The Per-ba dahabiya is a 5-star traditional Nile sailing boat with a white hull and the brightest, most contemporary interiors of the three dahabiyas Explora Egipto offers. It sails from Aswan to Luxor in 3 nights every Friday, or from Luxor to Aswan in 4 or 7 nights every Monday, full board and with a private English-speaking guide. Prices start from US$2,059 per person in a Double Deluxe cabin on regular departures.
Most people picture a dahabiya as dark wood, brass lamps and heavy fabrics. The Per-ba takes a lighter path. In the photos, its lounges open onto the river through tall glazed doors, sunlight falls across polished wooden floors, and the furniture is simple enough to let the Nile do the decorating.
The hull is white, the railings are white, and the palette inside stays soft: pale sofas, natural wood, and a few confident notes of turquoise and blue. If you like boutique hotels more than grand old palaces, this is the boat in our dahabiya collection that will feel the most like your own style.
Under the design, it is still a true dahabiya, a word you will also see spelled dahabieh: a traditional Nile sailing boat, rated 5 stars, with every meal included. The pace is unhurried, the stops are the great temples of Upper Egypt, and the days end with the light turning gold over the palm groves along the banks.
If you are still weighing up a dahabiya against a larger ship, start with our overview of the Nile dahabiya cruise and our broader Nile cruise guide. This page covers one boat only: what the Per-ba looks like, what it costs on each route and season, and who will enjoy it most.
In ancient Egyptian, the word per is generally translated as house. The same word is usually traced inside per-aa, the great house, which is where the word pharaoh is thought to come from.
We like to read the boat's name as a gentle nod to that idea of a home on the water, though any deeper reading of it is best taken with caution. What is easy to see is how ancient Egypt shows up in the details: the glazed doors between the lounges have handles shaped like the ankh, the old hieroglyph for life.
It is a small touch, yet it sums up the boat well: clean, modern lines, with ancient Egypt present exactly where your hand lands. You will meet the ankh again and again on temple walls, and our guides to what to see in Luxor and what to see in Aswan are a good way to prepare for those visits.
The main lounge is divided into two sofa areas, each facing glazed doors, so the river stays in view whether you are reading, going over tomorrow's temple with your guide or simply watching the banks slide by. Wooden floors run through the space and keep it warm without making it dark.
This is the room that sets the Per-ba apart from the more traditional boats. There is no heavy paneling closing in around you, just light, wood and water, which makes it an easy place to spend a slow afternoon between two visits.
The photos show the restaurant with turquoise chairs, wooden tables and a long wooden bar counter along one side. It is a cheerful, bright room rather than a formal one, and the color of the chairs echoes the river on a clear day.
Because the trip is full board, breakfast, lunch and dinner are part of the price. On the days when you are out at a temple early and back on board by midday, knowing that lunch is waiting makes the whole rhythm feel easy.
Outside, a deck promenade runs along the rail, with wooden armchairs lined up to face the water. This is where the quiet moments happen: a farmer walking a donkey along the bank, a heron lifting off the shallows, the white sail of a felucca crossing the current at sunset.
If you would like to be on one of those feluccas yourself, our page on a felucca ride on the Nile explains how it works in Aswan. For a wider picture of daily life on board a sailing boat, see our guide to the dahabiya experience.
The Per-ba keeps the choice simple, with two cabin categories. That makes it easier to decide than on the Iris, which has four, and it means the question comes down to one thing: do you want a veranda attached to your cabin?
The Double Deluxe is the Per-ba's entry category and the most accessible way to travel on this boat. You share everything that matters with every other traveler on board: the same bright lounges, the same route, the same private program with your own guide and the same temples.
The difference is the cabin itself. If you plan to spend your free time in the lounges and on the deck promenade, the Double Deluxe gives you the Per-ba experience at its lowest price.
The Junior with veranda is the step up. The junior cabin in the photos has a bed, a blue daybed set beneath tall windows, and long curtains that let you choose between full river light and a dim afternoon rest.
The veranda is the real draw. It gives you a place for the first coffee of the morning or the last light of the evening without leaving your cabin, and on a boat this bright, it turns the Nile into your private view.
The team confirms cabin availability and the detailed program with your quote, so let us know early which category you are leaning toward, especially if you are looking at a festive date.
