Overview
Tour Description
Four nights on a 5-star dahabiya between Luxor and Aswan, with a private Egyptologist guide. A dahabiya is a traditional sailing boat with only a few cabins, so the trip feels calm and personal: meals on an open deck, nights moored at quiet riverbanks, and stops at places like Gebel el-Silsila that large ships skip.
This short cruise fits easily into a longer Egypt trip. We can add Cairo before it, Abu Simbel after it, or a few days on the Red Sea.
Highlights
- The Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple on your first day
- The Temple of Horus at Edfu, the best preserved in Egypt
- The ancient sandstone quarries and shrines of Gebel el-Silsila
- Kom Ombo, the double temple of Sobek and Horus
- Philae Temple and the High Dam in Aswan
Itinerary
Day 1: Luxor: Valley of the Kings and Karnak, board the dahabiya
We collect you from your Luxor hotel or the airport in the morning, and your private Egyptologist joins you for the day. You visit the Valley of the Kings, burial place of the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th dynasties, including Ramses II and Tutankhamun, and then Karnak, the largest temple complex ever built. Afterwards you board your dahabiya.
Meals: Lunch, dinner. Overnight: dahabiya.
Day 2: Edfu and Gebel el-Silsila
The boat sails south and reaches Edfu around midday. The Temple of Horus is the most complete Ptolemaic temple in Egypt, and its walls tell the story of Horus avenging his father Osiris against his uncle Seth. Later you stop at Gebel el-Silsila, where the sandstone for most of Egypt’s great temples was quarried, and see the small shrines carved by the officials in charge.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: dahabiya.
Day 3: Kom Ombo and sailing to Aswan
In the morning you visit Kom Ombo, built between about 180 and 47 BC for Horus the Elder in the north half and Sobek, the crocodile god, in the south half. Look for the carvings of medical instruments and the calendar on its walls. The afternoon is spent sailing towards Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: dahabiya.
Day 4: Aswan: the High Dam and Philae
A day in Aswan. You see the High Dam, built in the 1960s, and take a boat to Philae Temple, the temple of Isis that was taken apart and rebuilt on Agilkia Island during the UNESCO Nubia campaign. You return to the boat for your last evening on board.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: dahabiya, Aswan.
Day 5: Disembark in Aswan
After breakfast you check out and we drive you to Aswan Airport or anywhere else in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast.
Included and Excluded
- Our staff’s assistance throughout the cruise
- 4 nights on a 5-star dahabiya, full board
- Private Egyptologist guide
- All excursions in the itinerary, with entrance fees
- All transfers by modern air-conditioned vehicle
- All service charges and taxes
- Flights to Luxor and from Aswan
- Drinks not included with meals
- Tips for the guide 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
How much does the 5-day dahabiya cruise cost?
From $6,500 per person sharing a double cabin from May to September, and $8,000 per person from October to April. Single travelers pay $8,000 in summer and $10,000 in winter.
Does the dahabiya sail or use an engine?
Dahabiyas sail whenever the wind allows. Most also have a small tug boat that helps when the wind drops, so the schedule is kept.
Can I add Abu Simbel to the end of the cruise?
Yes. On day 5 we can take you to Abu Simbel by private car or arrange a short flight, and then take you to Aswan Airport or your hotel.
How do I get to Luxor to start the cruise?
There are daily flights from Cairo to Luxor, about one hour. We can book the flight for you and meet you at Luxor Airport.
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.
