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Dahabiya Nile cruises — sail the Nile in timeless style

A traditional Egyptian sailing houseboat — the way 19th-century explorers and European aristocracy sailed the Nile. Intimate, unhurried, unlike any cruise ship.

Why sail a Dahabiya See sailing lengths
  • 5–8Day sailings available
  • 12Guests maximum per vessel
  • 2012Sailing the Nile since
  • 60+Verified reviews
Why a DahabiyaSailing lengthsPricingFAQ Plan my sailing
What is a Dahabiya

The most beautiful way to sail the Nile

A Dahabiya is a traditional Egyptian sailing houseboat — the kind that carried European explorers, artists and aristocracy along the Nile in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Florence Nightingale sailed a Dahabiya in 1849. Amelia Edwards documented hers in A Thousand Miles Up the Nile. Agatha Christie sailed one before writing Death on the Nile.

Unlike large motor cruisers carrying 100+ passengers, a Dahabiya carries 6–12 guests maximum. It sails using wind when possible, and stops where large ships cannot — at small villages, remote temple banks, and riverside sites the standard cruise never reaches.

Every Dahabiya package includes a private Ministry-licensed local guide for all excursions, all meals on board, and a fully customisable itinerary between Luxor and Aswan over 5–8 days.

Maro Saeed — Tour Consultant & Travel Advisor
“Guests who choose the Dahabiya almost never go back to a standard cruise. Once you’ve had dinner on deck with nobody else in sight, the 150-cabin version loses its appeal fast.”
Maro Saeed · Tour Consultant & Travel Advisor · with the team since 2013
Our Dahabiya cruises

Available Dahabiya sailings

Every sailing is 100% private and fully customisable between Luxor and Aswan — message us your dates for an itemised quote within 24 hours.

Luxor · Aswan · custom

Build your own Dahabiya sailing

Choose your length, dates and cabin category — we’ll design a private Luxor–Aswan voyage and quote it within 24 hours.

Get my quote →
Why choose a Dahabiya

Eight reasons travellers never go back

Authentic Traditional Vessels

Genuine Dahabiya houseboats — traditional design, canvas sails, properly maintained — never a motor cruiser marketed under the Dahabiya name.

True Intimacy — Max 12 Guests

With 6–12 guests in 3–6 private cabins, your cruise is genuinely private: meals, deck time and excursions shared only with your chosen companions.

Private Licensed Guide On Board

A Ministry-licensed local guide accompanies the Dahabiya throughout — formal site excursions and informal deck conversations, the whole voyage.

Hidden Site Access

We know the remote temple banks and village moorings a Dahabiya can reach that standard cruise ships simply cannot.

Food as Experience

Meals are prepared fresh on board and served on deck, timed to the river’s rhythm — gourmet Egyptian cuisine with Nile views, not a buffet line.

Flexible Departure Dates

No fixed departure schedule — Dahabiya cruises sail on the dates you choose, with the itinerary designed around them.

14 Years on the Nile

Since 2012, we’ve operated Dahabiya cruises with the same trusted vessels and captains — we know the river and its finest evening anchorages.

All-Inclusive Pricing

Every package includes all meals, your guide, all site entrance fees and excursion transport — one price, no on-board surprises.

Choose your length

5, 6, 7 or 8 days — every sailing is private

All lengths sail between Luxor and Aswan, fully customisable to your dates.

5

A quick immersion

The shortest sailing that still feels unhurried — a taste of Dahabiya life between Luxor and Aswan for travellers short on time.

6

A fuller arc

An extra day for slower mornings on deck and one more temple bank most itineraries skip entirely.

7

Most popular

Genuinely unhurried pacing with every major site covered — the length most travellers choose when time allows.

8

The complete voyage

The full Luxor–Aswan stretch at true Dahabiya pace, with room for a remote village mooring or two.

What it costs

Dahabiya pricing — the honest range

Per night

$280–$700 per nightDepending on vessel, cabin category and season — full-board, with all meals prepared on deck.
What’s includedYour cabin, all meals, the on-board Ministry-licensed guide, site entrance fees and excursion transport — one price, no on-board surprises.