Every Per-ba price is per person, in US dollars, and depends on three things: the route, the cabin category and whether you sail on a regular or a festive departure. The table below gathers the full grid in one place.
| Route | Departs | Cabin category | Regular departures, per person | Festive departures, per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aswan to Luxor, 3 nights | Friday | Double Deluxe cabin | from US$2,059 | from US$2,739 |
| Aswan to Luxor, 3 nights | Friday | Junior with veranda | from US$2,459 | from US$3,479 |
| Luxor to Aswan, 4 nights | Monday | Double Deluxe cabin | from US$2,319 | from US$3,229 |
| Luxor to Aswan, 4 nights | Monday | Junior with veranda | from US$2,849 | from US$4,209 |
| Luxor to Aswan, 7 nights | Monday | Double Deluxe cabin | from US$3,079 | from US$4,679 |
| Luxor to Aswan, 7 nights | Monday | Junior with veranda | from US$4,039 | from US$6,389 |
Regular departures cover most of the sailing season. Festive prices apply only to the Christmas, New Year and Easter departures listed in the seasons section below.
Each price covers a private program for your cabin category, route and season. The team agrees the booking conditions with each traveler once the quote is ready.
On the shortest route, Aswan to Luxor in 3 nights, the Junior with veranda is from US$2,459 per person against from US$2,059 per person for the Double Deluxe on regular departures. That is the narrowest gap on the Per-ba, and for many couples it is the easiest upgrade to justify: three evenings on a veranda for a moderate step in price.
The gap widens as the trip gets longer. On the 4-night Luxor to Aswan route, the Junior with veranda is from US$2,849 per person against from US$2,319 per person, and on the 7-night route it is from US$4,039 per person against from US$3,079 per person. More nights mean more mornings and evenings on the veranda, and the price follows.
Festive departures stretch it again. At Christmas, New Year and Easter, the Junior with veranda on the 7-night route is from US$6,389 per person, while the Double Deluxe on the same departure is from US$4,679 per person. If the veranda matters to you but your budget is firm, a regular departure on the 3-night or 4-night route is where it costs the least.
In short, you are paying for a higher cabin category and for the veranda itself. Everything else, from your private guide to the entrance tickets, is the same in both categories.
Every Per-ba Nile cruise is sold as a private program. Whichever cabin you choose, the price includes:
The visits on the programs read like a list of the finest monuments in Upper Egypt. Around Aswan, there is the island temple of Philae and the great rock temples of Abu Simbel. Along the river, the double temple of Kom Ombo and the temple of Horus at Edfu.
In Luxor, the programs take in Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the terraced temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. The order depends on your route, since one sails downstream from Aswan and the other upstream from Luxor.
Between visits, the boat is your base. You come back from the heat and the crowds of a big site to a dining room with a polished wooden floor and natural light, a meal already planned, and the next stretch of river ahead.
The Per-ba sails the same two routes as the other boats in our range. The only real decisions are direction and length.
| Route | Nights | Departure day | Starts in | Ends in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aswan to Luxor | 3 | Every Friday | Aswan | Luxor |
| Luxor to Aswan | 4 | Every Monday | Luxor | Aswan |
| Luxor to Aswan | 7 | Every Monday | Luxor | Aswan |
The 3-night route suits travelers who are fitting the Nile into a wider trip and want the most compact way to see the river's highlights. It begins in Aswan and ends in Luxor, and you can read about it in detail on our page for the Aswan to Luxor dahabiya in 3 nights.
The 4-night and 7-night programs start in Luxor and finish in Aswan. The 4-night option adds a little breathing room, while the 7-night option is for travelers who want the slowest pace and the most time on the water. Both are explained on our page for the Luxor to Aswan dahabiya in 4 or 7 nights.
On the Per-ba dahabiya, a longer route has one more benefit: more days in those light, open lounges. If the design of the boat is what drew you here, the 7-night program lets you actually live with it.
Design-minded travelers. If you notice floors, light and furniture as much as the view, the Per-ba dahabiya will please you. It feels closer to a contemporary boutique hotel than to a period piece, and its details, such as the ankh door handles, are thoughtful rather than theatrical.
Couples who want a veranda. The Junior with veranda sits between the Akhenaton and the Iris in price on every route and season. It is the natural choice for couples who want a veranda of their own without going up to the top categories of the Iris, and it works well for a honeymoon Nile cruise.
First-time visitors to Egypt. A private guide, private transfers and all the tickets included mean you can focus on the temples instead of the logistics. It is a calm, well-organized way to meet Egypt for the first time.
Who might prefer another boat. If the lowest price is your priority, the Akhenaton is the more economical of the three. If you want a wider choice of cabins, including a Royal category, or a more classic wooden look, the Iris is the better match.
All three dahabiyas share the same routes, the same private program and full board. What changes is the atmosphere on board and the cabin choice. Here is how they line up on the Aswan to Luxor route in 3 nights, regular departures.
| Boat | Cabin categories | Entry cabin, per person | Veranda cabin, per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akhenaton | 2: Double Deluxe; Double with veranda | from US$1,639 (Double Deluxe cabin) | from US$1,719 (Double with veranda) |
| Per-ba | 2: Double Deluxe; Junior with veranda | from US$2,059 (Double Deluxe cabin) | from US$2,459 (Junior with veranda) |
| Iris | 4: Double Deluxe; Junior, main deck; Junior, upper deck with veranda; Royal, upper deck with veranda | from US$1,849 (Double Deluxe cabin) | from US$2,569 (Junior, upper deck with veranda) |
The Akhenaton dahabiya has the lowest prices of the three. Its photos show two white sails, covered deck terraces, a long dining table beside river windows and cabin verandas. It is the practical choice for travelers who want the dahabiya experience at the most accessible price.
