A dahabiya Nile cruise is a private journey on a traditional sailing boat between Luxor and Aswan, with a private English-speaking guide, full board and every temple ticket included. You can sail 3 nights from Aswan to Luxor on a Friday, or 4 or 7 nights from Luxor to Aswan on a Monday. Prices start from US$1,639 per person in a Double Deluxe cabin on the Akhenaton, regular season.
A dahabiya is the Nile's classic sailing boat: a long, low hull with tall sails that catch the north wind and carry you upstream or drift you back down with the current. Travelers in the nineteenth century hired them for weeks at a time, and the name survives in several spellings, so you will also see dahabeya or dahabieh in older books and on maps. The idea behind a dahabiya Nile cruise today is the same one those early travelers loved: a smaller boat, a slower rhythm and the river close enough to touch.
The large Nile ships you see lined up along the Luxor and Aswan waterfronts are floating hotels. They are comfortable and efficient, and they are the right choice for many trips, which is why we cover them in our guide to the classic Nile cruise on larger ships. A dahabiya is a different experience rather than a smaller version of the same thing.
Here is the practical difference. A dahabiya is a smaller, quieter boat. It carries sails, and life on board has a quieter soundtrack: water against the hull, birds in the reeds, the call to prayer drifting over from the villages on the bank. Because it is small, it can stop at quieter moorings away from the rows of big ships, which changes the feel of every evening on board.
The pace is also different. On a Nile dahabiya you have time to sit on deck and watch farmers, water buffalo, palm groves and desert cliffs slide past. Days are shaped around the temples and the river, not around a large group schedule. If you want a sense of what that looks like in practice, our page on the dahabiya experience on board walks through the atmosphere of a sailing cruise on the Nile.
With Explora Egipto, every dahabiya program is private. That means your own guide, your own air-conditioned vehicle for each visit and transfer, and your own pace at the sites. Your sightseeing is organized around you, not around a group.
We work with three 5-star dahabiyas: Iris, Akhenaton and Per-ba. All three sail the same stretch of river, follow the same two routes and include the same visits, so the choice comes down to style, cabin type and budget. Each boat has its own page with full prices and cabin details.
A wooden-hulled dahabiya with sails, an upper deck set with loungers and a shaded dining area, and an indoor lounge for the hotter hours. Iris has the widest choice of cabins of the three: Double Deluxe, Junior on the main deck, Junior on the upper deck with veranda and Royal on the upper deck with veranda. From US$1,849 per person in a Double Deluxe cabin, regular season.
Two white sails, covered deck terraces, a long dining table beside windows that look straight onto the river, and cabins with verandas. Akhenaton offers two categories, Double Deluxe and Double with veranda, and it is the most accessible of the three boats. From US$1,639 per person in a Double Deluxe cabin, regular season.
A white hull, bright interiors with wooden floors and small touches of Egyptian design, such as door handles shaped like the ankh. Per-ba offers two categories, Double Deluxe and Junior with veranda. From US$2,059 per person in a Double Deluxe cabin, regular season.
If you are torn between two boats, tell us what matters most to you, whether that is a veranda, the lowest price or the most cabin choice, and we will point you to the right one.
Every Nile cruise dahabiya we offer sails the stretch of the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, the most beautiful and most temple-rich part of the river. You choose the direction and the length. The departure day is fixed for each route, which makes planning your flights and hotel nights much easier.
| Route | Nights on board | Departure day | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aswan to Luxor | 3 nights | Every Friday | A short, focused sailing within a wider Egypt trip |
| Luxor to Aswan | 4 nights | Every Monday | A balanced first dahabiya trip |
| Luxor to Aswan | 7 nights | Every Monday | Travelers who want the river to be the heart of the vacation |
This is the shortest option and it sails with the current, north toward Luxor. It suits travelers who are combining the river with Cairo, the Red Sea or a longer tour and want a true taste of dahabiya life without giving it a full week. Our Aswan to Luxor 3-night dahabiya page explains how the route fits into a larger itinerary.
Sailing south from Luxor means heading upstream, toward Nubia and the granite islands of Aswan. The 4-night version is the natural choice for most first-time visitors. The 7-night version is for travelers who want more days on board; the team explains how those extra nights are spent in the detailed program that comes with your quote. Read more on our Luxor to Aswan dahabiya page.
Both directions reach the same great sites. Along the river between the two cities stand the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo; Luxor holds Karnak and the West Bank monuments; Aswan is the base for Philae and for the trip south to Abu Simbel.