As part of a package

From $2,400 per personOur luxury tour tier — pairing 5★ hotels with a Dahabiya sailing houseboat — starts from this figure for a complete Egypt itinerary.
Combine with CairoThe most popular pairing: a 3-day Cairo city break plus a 7-day Dahabiya cruise creates a complete 10-day Egypt experience.

Exact pricing depends on vessel, season and cabin category — message us your dates for an itemised quote within 24 hours.

  • 100% private — no strangers, ever
  • Ministry-licensed local guide on board
  • All meals prepared fresh on deck
  • Flexible departure dates
60+
★★★★★

Verified reviews across Google & TripAdvisor — for tours operated by Egypt Planners.

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Traveler stories

What our guests say about traveling local

Genuine reviews from real travelers on our multi-day tours and Nile cruises. Egypt Tours by Locals is operated by Egypt Planners — a licensed operator building complete Egypt travel packages, not just day trips.

★★★★★

"Our guide didn't just show us the Pyramids — she made us feel what it meant to build them. The private morning at the Grand Egyptian Museum with no crowds was extraordinary. A truly local experience, not a tourist conveyor belt."

SL
Sarah & James L.
London, UK · 8-Day Best of Egypt
★★★★★

"Our consultant knew every guard, every way around the crowds, and told us stories not in any guidebook. We've done tours in 30 countries. This was the most engaged we've ever been."

JT
James & Rebecca T.
New York, USA · 6-Day Affordable Tour
★★★★★

"They designed our entire 12-day itinerary personally, then guided us through every day. As history enthusiasts we had very specific requests — they exceeded every one. Their knowledge of Nubian culture in Aswan was extraordinary."

LH
Linda & Mark H.
Toronto, Canada · 12-Day Complete Tour

Answers

Dahabiya Nile cruises — questions & answers

What is the difference between a Dahabiya and a standard Nile cruise?
A Dahabiya is a traditional sailing houseboat carrying 6–12 guests, sailing under canvas when conditions allow. A standard Nile cruise is a large motor vessel carrying 50–150+ passengers. The Dahabiya offers intimacy, access to sites large ships cannot reach, private deck dining, and a genuinely unhurried pace.
How long is a Dahabiya Nile cruise?
Our Dahabiya cruises operate on 5, 6, 7 and 8-day itineraries between Luxor and Aswan. The 7-day itinerary is most popular — enough time to sail at a genuinely unhurried pace and visit every major site without rushing.
What is included in a Dahabiya Nile cruise package?
All on-board accommodation, all meals, a private Ministry-licensed local guide, all monument entrance fees, transfers to and from Luxor or Aswan airports, and 24/7 on-trip support. Pricing runs $280–$700 per night depending on vessel and season.
How many people can a Dahabiya accommodate?
Our Dahabiya vessels accommodate 6–12 guests in 3–6 private cabins. All cabins have private bathrooms, air conditioning and private deck access — a genuinely private world on the water.
Can a Dahabiya cruise be combined with Cairo?
Yes — this is our most popular combination. A 3-day Cairo city break followed by a 7-day Dahabiya cruise from Luxor to Aswan creates a comprehensive 10-day Egypt experience, with domestic flights and transfers handled as one itemised itinerary.

Who plans your sailing: every Dahabiya itinerary is designed by our Cairo-based team led by Maro Saeed, Tour Consultant & Travel Advisor — one contact from first message to departure.

Meet Maro →

Dinner on deck. Nobody else in sight.

Tell us your dates and group size — a fully priced private Dahabiya itinerary within 24 hours. Free, no obligation.

Plan my Dahabiya sailing Back to why a Dahabiya

Operated by Egypt Planners · Reg #256841 · Free itinerary in 24 hours · 30% deposit only on confirmation

★★★★★ 60+ reviews on Google & TripAdvisor
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Operated by Egypt Planners — licensed tour operator (Ministry of Commerce Reg. #256841)