The Iris dahabiya has four cabin categories, up to a Royal on the upper deck with veranda. Its photos show a wooden hull, sails, an upper deck with loungers and shaded dining, and an indoor lounge. It is the most classic of the three in look and the one with the widest range of cabins.
The Per-ba sits in between. Its veranda cabin is priced between the Akhenaton and the Iris on every route and season. Its entry cabin is a special case: on regular departures, the Per-ba Double Deluxe costs more than the Iris Double Deluxe, while on festive departures it costs less. On the 3-night festive departure, for example, the Per-ba Double Deluxe is from US$2,739 per person and the Iris Double Deluxe is from US$2,829 per person.
The Per-ba sails on regular departures from October 1 to December 21, 2026, from January 1 to 31, 2027, from February 1 to April 30, 2027, and from May 1 to 31, 2027. Aswan to Luxor departures leave on Fridays, and Luxor to Aswan departures leave on Mondays.
A few departures carry festive prices, shown in the price table above. Note that the Monday, December 21, 2026 departure is priced as the Christmas departure.
| Festive departure | Date | Route that departs that day |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Winter is the mildest time to visit Upper Egypt, which is why the holiday dates are so popular. If you want those dates, ask early. If you are flexible, a January or February departure gives you the same cool mornings at regular prices.
Climbing the white stairway to the upper deck at sunrise, with the mast above you and the Nile below, is one of those moments that makes the early start worth it. For what to bring for the cool evenings and the warm afternoons, see our list of what to pack for a Nile cruise.
Your Per-ba trip starts in Aswan or Luxor, depending on the route. Explora Egipto does not sell international flights, so you book your own flight to Egypt, and from the starting port onward, your transfers are private and part of the program.
Many travelers from the United States spend a few days in the capital first. Our guide to what to see in Cairo helps you plan that stop, and our page on domestic flights in Egypt explains how to reach Luxor or Aswan from there.
Before you travel, check the Egypt visa requirements for your passport. If you are planning the whole journey from the US, our page on Egypt tours from the USA puts the pieces together.
If the dahabiya is only one part of a longer trip, our team can build it into a custom Egypt tour or a luxury Egypt tour, with the Per-ba as the centerpiece.
Booking starts with a message on WhatsApp. It is the fastest way to reach our team, and it keeps every detail of your trip in one conversation.
If you are torn between the two cabins, tell us what matters most to you, whether that is budget, space to relax or a veranda for sunsets, and we will point you to the right one.
In ancient Egyptian, per is generally translated as house, so the name is often read as a nod to the idea of a home on the Nile. We would treat any more detailed interpretation with caution.
The lowest price is from US$2,059 per person in a Double Deluxe cabin on the Aswan to Luxor route in 3 nights, regular departures. The highest in the grid is from US$6,389 per person for a Junior with veranda on the 7-night festive departure. The full table is in the prices section above.
The Double Deluxe is the entry category. The Junior with veranda is a higher category with a veranda attached to the cabin. The program, guide, meals and visits are the same in both.
It depends on the cabin. The Per-ba Junior with veranda is always priced below the Iris Junior on the upper deck with veranda. The Per-ba Double Deluxe costs more than the Iris Double Deluxe on regular departures, but less on festive ones.
Aswan to Luxor in 3 nights, departing every Friday, and Luxor to Aswan in 4 or 7 nights, departing every Monday.
Full board on the dahabiya, a private English-speaking guide, a private air-conditioned vehicle for every visit and transfer, and the entrance tickets to the sites. The programs include Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.
Yes. Your English-speaking guide and your air-conditioned vehicle are private, for every visit and every transfer on the program.
Yes. There are Christmas, New Year and Easter departures at festive prices. The exact dates and routes are in the seasons section of this page, and it is wise to ask about them early.
Yes. Explora Egipto does not sell international flights. The trip starts in Luxor or Aswan, and our pages on domestic flights and on Cairo help you plan how to get there.
It is a strong one. The bright interiors and the Junior with veranda suit couples who want a romantic, design-led boat at a price between the Akhenaton and the Iris.
Send your route, dates and preferred cabin to our team on WhatsApp. The reply comes with a personal quote for your departure.
Light-filled lounges, a veranda over the river if you want one, and the temples of Upper Egypt with your own guide. Tell us your dates and our team will put together your Per-ba quote.
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