All prices below are in US dollars, per person, and depend on three things: the boat, the cabin category and the season. The "from" figure for each boat is its lowest regular-season price, which is always the Double Deluxe cabin on the 3-night Aswan to Luxor route. Festive departures at Christmas, New Year and Easter follow a separate, higher price table.
| Dahabiya | Cabin categories | Regular season, per person | Festive departures, per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akhenaton | 2: Double Deluxe; Double with veranda | From US$1,639 (Double Deluxe) | From US$1,889 (Double Deluxe) |
| Iris | 4: Double Deluxe; Junior, main deck; Junior, upper deck with veranda; Royal, upper deck with veranda | From US$1,849 (Double Deluxe) | From US$2,829 (Double Deluxe) |
| Per-ba | 2: Double Deluxe; Junior with veranda | From US$2,059 (Double Deluxe) | From US$2,739 (Double Deluxe) |
The Double Deluxe is the entry cabin on all three boats, so it is the fairest way to compare them across routes. These are regular-season prices per person.
| Dahabiya | Aswan to Luxor, 3 nights | Luxor to Aswan, 4 nights | Luxor to Aswan, 7 nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akhenaton | US$1,639 | US$1,749 | US$2,099 |
| Iris | US$1,849 | US$2,139 | US$2,999 |
| Per-ba | US$2,059 | US$2,319 | US$3,079 |
A private veranda is the upgrade most travelers ask about, because it turns the river into your own view. On the Akhenaton, the Double with veranda starts from US$1,719 per person for the 3-night route in regular season. On the Per-ba, the Junior with veranda starts from US$2,459 per person for the same route and season. On the Iris, the Junior on the upper deck with veranda starts from US$2,569 per person, and the Royal on the upper deck with veranda from US$2,999 per person, both for the 3-night route in regular season.
Each boat page lists every cabin on every route, for both regular and festive departures. The deposit, payment schedule and other conditions are agreed directly between our team and each traveler when you book.
The dahabiya season runs through the cooler months, when days in Upper Egypt are warm and bright and evenings on deck call for a light sweater. Regular departures run in the windows below, on Fridays for the Aswan to Luxor route and on Mondays for the Luxor to Aswan routes.
| Departure window | Price table |
|---|---|
| October 1 to December 21, 2026 | Regular (December 21 is priced as the Christmas departure) |
| January 1 to 31, 2027 | Regular |
| February 1 to April 30, 2027 | Regular (Easter departures priced as festive) |
| May 1 to 31, 2027 | Regular |
Four departures fall on the holidays and use the festive price table. They line up with the school holidays, which makes them a natural fit for families and for anyone who wants to spend the season somewhere unforgettable.
| Festive departure | Date | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas | Monday, December 21, 2026 | Luxor to Aswan, 4 or 7 nights |
| New Year | Monday, December 28, 2026 | Luxor to Aswan, 4 or 7 nights |
| Easter | Friday, March 26, 2027 | Aswan to Luxor, 3 nights |
| Easter | Monday, March 29, 2027 | Luxor to Aswan, 4 or 7 nights |
On the festive table, the Akhenaton starts from US$1,889 per person in a Double Deluxe cabin on the 3-night route, the Per-ba from US$2,739 per person and the Iris from US$2,829 per person, in the same cabin and on the same route. If your dates are flexible, any departure outside these holiday dates is priced on the regular table.
October, November and the early spring months are especially pleasant for the long visits at Karnak and on the West Bank. January is the heart of the season. May is warmer in the middle of the day, so early starts at the sites are worth it, and a private guide makes that easy to arrange.
The price of a dahabiya Nile cruise with Explora Egipto covers the whole river journey, not just the cabin. On all three boats and on both routes, you get:
The visits included on the programs are Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. That list covers the great names of Upper Egypt from the Nubian south to ancient Thebes, so you do not need to add separate excursions to see the essentials.
Because the guide and vehicle are yours alone, you are never waiting for a coach to fill up or hurrying to keep up with a large group. If you want more time in a tomb or a quieter moment in a courtyard, you take it.
Not included: your international flights to Egypt, which you book yourself, and anything the detailed program does not list. If you would like extra days in Luxor or Aswan before or after the cruise, our pages on Luxor excursions and Aswan excursions show what can be added.
All three boats deliver the same route, the same guide and the same temples. The differences are in atmosphere, cabin options and price. Here is how we usually help travelers decide.
The Akhenaton has the lowest prices of the three on every route and in both seasons, and its Double with veranda is the most affordable way to have your own outdoor space on the river. It suits couples and friends who want the full dahabiya experience and would rather put the savings toward extra nights in Cairo or a longer trip. See the Akhenaton dahabiya page for every price.
With four categories, the Iris gives you the most room to match the cabin to the occasion, from the Double Deluxe to the Royal on the upper deck with veranda. It is a natural fit for a special anniversary, a milestone birthday or travelers who simply want the top cabin on the boat. If you are planning a honeymoon, compare the Iris with our honeymoon Nile cruise ideas. Details are on the Iris dahabiya page.
The Per-ba's white hull, light interiors and wooden floors give it a fresh, contemporary feel, with nods to ancient Egypt in the details. Its Junior with veranda is the step up from the Double Deluxe, adding your own outdoor space on the river. It suits travelers who care about design and light. Everything is on the Per-ba dahabiya page.
If Egypt is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and you have ten days or more, the 4-night Luxor to Aswan route pairs well with a few days in Cairo. If your vacation is shorter, the 3-night Aswan to Luxor route lets you sail without giving up the pyramids. If the river is the whole point, the 7-night route gives it the time it deserves. For a fully tailored plan, our custom Egypt tour service builds the dahabiya into a complete itinerary, and our luxury Egypt tour page shows how it fits a high-end trip.
