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Nile cruise on a Felucca

COUNTRY:
Egypt
LOCATION:
Pyramids, Nile Cruises
HOLIDAY TYPE:
A small group adventure
DEPARTURES:
2012: 11 Feb, 31 Mar, 7 Apr, 5 May, 2 Jun, 28 Jul, 18 Aug, 8 Sep, 20 Oct, 27 Oct, 10 Nov, 22 Dec, 29 Dec
2013: 26 Jan
PRICE:
From £892 - £995 (10 days) including UK flights
MORE INFO:
From £385 - £465 excluding flights. Single supplement £60.
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Nile cruise on a Felucca

Nile cruise on a Felucca

Small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.

How this holiday makes a difference

This is the classic adventure trip, which epitomises all that is good about tourism! Not only are our groups small, limiting the impact we make, but we discover the Nile by traditional felucca sailboat with local Nubian crew, travelling whilst creating very little pollution. The resulting interaction helps break down cultural barriers as well as providing vital employment. Indeed employment is one of the biggest benefits of our visits - our groups provide employment through the money they spend the length and breadth of Egypt, from restaurateurs to bellboys, calesh and donkey drivers, local guides etc - the list is almost endless.

All accommodation is locally owned and in which you experience great food, most of which is sourced locally. This not only provides direct employment within the hotel, but also has the effect of distributing money beyond to small businesses that supply the hotel and in this way money is spread throughout the region we visit. The feluccas of course use only the wind for power - perhaps the most environmentally friendly way one can travel, whilst our focus on responsible tourism gets local people talking about it, which leads to a greater understanding of the reason it is so important.

Our Tour Leaders for example are all trained by us in the importance of responsible tourism with guidance given on how they can make a difference. This then percolates down through those they deal with. This trip also allows time to visit the Sunshine Project in Luxor - a home set up to provide care and schooling for orphaned children. A portion of every customer's holiday price is donated by the operator to this excellent charity - and whilst visiting the project individuals may also choose to give, whether financially or through other means.

As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost.

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Story of the holiday provider

This small group operator is just celebrating its 30th year and was originally set up to enrich people’s lives through adventure travel. The directors have roots in overland trucking and are determined to keep a pioneering spirit alive. They believe what sets them apart is the strong relationships they’ve developed with local suppliers and tour guides over the years. A tour leader who thinks creatively can turn a good experience into a fantastic one and open up a place so that travellers gain insight into a completely different way of life. They operate in many different countries and try to avoid a blanket approach – their aim is to get customers involved in the projects they visit and to forge lifelong friendships.

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Holiday provider no: 276

Nile cruise on a Felucca

Reviewed 20 Jun 2010 by Alison Douglas4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


The fellucah sail down the Nile. The Nubian house visit.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Check the train journey is still available. We arrived in Cairo to discover they hadn't got tickets and then we had to spend nearly 20 hours on a coach to get to Aswan. I booked the holiday because of the train journey. be prepared for early starts and long coach journeys.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes. we had local guides who knew their area. We visited the quieter parts of Aswan. I was able to visit the orphanage at Luxor, all arrangements done by our tour guide.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Fantastic even though I was really dissapointed about the train journey.

Reviewed 02 Aug 2009 by Clive Parker4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


I really enjoyed the felucca trip between Aswan and Edfu, but would have liked an extra day. I was really impressed by Abu Simbel, and the really deep tomb we saw at the Valley of the Kings make the others there pale in comparison.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Make sure you have your essentials such as towel, light, suncream and so on. If you are very shy, the felucca trip is probably not for you. There is very little privacy. Drink lots of water! Watch out for the bazaar hawkers, they can be very persistent. Do not get talking. Listen to your tour leader, his information is vital.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


I felt that the fact that local guides were used for temple visits and sightseeing was good for the local economy, as did the use of local felucca captains. Obviously spending in Egypt helps the economy. I can't say I am an expert on the environment, but all waste was recycled and no littering took place anywhere we visited.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


It was my first tour of this type and I really enjoyed it. I think the group size was perfect for the tour, eight people in all and a good mix. Our tour leader Wael Wasan was excellent. He was friendly, helpful, patient (especially with two particular members of the group), funny and knowledgeable. In particular, he ensured my missing luggage got to the Cairo hotel before we left for Aswan. This was good, because for my first 30 hours in Cairo I only had the clothes I travelled in and my hand luggage. Excellent service, great trip.
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Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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