- Duration
- 05 Days / 04 Nights (or 04 Days / 03 Nights)
- Route
- Luxor ➔ Esna ➔ Edfu ➔ Gebel El Silsila ➔ Kom Ombo ➔ Aswan
- Boat
- 5-star traditional dahabiya under sail
- On board
- Sun deck with jacuzzi, shaded lounge, air-conditioned restaurant
- Board Basis
- Full board, cooked fresh on board
- Departures
- Mondays from Luxor · Fridays from Aswan
Overview
The Swan Dahabiya is a traditional sailing boat built for a slower, quieter Nile: two tall sails instead of engines humming through the night, a handful of guests instead of a few hundred, and moorings on riverbanks the big boats sail past. She sails between Luxor and Aswan all year, stopping at Esna, Edfu, Gebel El Silsila and Kom Ombo.
On board there is a shaded lounge deck, sun loungers and a jacuzzi on the top deck, and an air-conditioned restaurant for the days the wind is cold. The chef cooks fresh Egyptian food on board and grills dinner on the bank when the boat moors for the night. Mornings are quiet enough for yoga on deck before the sails go up.
Highlights
Sailing, not cruising
Two sails, no engine noise at night, and moorings on quiet riverbanks between Luxor and Aswan.
The deck is the hotel
Jacuzzi, sun loungers and a shaded lounge with the river a step away all day.
Food cooked on board
A chef cooking fresh Egyptian food, and barbecue dinners set up on the bank under the stars.
Temples with a guide
Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and Luxor's West Bank with your own Egyptologist.
Route
- 1
Luxor
Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak.
- 2
Esna
Boarding point, where the boat passes through the Esna lock.
- 3
Edfu
The Temple of Horus, the best-preserved temple in Egypt.
- 4
Gebel El Silsila
The sandstone quarries that built the temples, and a quiet mooring.
- 5
Kom Ombo
The double temple of Sobek and Haroeris on the riverbank.
- 6
Aswan
High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple.
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Luxor Sightseeing and Boarding
Meet your Egyptologist guide at your Luxor hotel or the airport and visit the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple. Transfer to Esna to board the Swan Dahabiya for dinner and your first night on the river. Meals: Lunch and dinner. - Day2
Edfu Temple and Gebel El Silsila
Sail to Edfu and visit the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Continue to Gebel El Silsila, the ancient sandstone quarries between Edfu and Kom Ombo, and moor for the night on a quiet stretch of riverbank. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. - Day3
Kom Ombo and Sailing to Aswan
After breakfast, explore Kom Ombo Temple, the double temple of Sobek and Haroeris. Back on board, the afternoon is a slow sail toward Aswan with lunch and dinner served on deck. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. - Day4
Aswan: High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae
See Aswan's essentials with your guide: the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple on Agilkia Island. Return to the boat for lunch, dinner and your last night on board. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. - Day5
Disembark in Aswan
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to your hotel, to Aswan Airport, or anywhere else in Aswan. Meals: Breakfast.
Prices
Swan Dahabiya
Full board with guided sightseeing
| Per person, sharing a double cabin | $1,179 per person |
|---|
Private charter of the whole boat is quoted on request.
- Prices depend on the season and the number of travellers; message us for your dates.
What's included
Included
- Full-board accommodation aboard the Swan Dahabiya.
- All excursions mentioned in the itinerary.
- Entrance fees to all sights between Luxor and Aswan.
- Professional Egyptologist guide throughout the journey.
- All transfers by a modern air-conditioned deluxe vehicle.
- Assistance from our staff during the cruise.
- All service charges and taxes.
Not included
- Tipping for the guide, driver and boat crew.
- Drinks and personal expenses.
- Any extras not mentioned in the program.
Good to know
- The boat sails Luxor to Aswan over 5 days (Mondays) and Aswan to Luxor over 4 days (Fridays).
- Sailing times depend on the wind and the river, so the day's order can change slightly.
- Private charter of the whole boat is available for families and groups.
- Children are welcome; see the children's policy below.
Children & cancellation policy
Children's policy
- Ages 0–5FreeFlight fares excluded
- Ages 6–1150%of the adult rate
- Ages 12+100%Full adult rate
This policy applies to children sharing a room with two adults. Flight conditions may vary.
Flexible cancellation policy
We pride ourselves on our flexibility. You can often adjust your trip to new dates (which usually only includes nominal fees for covering flight changes). However, if you must cancel, the following fees apply based on the date we receive your written request:
| When you cancel | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|
| 61 days or more before arrival | 10% of total |
| 60 to 30 days before arrival | 25% of total |
| 29 to 15 days before arrival | 50% of total |
| 14 to 7 days before arrival | 75% of total |
| Less than 7 days before arrival | 100% of total |
Full terms: refund & returns policy.
Questions about this tour
What is a dahabiya, and how is it different from a Nile cruise ship?
A dahabiya is a traditional sailing boat. It carries a handful of guests instead of a few hundred, moves by wind rather than engines, and moors at small islands and villages where the large cruise ships cannot stop. Days are quieter, and the crew knows every guest by name.
How long is the Swan Dahabiya cruise?
Five days and four nights from Luxor to Aswan, departing Mondays, or four days and three nights from Aswan to Luxor, departing Fridays.
What does the price include?
Full-board meals on the boat, all the sightseeing in the itinerary with an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees between Luxor and Aswan, and transfers by air-conditioned vehicle. Drinks, tipping and personal expenses are not included.
What is there on board?
A shaded lounge deck, a sun deck with loungers and a jacuzzi, and an air-conditioned restaurant. The chef cooks fresh Egyptian food on board, and dinner is often grilled on the riverbank where the boat moors for the night.
Can we book the whole boat?
Yes. The Swan Dahabiya can be chartered privately for a family or a group, with the itinerary adjusted around your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and the number of travellers and we will send the charter price.
