Overview
Tour Description
A dahabiya is a traditional two-masted sailing boat with only a handful of cabins. It moves slowly under sail, ties up at small islands that big cruise ships pass by, and stops at temples like El Kab and Gebel el-Silsila that most visitors never see. This 11-day tour gives you seven nights on board, from Luxor to Aswan, after three days in Cairo.
Highlights
- Private days in Cairo: the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara and the Grand Egyptian Museum
- 7 nights on a deluxe dahabiya, with soft drinks, tea and coffee at meals
- Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings
- Quiet stops at Esna, El Kab and Gebel el-Silsila, plus Edfu and Kom Ombo
- Barbecue dinner on an island and a farewell party in Aswan
- Philae Temple and the High Dam
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Cairo
Your tour manager meets you at Cairo International Airport and escorts you to your 5-star hotel in a private deluxe vehicle. At check-in he goes through your itinerary with you and confirms each day’s pick-up times.
Overnight: 5-star hotel, Cairo.
Day 2: Giza Pyramids and Saqqara
Your Egyptologist takes you to the Giza Plateau for the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, the Sphinx and the Valley Temple. You then drive south to Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest of all the pyramids.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch. Overnight: 5-star hotel, Cairo.
Day 3: The Grand Egyptian Museum
A full visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum with your Egyptologist. Its galleries trace Egyptian history from the earliest kings to the Roman period, and the complete Tutankhamun collection is shown together for the first time. The museum also houses Khufu’s solar boat, moved here from the foot of the Great Pyramid. Lunch is at a good local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch. Overnight: 5-star hotel, Cairo.
Day 4: Fly to Luxor, board the dahabiya, Karnak and Luxor Temple
A morning flight takes you to Luxor. You board your dahabiya at noon on the East Bank and have lunch on deck. In the afternoon you visit Luxor Temple, built to celebrate the renewal of kingship, and Karnak, the vast temple of Amun that was enlarged by pharaohs for some 2,000 years.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: dahabiya, Luxor.
Day 5: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon
After breakfast you cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, where you enter several painted royal tombs, the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: dahabiya.
Day 6: Esna lock, Esna Temple and sailing to El Kab
You pass through the Esna lock early in the morning, then visit the Temple of Esna, dedicated to Khnum, the ram-headed creator god. Its hall of 24 columns, with carved floral capitals, has been cleaned in recent years to reveal its original colors. Around 1:00 PM the boat sets sail for El Kab, with lunch on deck and tea at sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: dahabiya, near El Kab.
Day 7: El Kab and sailing to Edfu
In the morning you visit El Kab, the ancient city of Nekheb, with rock-cut tombs of local governors and small temples in the desert. You then sail on to Edfu to see the Temple of Horus, the most complete temple in Egypt.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: dahabiya.
Day 8: Gebel el-Silsila and a barbecue dinner
Breakfast while sailing to Gebel el-Silsila, the sandstone quarries where much of the stone for Egypt’s temples was cut, with small shrines carved into the cliffs. In the evening the crew prepares a barbecue dinner, and the boat ties up for the night at Beshir Island.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: dahabiya, Beshir Island.
Day 9: Kom Ombo
You sail on to Kom Ombo, the riverside temple shared by Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris. Its double layout, with two entrances and two sanctuaries side by side, is unique in Egypt.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: dahabiya.
Day 10: Aswan, Philae, the High Dam and farewell dinner
You arrive in Aswan over breakfast. Your guide takes you to the High Dam and by boat to Philae Temple, the temple of Isis on Agilkia Island. In the evening the crew hosts a farewell dinner and party on board.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: dahabiya, Aswan.
Day 11: Fly home via Cairo
After breakfast you leave the boat and are taken to Aswan Airport for your flight to Cairo and your connection home.
Meals: Breakfast.
Included and Excluded
- Meet and assist at all airports
- Domestic flights Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo
- 3 nights in a 5-star hotel in Cairo with breakfast
- 7 nights on a deluxe dahabiya, full board
- Tea, coffee and soft drinks with meals on board
- Private sightseeing in Cairo with an Egyptologist
- All sightseeing on the dahabiya with an English-speaking Egyptologist
- Entrance fees to all sites in the itinerary
- Lunch at a good local restaurant in Cairo
- All transfers by private air-conditioned deluxe vehicle
- Bottled water during tours and transfers
- All service charges and taxes
- International flights and Egypt entry visa
- Optional tours
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips for guides, drivers and crew
- Personal expenses
Prices:
What will it cost you?
Prices per person change with the season and how many of you travel. Set yours and see the real number — no email needed.
Note:
All the accommodation in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan hotels and Nile cruises are 5* ultra deluxe accommodations
Tour Attractions
FAQs
What is the difference between a dahabiya and a Nile cruise ship?
A dahabiya is a sailing boat with usually 4 to 12 cabins, while most cruise ships carry 100 guests or more. A dahabiya moves under sail, moors at quiet islands and can stop at small sites like El Kab and Gebel el-Silsila. It feels more like a private yacht than a hotel.
How much does the 11-day Cairo and dahabiya tour cost?
From $9,550 per person sharing a double cabin from May to September, and $12,500 per person from October to April. Single travelers pay $11,600 in summer and $14,000 in winter.
Is there Wi-Fi and air conditioning on the dahabiya?
Deluxe dahabiyas have air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms. Wi-Fi is usually available but can be slow on remote stretches of the river, which many guests enjoy.
Can we charter the whole dahabiya privately?
Yes. Families and groups can charter the entire boat, which lets you set your own pace and menu. Ask us for a charter quote for your dates.
What is included in a luxury tour?
VIP airport service, private guides and vehicles, 5-star hotels, a deluxe cruise or dahabiya, and internal flights.