The stretch between Luxor and Aswan holds some of the most famous monuments on earth, and each one feels different when you arrive from the water rather than from a highway.
Karnak. The great temple complex of Luxor, a forest of giant columns and obelisks built and rebuilt over many centuries. Our Karnak Temple guide helps you get your bearings before you go.
The West Bank of Luxor. Across the river lie the royal tombs cut into the desert hills, the terraced temple of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut beneath its cliffs, and the two seated giants known as the Colossi of Memnon standing in the fields. Read about the Valley of the Kings and its tombs, the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. For everything else in the city, see what to see in Luxor.
Edfu and Kom Ombo. Between the two cities, the river passes two of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Edfu is dedicated to the falcon god Horus, and Kom Ombo, set right on the riverbank, is shared by two gods, one of them the crocodile Sobek. Our pages on Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple go deeper.
Philae and Abu Simbel. At Aswan, the island temple of Isis at Philae is reached by boat, and to the south stand the colossal statues of Abu Simbel, carved into the rock facing the sunrise. See our Philae Temple guide, our page on how to visit Abu Simbel and our overview of what to see in Aswan.
Aswan is also the place for a classic felucca sail around the islands, if you have a spare afternoon before or after the cruise. Our page on the felucca ride on the Nile explains how it works.
Explora Egipto does not sell international flights. Your dahabiya trip starts in Luxor or Aswan, depending on the route, and you arrange your own flight to Egypt from the US. That keeps you free to use your preferred carrier, your miles and the dates that work for you.
Most travelers from the US fly into Cairo, spend a few days there, then take a short domestic flight south. Our guide to domestic flights in Egypt explains how the Cairo to Luxor and Cairo to Aswan connections work, and our page on what to see in Cairo will help you plan those first days around the pyramids and the museums.
For a complete picture of planning an Egypt trip from the United States, including how many days to allow and how to combine Cairo with the river, see our page on Egypt tours from the USA. Travelers from the UK follow the same logic: book your own international ticket, and the private program starts on the ground in Luxor or Aswan.
Two practical points. First, match your arrival to the route: the Aswan to Luxor route leaves on Fridays and the Luxor to Aswan routes leave on Mondays, so plan your arrival in the starting city with a comfortable margin before your departure. Second, check the entry rules for your passport well ahead of time on our Egypt visa requirements page, and when it is time to pack, our list of what to pack for a Nile cruise covers layers for cool evenings and shoes for the temples.
Booking is done directly with our team on WhatsApp, and it is simple.
If you are still comparing ideas, our Egypt tour packages show how a dahabiya fits into longer trips, and the classic Nile cruise on larger ships is there if you would rather sail on a bigger vessel.
A dahabiya is a traditional Nile boat with sails: smaller and quieter than a cruise ship. It can moor at quieter spots along the bank instead of in the rows of large ships. A regular Nile cruise ship is a bigger floating hotel. Both cover the same temples; the difference is the pace and the atmosphere.
In regular season, prices start from US$1,639 per person in a Double Deluxe cabin on the Akhenaton, from US$1,849 per person in a Double Deluxe cabin on the Iris and from US$2,059 per person in a Double Deluxe cabin on the Per-ba, all for the 3-night Aswan to Luxor route. Longer routes, larger cabins and festive departures cost more.
Choose Aswan to Luxor for 3 nights if you are short on time or combining the river with several other stops. Choose Luxor to Aswan for 4 nights for a balanced first trip, or 7 nights if the river is the main event. Both reach the same major temples.
The 3-night Aswan to Luxor route departs every Friday. The 4-night and 7-night Luxor to Aswan routes depart every Monday. The Easter departures are the only festive dates that include a Friday sailing.
Every program is private. You have your own English-speaking guide, your own air-conditioned vehicle for each visit and transfer, and your own pace at the sites. You never wait for a group or follow a flag.
Yes. All three dahabiyas are full board, and all entrance tickets to the sites on the program are included, from Karnak and the Valley of the Kings to Philae and Abu Simbel.
No. Explora Egipto does not sell international flights. You book your own flight to Egypt, and the program starts in Luxor or Aswan. Our pages on domestic flights in Egypt and on Egypt tours from the USA explain how to connect.
Yes. There are dedicated festive departures for Christmas, New Year and Easter, listed with their dates in the seasons section above. They use a separate festive price table, and asking early gives you the widest choice of cabins.
Availability changes from week to week, so the team checks it for your exact departure. You receive confirmation of the open cabins together with the detailed program in your quote.
Our team agrees the conditions directly with each traveler when you book, so everything is clear before you confirm your cabin.
It is one of the most romantic ways to see Egypt. A cabin with a veranda, quiet evenings at the mooring and a private guide at every temple make it a natural fit. The Iris, with its Royal cabin on the upper deck with veranda, is a natural choice for couples who want the top cabin.
Tell us your dates, your favorite boat and the route that fits your trip. Our team will reply with your options and your price, so you can picture your days on the river before you decide.
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