Felucca ride in Egypt

Felucca is a traditional wooden boat of Egypt and a visit to Egypt is incomplete without enjoying a relaxing ride on one. The best time to go for a Feluccs ride is is just before sunset as it is pleasant at time and you get some beautiful captures on your camera. You could opt for a few hours ride or choose to stay overnight on the Felucca.

Most tour operators include a sail on the Felucca as a part of the Nile cruise. When the cruise ship is docked in Aswan, they will take you to for an hour long Felucca ride. You can ofcourse book your own Felucca ride for as long as you wish. There are numerous locals with Feluccas moored near the ships who will offer to take you sailing.  Look around the Feluccas and choose the one that you think will be comfortable and you have a good feeling about. Also, decide on the price before you make the ride.

If there is no wind, the Feluccas are a bit slow. So, before you start check that there is some good wind :) With a gentle steady breeze, the Felucca glides along the Nile beautifully. The views are beautiful and you can see birds flying by. The sunset looks gorgeous when viewed from the Felucca.

There are no fixed prices for the Felucca ride. They keep changing from season to season and city to city. Always ask for the price/duration of the ride before you travel. And yes - haggling is a part of life there, so bargain for a good deal.

Tip: Carry a mosquito repellant with you when you go for the Felucca ride. Sure to come in handy.

Shopping for perfumes and essential oils in Egypt

If you have been on guided a tour to Egypt, you will know what I am talking about. Included in one of the day's travel schedule will be a visit to a perfume shop. Whether you like it or not - you will have to spend about an hour sitting in the shop. And at the end, you will feel a little pressure to buy something. While I am not discouragaing you, I just want you to be a little more aware and bargain if you are really interested to take back a scent as a souvenir.

There are numerous such perfume shops in most of the tourist areas of Egypt. So, if your guide tells you that you will not find the perfume/oil elsewhere or if the shopkeepers pressurise you, just refuse politely. From my experience, you will find the same kinds of oils and scents in almost all the shops. I spotted quite a handful of these shops within a small stretch while out on the streets of Cairo.

Most shops will stock base scents of popular brand perfumes. The shopkeeper will rattle off the name of well known brands and get you to smell the fragrance. Choose wisely and make sure that the price is reasonable. Its best to go prepared. Just research a little about the fragrance you like and its price. Be smart and shop wisely.

The Khan el Khalili market has numerous perfume and essential oil shops. Just browse around in a couple of shops to get a fair idea of the prices before you make the purchase.