- Duration5 Days / 4 Nights
- Tour typeCruise
- StartsPickup from your Luxor hotel or Luxor Airport
- PriceFrom $1,390 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
A dahabiya Nile cruise is the slow, intimate way to travel between Esna and Aswan. These elegant sailing houseboats carry only a small number of guests, so mealtimes feel more like a house party than a dining room, and the sun deck is never crowded. Instead of following the big ships from one busy landing to the next, your boat ties up at quiet riverbanks and islands, giving you village walks, evening swims in season and long, peaceful sunsets over the palms.
The route covers the great temples of Upper Egypt – Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo – and adds places most visitors never reach: the painted tombs of El Kab, cut into the desert cliffs for local governors of the early New Kingdom, and the vast sandstone quarries of Gebel el-Silsila, where much of the stone for Egypt’s temples was cut. Your Egyptologist guide stays with you for the whole journey, so visits are paced around you rather than a timetable.
Please note that a dahabiya relies on the wind. When the breeze drops, a small tug tows the boat so the itinerary keeps moving, and the order of visits can shift slightly with river conditions. Cabins are comfortable, en-suite and air-conditioned, built to a high standard rather than with the amenities of a large hotel ship. Wi-fi is limited or absent on most boats, which many guests come to see as part of the charm.
Highlights
- Sail the Nile on a traditional two-masted dahabiya with only a handful of cabins
- See the newly cleaned, brightly painted ceiling of the Temple of Khnum at Esna
- Explore the rarely visited rock tombs of El Kab and the ancient quarries of Gebel el-Silsila
- Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the riverside double temple of Kom Ombo
- Moor at quiet sandbanks and islands where large cruise ships cannot stop
- Full board on deck, with a private Egyptologist guide throughout
Itinerary
Day 1 – Luxor to Esna and embarkation
You are collected from your Luxor hotel or Luxor Airport around late morning and driven south for about an hour to Esna. Before boarding, your guide takes you into the Temple of Khnum, whose ceiling and columns have recently been cleaned to reveal colours hidden under soot for centuries. Board the dahabiya, settle into your cabin and enjoy lunch as the crew prepare to sail. In the afternoon the boat drifts upstream past fields and fishing villages, mooring at a quiet bank for dinner on deck.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 – El Kab rock tombs
After breakfast, step ashore at El Kab, once the ancient town of Nekheb and home to the vulture goddess Nekhbet. The rock-cut tombs here belong to local officials of the early New Kingdom, including Ahmose son of Ebana, whose wall inscription describes the wars that drove the Hyksos out of Egypt, and Paheri, whose tomb shows lively scenes of farming and family life. Return to the boat for lunch and an afternoon of sailing, mooring near Edfu for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – Edfu and Gebel el-Silsila
Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu early, before the heat and the crowds build. It is the most complete temple in Egypt, with its roof, pylon and inner sanctuary still standing, and its walls record the mythical battle between Horus and Seth. Back on board, sail south to Gebel el-Silsila, where the Nile narrows between sandstone cliffs. Walk through the ancient quarries, the rock-cut chapel of Horemheb and the small shrines carved by officials, then enjoy a peaceful evening moored nearby.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 – Kom Ombo
Sail on to Kom Ombo, the unusual double temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon-headed Haroeris, set on a bend of the river. Your guide points out the carved medical instruments and the Nilometer, and you can see the mummified crocodiles in the small museum beside the temple. The afternoon is free for sailing, reading on deck or a short walk ashore at your final mooring, often on or near an island. A farewell dinner is served on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 – Arrive in Aswan and disembark
Enjoy a last breakfast as the dahabiya makes the final stretch into Aswan, where granite boulders and the golden dunes of the West Bank mark the change of landscape. After disembarking, you are transferred to your Aswan hotel, the airport or the railway station. If you have extra time, we can add a visit to Philae Temple, a felucca sail around Elephantine Island or a day trip to Abu Simbel as an optional extra.
Meals: Breakfast
Good to know: A dahabiya sails when the wind allows and is towed by a small tug when it does not, so sailing hours and the order of visits can change. Most boats run Esna to Aswan and Aswan to Esna on alternate departures.
What’s Included
Included
- 4 nights on a 5★ standard dahabiya in an en-suite, air-conditioned cabin
- Full board from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 5
- Drinking water, tea and coffee on board
- Private Egyptologist guide for all sightseeing
- Entry fees to Esna, El Kab, Edfu, Gebel el-Silsila and Kom Ombo
- Meet and assist on arrival
- Private A/C transfer from Luxor hotel or airport to Esna, and from the Aswan mooring to your hotel, airport or station
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Egypt entry visa
- Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks and other drinks not listed
- Tips for the crew and guide
- Optional extras such as Philae Temple, a felucca sail or Abu Simbel
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $2,450 |
| 2 travellers | $1,590 |
| 3–5 travellers | $1,490 |
| 6+ travellers | $1,390 |
Per person in USD, based on sharing a double or twin cabin; the single traveller rate includes a private cabin. Child prices depend on age and the services included – ask us for a child price before you book. Prices can be higher over Christmas, New Year and Easter; we confirm the exact price in writing before you pay.
Not sure a dahabiya is for you? Read dahabiya or cruise ship: what is the difference?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a dahabiya and a regular Nile cruise ship?
A dahabiya is a traditional sailing boat with two large sails and usually only a few cabins, so groups are small and the atmosphere is relaxed. Large cruise ships carry many more passengers, have pools and lifts, and stop at the busy town landings. Dahabiyas can moor at quiet banks and islands and reach sites like El Kab and Gebel el-Silsila.
Does the boat actually sail, or is it towed?
The dahabiya sails whenever the wind allows, which is one of the joys of the trip. When the wind drops or blows from the wrong direction, a small tug tows the boat so that the itinerary keeps to schedule. We cannot guarantee how many hours will be under sail, as that depends entirely on the weather each day.
Can I do the cruise in the opposite direction, from Aswan to Esna?
Yes. Most dahabiyas run the route in both directions on alternating departures. The sites are the same, simply visited in reverse order, and the trip then ends with a transfer from Esna to Luxor. Tell us your preferred dates and we will check which direction is sailing that week.
When is the best time for a dahabiya cruise?
October to April is the most comfortable period, with warm days and cool evenings that are perfect for dining on deck. December and January nights can be chilly on the water, so pack a warm layer. Summer cruises run on some boats, but daytime heat is intense and sightseeing is scheduled for early morning and late afternoon.
Is the dahabiya suitable for children or travellers with limited mobility?
Children are welcome and often love the freedom of the deck, though there is no pool or kids’ club. Access to the boat is by gangplank, sometimes onto a sandy or uneven bank, and cabins are reached by stairs. Travellers with limited mobility should contact us first so we can advise on the most suitable boat.
You May Also Like
Want to combine tours or change anything? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp and we will tailor it for you.
