Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Swan Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Step aboard the Swan Dahabiya Nile Cruise, where timeless elegance meets the serene beauty…
per person
$600
View tour →
Dahabiya Nile Cruise
7 boats
3 – 7 nights
4.9 average
From $600 per person
October – AprilBest months to travel
3 – 7 nightsMost booked length
PrivateEvery departure
Free cancellationUp to 30 days before
Dahabiya cruises are the private sailing boats — 8 to 12 guests, no engine noise, and moorings at islands the large boats cannot reach. Every Dahabiya cruise is full board, five or seven nights, with a private crew and all excursions.
What a Dahabiya cruise actually is
A Dahabiya is a two-masted wooden sailing boat, roughly 40m long, with 6 to 8 cabins and its own crew of 12. You do not share the boat with strangers; you charter the whole thing. The sailing is genuine — the engine is only used against a headwind or through the Esna lock — and the moorings are on tiny islands that the 120-guest boats sail past.
Why Dahabiya rather than a cruise ship
Silence, mainly. No engine, no other guests, no scheduled announcements. Also the ability to moor where you like — an uninhabited island for lunch, a Nubian village for the evening. The trade-off is a smaller cabin and no pool.
Dahabiya boats we recommend
Nour el Nil (the best-known Dahabiya operator), Meroe (six cabins, all with balconies), Amoura (eight cabins, family friendly). Each is a small business we've worked with for a decade.
Cost versus a luxury cruise
Roughly 25% more per person for equivalent luxury, but far more distinctive as an experience. Most guests who try both prefer the Dahabiya.
Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Anoush Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Embark on the Anoush Dahabiya Nile Cruise and experience the timeless beauty of Egypt…
per person
$900
View tour →
Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Mazaj Seba Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Mazaj Seba Dahabiya offers an intimate and authentic way to sail the Nile. Unlike…
per person
$1,500
View tour →
Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Mazaj Meroot Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Step aboard Mazaj Meroot Dahabiya, the newest gem of Mazaj, where modern luxury meets…
per person
$1,500
View tour →
Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Mazaj Sia Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Mazaj Sia redefines luxury on the Nile, offering an exclusive retreat for discerning travelers.…
per person
$1,600
View tour →
Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Princess Farida Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Step aboard the Princess Farida Dahabiya Nile Cruise for an exclusive journey along the…
per person
$1,700
View tour →
Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Lumiere Dahabeya Nile Cruise
The Lumiere Dahabeya Nile Cruise offers an intimate and boutique sailing experience designed for…
per person
$2,500
View tour →
Compare
How the itineraries stack up
The honest version — this is what your budget actually changes.
| Level | Duration | Hotels | What's different | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value4★ | 8 – 10 days | 4★ properties | The essentials, done properly. Clean rooms, licensed guides, no shortcuts. | $600 |
| Mid-range4★ superior | 10 – 12 days | 4★ superior + deluxe cruise | Bigger rooms, better food, and named-brand cruise boats. | $1,550 |
| Luxury5★ | 12 – 14 days | 5★ Cairo & Luxor · luxury cruise | Suites, fine dining, resident Egyptologist on the cruise. | $2,500 |
All prices are per person and fall with group size. Send us the number and we'll quote it exactly.
Why book with us
What sits inside the price
Egypt is cheap to book badly. These four are the difference, and they are written into every confirmation we send.
Licensed Egyptologists only
A Ministry licence and a degree in Egyptology. No drivers doubling as guides.
IncludedOne price, quoted upfront
Entry tickets, transfers, guiding and taxes are in the number you approve.
No extrasHotels we have slept in
Inspected in person, named on your voucher. If a room isn't what we promised, we move you.
InspectedOne number, 24/7
The same WhatsApp thread from enquiry to airport, staffed by the person who planned your trip.
24 / 7Traveller reviews
What guests say
Collected from TripAdvisor and Google. We publish the critical ones too.
4.9
345+ reviews on TripAdvisor & Google
“Our guide Hoda knew every corner of the Valley of the Kings and got us in before the coaches arrived. Fourteen days and not one wasted morning.”
“Our flight to Aswan was cancelled the night before. The team rebooked us, moved the hotel and messaged at 1am to confirm. We didn't lose a single site.”
“The boat is comfortable rather than glamorous — be clear on that. But the guiding was the best of the three trips I have taken to Egypt.”
Before you go
Travel tips for Egypt
The things guests ask us on the phone, answered properly. Written by the team who meet you at the airport.
When to travel
October to April for the archaeology. May to September for the Red Sea, at roughly two-thirds of the price.
