Cairo to Luxor Motorboat Cruise would be out of the question.

Certainly have not heard of a Felucca or Dahabbir doing this route, only the Esna -Aswan route, maybe DJ would know more on this?

It seems a shame to see these holidays advertised and then "Subject to Boat Operation" but no one knows what is going to happen in the near future, and only hope in the extended future. The way things are going and the fact Luxor holiday's are not in many of next years European books seems ominous though. However, if the reports are correct there maybe a lot of Indian/Asians visitors next year, we will just have to wait and see. I don't hold much hope for Luxor being back on its feet for many years. its a pity, but it seems to be that no matter what, everything that has been done seems to have failed to attract visitors back. Lets hope there may be a pleasant surprise soon.

There is still plenty of money floating about Luxor at the moment though, judging by the buoyant building industry, people still have plenty to spend on homes etc

[Dusak]

My friend is the manager for a German travel firm here, only yesterday she told my she had guests doing this very cruse, fourteen days in total. It has never stopped since it first started. Unfortunately one of the drive shafts spite a couple of days into the voyage so at the moment it is doing a reenactment of the slow boat to China on one engine. She is a member on here so may come on with more details.