An intimate sail aboard a traditional dahabiya — small boats, quiet moorings, riverbanks the big ships pass by.
Sunday
6 days on board
all guided
per person
The 5 Nights Dahabiya from Esna is a Nile cruise itinerary sailing from Esna to Aswan over 6 days, visiting 6 major stops. Prices start from $1,450 per person.
Scroll the days or press play — the boat sails to each stop as you go. Timings are typical; the exact order can shift with lock queues and mooring slots.
The six sites this cruise visits, in the order you reach them.
Most dahabiyas board 55 km south of Luxor to skip the lock queue. Temple of Khnum — sunk below street level in the middle of the souk — is a ten-minute walk away.
A site the big ships never stop at: painted Nile-side tombs of local governors and a Predynastic town wall, usually with nobody else there.
Edfu
The best-preserved temple in Egypt, visited early before the cruise-ship crowds arrive by carriage at nine.
Sandstone quarries and rock chapels where the river narrows to its tightest point. You moor beneath the cliffs for the night; swimming off the boat is the tradition.
Kom Ombo
The double temple to Sobek and Horus, reached when the day ships have left. Mummified crocodiles in the museum next door.
Aswan
Sail the last stretch between the islands under canvas, then Philae, the High Dam and a Nubian village visit from the mooring at Aswan.
There's no shopping cart because a Nile cruise shouldn't be bought like a pair of shoes. A specialist handles it end to end.
Dates, route, style, budget — or just "help". Use the finder above, the form below or WhatsApp.
A specialist replies with ships that fit, live availability, exact inclusions and a written price.
Swap ships, add Cairo or Abu Simbel, ask anything. We hold your cabin free while you decide.
Deposit by card link or bank transfer, balance before sailing. Vouchers and a WhatsApp line for the trip.
Temperature drives both comfort and price — and a few small things (tipping, tickets, what to pack) make the difference between a good cruise and a great one.
Hover or tap a month for temperatures and crowd levels.
Linen or cotton that covers shoulders and knees — you'll be walking in full sun at Karnak and Edfu. A scarf doubles as sun cover and mosque-visit modesty.
Tomb floors in the Valley of the Kings are ramps and steps. Sandals for the deck, closed shoes for the sites.
Deck evenings and air-conditioned lounges are cooler than you expect. November–February nights drop to 8–12 °C.
The pool is the afternoon plan. Sunscreen on board costs three times the price at home.
Tomb interiors are dim and phones die fast in the heat. Plug type C/F (European two-pin), 220 V.
For the Galabeya night and the captain's dinner — or buy a galabeya at the Esna market for $10 like everyone else.
Roughly $3–5 for the crew (pooled envelope at the end of the cruise), $5 for your Egyptologist and $2 for drivers. We put this in writing so nothing feels awkward.
ATMs in Luxor and Aswan work fine; on board only cash is accepted for tips. $1 and $5 notes are gold for bathroom attendants and carriage drivers.
Drinks (packages from $35/day), laundry, spa, and optional excursions like Abu Simbel or the balloon. The bar takes cards on most deluxe and luxury ships.
Tutankhamun's tomb (~$20), Seti I (~$60) and Nefertari (~$60) are extra at the sites. Nefertari is the best-preserved tomb in Egypt — say yes.
EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia and many more: $30 sticker at the airport bank counter, or an e-visa online in advance. Passport valid 6+ months.
Both have daily flights from Cairo (1 h) and some direct European charters. We match your arrival day to a departure day so you don't lose a night.
First excursion is the same afternoon; last day ends around 08:00–09:00. Book flights after 12:00 on disembarkation day.
Not included and strongly advised. Egypt's private hospitals in Luxor and Aswan are good; the ship's doctor is on call 24 h.
You're at a temple in the morning, on deck for lunch as the banks slide past, and docked by evening. Ships often moor side by side — you may walk through another ship to reach the shore.
Grouped by language. Private guide upgrades are available on every ship for about $40–60 per day.
Optional, fun and slightly cheesy. The sun deck under the stars is the alternative.
Vegetarian, gluten-free and halal handled easily; tell us about allergies when you book and the kitchen is briefed in writing.
No age limit on motor ships. Connecting or triple cabins on request — we only quote ships that have them free on your dates. Children 2–11 usually pay 50%.
Single supplements run 50–75% of the double rate, but several ships halve or waive it in low season.
Under-80-guest ships and private sail boats are the quiet ones. Tell us — cabins get a welcome upgrade where we can.
Lifts on most deluxe and luxury ships; temples involve uneven ground and steps. Tell us and we'll pick a ship with a lift and lower-deck cabins.
Aswan-to-Luxor is the classical direction and follows the current — you sail with the flow, which is gentler. Luxor-to-Aswan sails against the current, so you arrive at each temple slightly ahead of the fleet. Both cover the same temples (Karnak, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae). Honeymooners tend to prefer Aswan-to-Luxor because Aswan is the softer city to arrive into after Cairo.
Roughly 4-5 hours across two blocks. Temple visits are typically 90 minutes each, with cruise time in between where you rest, eat and sit on the sun deck. No temple visit exceeds 2 hours — Egypt heat and stone flooring make longer visits unproductive.
International buffet three times a day — cold cuts, Egyptian mezze, grilled meats, pasta station, salad bar, dessert selection. Vegetarian options at every meal; special dietary requirements (vegan, gluten-free, halal, kosher) accommodated with 48 hours' notice. A la carte options available on some 5-star ships.
Yes — every cabin on every ship in our fleet has an outside window or French balcony facing the river. There are no interior cabins on Nile cruise ships. Suites include a walk-out balcony; deluxe rooms have a French balcony (floor-to-ceiling glass that opens).
All cruise ships offer Wi-Fi, usually free in public areas and paid in cabins ($5-10/day). Speed varies with location — reliable at moorings in Luxor, Aswan, Kom Ombo; slower or intermittent while sailing between towns. Bring an Egyptian SIM if you need constant connectivity.
Rarely happens — Egypt keeps restoration open-air where possible so temples stay visible. If a specific chamber is closed (like Nefertari's tomb, which has strict visitor limits), your Egyptologist will substitute an equivalent alternative. Your full itinerary is honored.
No account, no payment, no obligation. Tell us the basics and a named specialist does the rest.
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