Lumiere Dahabeya Nile Cruise

How much you pay upfront to lock in a Min Travel booking comes down to what you are reserving, so our terms are grouped by service type:

• Day Tours & Excursions: the entire cost (100%) is settled at the moment you book, which confirms your spot.
• Multi-Day Tour Packages & Nile Cruises: a 30% deposit holds your reservation, with the remaining balance due no later than 15 days before you arrive.
• Christmas, New Year & Easter Bookings: these high-demand windows call for a larger 50% deposit to secure your place.

The instant your payment goes through, we email you a written confirmation, a personalized itinerary, and your travel documents, and every payment you make comes with its own receipt.

Life doesn't always go to plan, and we get that. Here is how a cancellation is handled, measured against your arrival date:

• 30 days or more before arrival: you get everything back, less whatever your bank or the transaction charges
• 15 to 29 days before arrival: a fee of 25% of the total tour cost applies
• 7 to 14 days before arrival: the cancellation fee rises to 50%
• Fewer than 7 days before arrival, or a no-show: the full 100% is charged

Where money is owed back to you, expect it within 14 business days from the day we receive your cancellation in writing. Do keep in mind that individual hotels and certain cruises enforce tougher rules of their own, and any such condition will be spelled out plainly in your itinerary.

Families are always welcome aboard our tours, and we price younger travelers on a sliding scale:

• Infants under 2 years: travel free
• Children 2–5 years: pay 25% of the adult rate
• Children 6–11 years: pay 50% of the adult rate
• Children 12 years and above: charged the full adult rate

These reduced rates hold only where a child shares a room with two adults who are each paying in full. Bear in mind that a handful of luxury hotels and Nile Cruises set their own conditions for younger guests, and any such restriction that touches your trip will appear in your itinerary.

Beyond the standard package there are a number of extra experiences you can choose to add. Reserve them ahead of time or sort them out on the spot once you are there, availability permitting. A few of the favorites travelers pick up:

• Stepping inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu and other tombs
• Evening Sound & Light Shows at the Giza Pyramids, Karnak, or Philae Temples
• A sunrise hot air balloon flight above Luxor
• Camel rides or a horse-drawn carriage through the old quarters
• Private photography sessions at the great landmarks

You can pay for these add-ons in either USD or Egyptian pounds (EGP). Booking early is wise, all the more so when you are traveling in the busy season.

Our packages cover a great deal, but a few costs fall outside them and are worth setting money aside for:

• Anything you buy for yourself, from souvenirs to snacks
• Drinks at mealtimes, unless your plan states otherwise
• In-hotel extras such as the minibar, room service, or laundry
• Your Egyptian entry visa, which is normally paid when you land
• SIM cards or internet access, unless we've arranged it for you
• Tips and any optional experiences you decide to add

It helps to keep a little Egyptian currency (EGP) on hand as you go, particularly for tipping and for picking things up in the local markets.

In Egypt, tipping (known as "baksheesh") is simply how good service is acknowledged. No one is obliged to tip, but the gesture goes a long way and is warmly received. As a rough guide:

• Tour guide: $15–$20 per day for the group
• Driver: $5–$10 per day for the group
• Nile Cruise crew: $5–$10 per person each night, pooled among the staff
• Hotel porters and housekeeping: modest tips of $1–$2

Gratuities sit outside your package price, so it's worth keeping a few small USD or EGP notes within easy reach for the moments they're called for.

Most itineraries run between 4 and 7 nights, shaped by the route you choose:

• The classic sail linking Luxor and Aswan generally spans 5-7 nights.
• Tighter schedules can be met with shorter 3-4 night options.

That leisurely rhythm is the whole point: a Dahabiya never hurries. It pauses at little-visited temples, tranquil riverbanks, and unspoilt countryside, giving you a deeper and altogether more relaxed encounter with the Nile.

It certainly is, particularly for families after something calmer, safer, and more personal than a big-ship holiday.

• The boat's modest size lets children explore in safety.
• You get a private, home-like setting free of crowds.
• Crew members tend to be genuinely warm with younger guests.
• It suits families who value cultural immersion, nature, and real bonding time.

That said, families with very young children (under 4 years old) may find the open deck and quiet surroundings a little harder to manage, so much depends on your own comfort level and supervision.

Plan your sailing for the October to April window, when the weather is at its kindest for slow cruising, outdoor sightseeing, village strolls, and lazing on deck.

• October-November: warm and comfortable, wonderful for photography.
• December-February: cool and pleasant, and the busiest, most popular stretch.
• March-April: sunny with excursion-perfect conditions.

Summer (May-September) turns hot, yet some travellers still relish a Dahabiya thanks to shaded decks, breezy sailing, and onboard cooling.

Expect cabins that feel snug, characterful, and thoughtfully finished, delivering comfort within a traditional frame.

• Private bathrooms, air-conditioning, and elegant wooden décor come as standard.
• Many rooms open onto large windows framing the Nile.
• Suites may add a balcony or a private seating nook.
• Throughout, old-world charm meets modern luxury: soft bedding, warm lighting, and handcrafted touches.

They won't rival the sheer size of cabins on the big cruise ships, but they feel warm, intimate, and perfectly in keeping with the easygoing spirit of Dahabiya sailing.