Dahabiya Boutique
Nile Sailing

A Dahabiya is a traditional Egyptian wooden sailing vessel, originally built in the 19th century for private Nile travel, carrying between 4 and 20 guests depending on the vessel. A standard Nile cruise ship carries 150–300 passengers on a fixed motor schedule. The Dahabiya's shallow draft lets it moor at smaller riverbank sites and quarries that large ships cannot reach, and its small passenger count means every excursion runs as a private group rather than a shared tour.

The 5 Day sailing from Luxor is Egypt's shortest boutique cruise and suits travelers short on time who still want the Dahabiya experience. The 6 Day sailings (either direction) add a full extra temple day and are the most popular length. The 8 Day sailing is the most comprehensive Luxor–Aswan Dahabiya itinerary, adding El Kab and Gebel el Silsila, two sites no other route on this page includes. The 12 Day Cairo & Dahabiya tour is for travelers who want Cairo's pyramids and museums combined with the sailing in one seamless trip. Contact us if you want help choosing — we'll match the right sailing to your time and budget.

Your guide, vehicle, and shore excursions are exclusively for your party on every sailing. The Dahabiya vessel itself carries a limited number of cabins (4 to 10 depending on the boat) and may include other guests aboard the same vessel, but your itinerary, guide, and daily schedule are never shared with another group. This is different from a standard motor cruise ship, which carries hundreds of passengers on a fixed group schedule.

October through April is the most comfortable window, with daytime temperatures between roughly 15–28°C (60–82°F) across Luxor and Aswan, making full days on deck and at open sites like Gebel el Silsila and the Valley of the Kings comfortable. December through February is coolest. July and August are possible but regularly exceed 40°C in Upper Egypt, which makes extended outdoor excursions more demanding.

Submit the quote request form above or send us a WhatsApp message. Pola from our team will respond within 2 hours with a tailored itinerary and pricing. Once you're happy with the details, a 20% deposit confirms your dates and cabin. The remaining 80% is due 60 days before departure. We accept credit card, bank transfer, and PayPal. Standard policy includes free cancellation up to 45 days before departure for a full deposit refund.