Everyone I mention it to is enthralled. It’s exotic and adventurous. Then they say, “But aren’t there crocodiles?” I hope not and regardless I am extremely excited to go rowing down the Nile River in Egypt in February 2026.

I’ve been invited to join a private Nile rowing group – wonderful to be a guest and not the organizer. There will be 20 of us. Most are from Austria or Germany. I am the sole Canadian. I don’t know many participants and I look forward to new rowing friends. The trip begins in Aswan and ends in Luxor. I am so grateful to the organizers! The local partners are Cairow – looking forward to meeting them! I have a few ideas of how complicated this is and how much work it has taken to put it together. And will be during the tour. I am packing flexibility and adaptability along with sunscreen and water shoes.

This will be my first trip to Egypt. I am planning a few days in Cairo and Alexandria in advance, but the focus will be the week of rowing on the Nile which will also include some cultural highlights. I am beginning my preparations!

Background reading

Almost immediately after launching Rowing The World in 2013, I started dreaming about the Nile.  I was in contact with Martin Paasman of the Netherlands who organized a Nile Rowing Expedition – he shared a summary of their 2013 tour to a blog post on our Rowing Travel Blog. I’ve gone back to look at the photos again as well as on his own blog site to give me a few hints about what my trip might be like.

I am not sure when I bought and read Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman’s Skiff by Rosemary Mahoney. It was published in 2007 – long enough ago that I have forgotten most details. Some things will be a bit dated 20 years later, but since I have it on my e-reader I might dip into it again while there.

My current read is Apricots on the Nile: A Memoir with Recipes by Colette Rossant. It was recommended by a writer friend and I am enjoying the gentle stories of a Cairo that no longer exists. The food part very much exists – a well-travelled friend of mine shared her opinion that the food of Egypt is the best in the world. Top of my list to try are the snacks called semits and sambusaks, plus anything stuffed or cooked in an apricot or almond-anchovy sauce.

I haven’t had time to delve into modern Egyptian literature, although I am sure there will be some amazing writers. Years ago I read The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz who won the Nobel Prize for Literature. The descriptions of the women peeking out onto the street or the merchant in his shop have stayed with me. I still have my copies of The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell. I read them avidly in my twenties – I am reluctant to try them again in case I am disappointed. Regardless I am going to spend a day in the namesake city, to see if I can soak up some atmosphere or ambiance. I might also try rereading Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively, which won the Booker Prize. Then of course there is Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie – that might be a fun one to add to my e-reader.

Training for Nile rowing

Our rivers are ice so I can’t do any on-water training at home. I am not a fan of the ergometer and will do anything to avoid it. So I have made the obvious and logical decision. I will prepare physically by cross-country skiing in Austria and Estonia. It is a complementary sport after all, using the same muscle groups as rowing and also requiring balance and technique. It builds fitness too while you glide (or huff, puff and gasp) around trails. I will hopefully touch an oar for one day in Greece on my way south. I am packing lots of tape for my poor hands.

Watch for a report when I am back. It is going to be fun!