Not every day in Luxor needs to be about tombs. Banana Island gives you a taste of ordinary Nile life: farmland, boats and orchards. It sits just upriver of the town, close enough to reach in a short ride.
Getting there by motorboat
You board at the corniche and head upstream, passing felucca sails, houseboats and cruise ships. The motorboat is private, so you set the pace, and the boatman will slow down if you want to take photographs. The shoreline changes from town to palm trees and fields.
Walking the island
On the island, a local farmer takes you through the groves. You see banana palms, mango trees and other crops, and learn how fruit is grown on the river's silt. Paths are flat and short. There is no strict route, so you can stop where you like.
Fruit and tea by the water
The visit includes fresh bananas and mint tea on the bank. The bananas here are small and sweet, quite unlike the ones in supermarkets. It is a pleasant place to sit for a while and watch the boats.
Back at sunset
The ride home is timed for the hour before sunset, when the West Bank hills turn warm and the river takes on a gold tone. You are back at your hotel or boat by about half past six.
- Duration: about three hours, in the late afternoon.
- Group: private, for your party only.
- Effort: very low, with short and flat walking.
- Included: boat, island entry, fruit, tea and water.
- Not included: tips and a guide, unless you add one.
Who enjoys it most
The trip suits people who want to see something of rural life without a long day. Couples enjoy the sunset ride, families like the fruit and the open space, and older visitors appreciate the lack of stairs. It is less suitable for anyone seeking adventure or deep history. If that is you, a quad ride or a balloon flight is a better fit.
Making the most of the trip
Go in the late afternoon when the heat has eased. Bring a camera, since the river and the groves are very photogenic. Ask the farmer about the crops, the irrigation and the flood, which are the real subjects of the island. Buy a small bunch of bananas to take with you, and keep a few small notes for the farmer and boatman, who rely on tips.
Banana Island works well on a day when you have done a big morning at the temples or the Valley of the Kings. It leaves in the afternoon, so you can rest at your hotel first. It also suits the last evening of your stay, when you want something gentle. Because the trip is private, we can usually adjust the start time to match your plans.
Let us know your hotel or boat, the size of your party and any worries about boats or mobility. Tell us if you would like a guide to come along as well as the boatman. We can arrange a slightly earlier or later start to match the sunset on your date.
Open the trip page for the details and to book.
Plan with us
Banana Island: a gentle few hours on the Nile at Luxor
A private motorboat from the Luxor corniche to Banana Island: the groves, the fruit and tea, how long it takes and who it suits best.