Nile Barrages or felucca?

We want to do some kind of a boat trip on the Nile---just a few hours or half day or something like that.
Can anyone tell me the difference between a "barrage" and a "felucca" and which would you recommend.

"Barrage"!? Do you mean "barge"? Barge is (usually) a big, flat thing used for transporting bulky cargo and (usually) towed by a ship. Felucca is a 'traditional' sailing boat used nowadays for transporting tourists on the Nile. Felucca cruises are cheap (provided that you can haggle well) and they offer a nice way to see the Nile and its banks.

You should sail the Nile with a barge. Felucca is indeed the nicest way to cruise. Photos of felucca on my blog if you want to see how it looks like.

A Nile barge is not the same as a typical barge. Cleopatra and other royals had barges. I imagine whatever they put you in today would be rather different. But for a few hours I'd say a felucca would be much more pleasant.

CK

Thanks. Sounds like the felucca is the way to go. Now, I don't mean to sound paranoid or overly safety conscious but do they have life jackets or any such safety equipment on these boats?? While we are on the topic, do the taxis in Egypt have seatbelts?

I can't remember seeing any safety equipment at all on the felucca I cruised with (this is not to say that some of them might not have them). Also, even if taxis have seatbelts (I can't remember if they do) you might insult your driver by wearing it (he might take it to imply that you don't trust his driving skills).

Hmm maybe a little confusion here-
Barge or Barrages? Barrages are the locks some 16kms up the Nile from Cairo and reached by water taxi-have never been but could make an interesting excursion if you have the time.
Would try to not think about saftey too much while in Egypt and place your faith in the Almighty-seat belts were made compulsary a few years ago but I have never seen them worn.

Our Man in Damascus