November – FebruaryPeak season. Luxor sits at 23–25°C, ideal for tombs and temples. Busiest and priciest — book about three months ahead.
March – April, October – NovemberOur own favourite. 29–35°C, noticeably thinner crowds, and prices below the December peak.
May – September41°C in Upper Egypt by lunchtime. Excellent for Hurghada and Sharm, hard work in the Valley of the Kings unless you finish by eleven.
Nights get cold8°C in Luxor in January is normal, and cruise sun decks are chilly after dinner. Bring a jacket — nobody expects to need one.
What we'd book. Late October or early November for a first trip — warm enough for the coast, cool enough for the tombs, six weeks clear of the Christmas crowds.
Visas & entry
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival or apply online before travelling. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date.
Visa on arrivalUS$25 in cash at Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm and Luxor airports. Single-entry, 30 days.
e-Visa (recommended)Apply at visa2egypt.gov.eg 7 days before travel. US$25, single-entry.
Passport validitySix months from arrival, plus one blank page for the entry stamp.
Sinai-only exemptionFree 15-day permit for Sharm airport if you're not leaving South Sinai. Ask on arrival.
Money & tipping
The currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP). US dollars and euros are widely accepted at hotels and cruise boats; local shops and cafés want EGP.
ATMsWidely available in Cairo, Luxor and the resort towns. Withdraw EGP for local spending; the exchange rate is fine.
Guide tippingUS$10–15 per person per day is the norm. Driver US$5. Restaurant staff 10% if not on the bill.
Cruise crewUS$70–100 per person for a 4-night cruise, pooled and split by the boat manager on the last night.
Card acceptanceHotels and 4★+ restaurants take Visa and Mastercard. Small shops and cafés want cash.
What to wear
Layered light clothing during the day, something warmer for the desert at night, and a scarf if you're visiting mosques or churches.
At the sitesClosed shoes with grip (the tombs are steep), a hat, sunglasses and sun cream.
At the mosquesShoulders and knees covered. Shoes off at the door — a light scarf handles it.
On the cruiseSmart casual at dinner, swimwear on the sun deck, light layers for the top deck at sunset.
In summerCotton or linen. Loose fit. Colours don't matter — locals wear everything from black to bright.
Health & safety
Egypt is generally safe for tourists, especially in the main destinations. Standard travel-health precautions apply.
WaterBottled only, and included on every day tour. Ice at hotel and cruise restaurants is fine.
Travel insuranceComprehensive cover is a condition of booking. Must include diving and ballooning if you're adding those.
MedicalCairo and Sharm have international hospitals (As-Salam, Sharm International). Pharmacies open late, most staff speak some English.
EmergencyOur WhatsApp is answered day and night. If it's a medical situation we call an ambulance for you and meet you at hospital.
Customs & etiquette
Egyptians are famously hospitable, and small courtesies go a long way. The below is the minimum.
PhotographyAsk before photographing people. Never photograph military or police installations.
RamadanSites stay open with shorter hours. Many restaurants close during the day; hotels serve normally.
AlcoholAvailable in hotels, cruise boats, and licensed restaurants. Not sold in supermarkets during Ramadan.
HagglingExpected at Khan El Khalili and the papyrus/perfume shops. Start at 40% of the asked price. Not expected at supermarkets, restaurants or hotels.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
A Dahabiya is a two-masted wooden sailing boat, roughly 40 metres long, with around six to eight cabins and its own crew. Unlike a large cruise ship, you charter the whole boat rather than sharing it with strangers. The sailing is genuine, driven by the wind, with the engine used only when needed.
A Dahabiya carries just 8 to 12 guests, which is what makes it feel private and quiet. Because you charter the entire boat, the group is your own party, and the small size means moorings and mealtimes are relaxed rather than scheduled around a hundred other passengers.
Because a Dahabiya is small and shallow, it can moor at islands and smaller sites the large boats cannot reach. This means quieter stops and sandbank moorings away from the main cruise traffic, alongside the classic temples between Luxor and Aswan that every Nile itinerary covers.
Dahabiya cruises run for five or seven nights on a full-board basis. You have a private crew and all shore excursions with a licensed Egyptologist included, along with entry tickets on the itinerary. The longer seven-night sailing simply gives more time to enjoy the slow pace of a sailing boat.
Yes. Because you charter the whole boat, a Dahabiya suits families or groups who want the Nile to themselves. With only a handful of cabins and your own crew, the atmosphere is calm and unhurried, which works well for children and for anyone who wants a quieter alternative to a large cruise ship.
Something different in mind?
Tell us what you most want to see. A consultant in Cairo replies with a draft itinerary and a real price within one working day.