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 →
Tour Overview
Mazaj Sia reimagines what luxury on the Nile can feel like, setting aside a private retreat for a small circle of guests. The layout runs to one Junior Suite, two Royal Suites and six elegant staterooms, each finished in premium materials with modern amenities close at hand.
Up top, a stylish indoor lounge anchors the sundeck, complete with a bar, TV and floor-to-ceiling glass panels that frame the passing river. Step outside and there is a tranquil pool ringed with plush sunbeds, plus a chic seating area made for leisurely brunches and BBQs. In the cabins, smart units put lighting, air-conditioning and curtains a fingertip away, while luxury bathrooms round out the indulgence. Attentive staff look after every detail, so each stretch of river feels effortless, sophistication and clever design working quietly in your favour.
Tour Duration: 5 Nights / 7 Nights
Tour Type: Private Tour
Availability: Departs Every Monday
Pick up: Airport or Hotel
Why You'll Love This Trip
Mazaj Sia offers a serene, intimate take on the Nile, a traditional sailing dahabiya cruising slowly and luxuriously between Luxor and Aswan. Its small cabin count keeps service personal and deck time relaxed, drawing you close to Egypt's timeless river landscapes. Sail past charming riverside villages, call at iconic temples, and savour gourmet meals aboard as the scenery unfolds.
- Intimate Dahabiya experience with a few cabins for a peaceful, personalized journey
- Scenic sailing along the Nile, passing lush landscapes and traditional villages
- Unique Crocodile Museum visit at Kom Ombo
- Esna Lock experience, observing the water levels adjust as the dahabiya passes through
- Visit iconic sites including Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Philae Temple
- Onboard meals with freshly prepared local and international cuisine
- Relaxing deck time perfect for reading, photography, or simply enjoying the Nile views
- Optional add-ons, such as an early morning Abu Simbel excursion or a hot air balloon ride over Luxor
Itinerary
Day 1 – Embarkation in Luxor & East Bank Visit
Your journey begins in Luxor, where you board the dahabiya and are welcomed by the crew. Once settled in your cabin, enjoy a delicious lunch prepared with fresh local ingredients. In the afternoon, you head out to discover the wonders of Luxor’s East Bank, starting with the vast Karnak Temple, home to the famous Hypostyle Hall and sacred lake. Your tour continues to Luxor Temple, beautifully aligned with the ancient Sphinx Avenue.
After returning to the boat, dinner is served on board, and you spend a peaceful first night moored on the West Bank.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Lunch – Dinner
Day 2 – West Bank Monuments & Sailing to Esna
After breakfast, the day begins with exploring the West Bank’s iconic archaeological sites. You enter the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs were buried in elaborately decorated tombs. Next, you visit the impressive Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El-Deir El-Bahari, a masterpiece of ancient architecture. A stop at the towering Colossi of Memnon completes the morning.
Back on board, enjoy lunch and begin sailing toward Esna. Relax during tea time on the Sun Deck as the dahabiya glides through tranquil Nile scenery. Dinner is served during sailing, and the night is spent docked in Esna.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 3 – Edfu Temple & Al Ramady Island
This morning, the dahabiya continues sailing toward Edfu, with refreshing river views as you enjoy lunch on board. Upon arrival, visit the Temple of Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, dedicated to the falcon god Horus.
After the visit, return to the boat as it sails toward the serene Al Ramady Island. Here, dinner is served in a quiet atmosphere surrounded by nature, and you spend the night anchored beside the island.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 4 – Gebel El Silsila, Kom Ombo & Sheikh Fadl Island
The day begins early as the dahabiya sails toward the historic quarry site of Gebel El Silsila. Enjoy breakfast while sailing before visiting this fascinating location, known for supplying stone for Egypt’s ancient temples. The journey continues to Kom Ombo, where you explore the twin temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus.
Lunch is served on board as you sail to El Sheikh Fadl Island. Upon arrival, relax with afternoon tea and later enjoy dinner on the island’s peaceful shores. After dinner, the dahabiya resumes sailing toward Aswan, where you spend the night on board.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 5 – Aswan Sightseeing & Free Time
Arriving early in Aswan, you start the day with breakfast before visiting two of its most famous landmarks: the elegant Philae Temple, dedicated to Isis, and the impressive High Dam, one of Egypt’s modern engineering achievements. Return to the dahabiya for lunch, then enjoy free time to explore Aswan Market—perfect for shopping, photography, and experiencing local culture. Overnight stay in Aswan.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 6 – Disembarkation in Aswan
After your final breakfast on board, it’s time to check out and disembark in Aswan, concluding your peaceful and enriching dahabiya journey along the Nile.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 1: Embarkation in Luxor & East Bank Temples
Upon arrival in Luxor, you will embark on your elegant dahabiya and settle into your cabin while taking in the serene Nile views. Enjoy a freshly prepared lunch on board before beginning your exploration of Luxor’s East Bank. Start with the magnificent Karnak Temple, a sprawling complex of colossal columns, sacred obelisks, and beautifully preserved hieroglyphs that tell stories of pharaohs past.
Continue to the Luxor Temple, an architectural gem aligned with the Avenue of Sphinxes, where ancient processions once took place. After a full afternoon of discovery, return to your dahabiya for dinner and relax on deck, soaking in the peaceful river ambiance.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Lunch – Dinner
Day 2: West Bank Monuments & Sail to Esna
After a hearty breakfast on board, head to the West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings, where elaborately decorated tombs reveal the secrets of pharaohs and their journeys to the afterlife. Visit the magnificent Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El-Deir El-Bahari, a terraced masterpiece carved into the cliffs, and marvel at the iconic Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues that have stood for millennia.
Return to the dahabiya for lunch and enjoy the beginning of your Nile sail toward Esna. Relax with afternoon tea on the Sun Deck, observing the riverbanks and villages passing by. Dinner is served during sailing, and the boat stays overnight in Esna.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 3: Edfu Temple & Al Ramady Island
Sail leisurely toward Edfu after breakfast, with the gentle Nile landscapes unfolding around you. Lunch is served on board as you approach this historic city. Visit the Temple of Edfu, one of Egypt’s best-preserved temples, dedicated to Horus, with its remarkable inscriptions and towering pylons.
After the visit, continue sailing toward the tranquil Al Ramady Island. Enjoy dinner on board while anchored beside the island, surrounded by serene river scenery, and spend a restful night under the stars.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 4: Gebel El Silsila, Kom Ombo & Sheikh Fadl Island
The day begins with an early morning sail toward Gebel El Silsila, a historic sandstone quarry that supplied stone for Egypt’s temples for centuries. Breakfast is served on board as you arrive at this fascinating site. Continue to Kom Ombo to explore the unique twin temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god.
Sail onward to El Sheikh Fadl Island for lunch on board during the journey. Enjoy afternoon tea on the island before dinner, taking in the quiet Nile surroundings. After dinner, the dahabiya resumes sailing toward Aswan for an overnight on board.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 5: Aswan – Philae Temple & High Dam
Arrive in Aswan early at around 6:00 AM and enjoy breakfast on board. Visit the majestic Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, nestled on its island with stunning Nile views. Continue to the impressive High Dam, a symbol of modern Egypt’s engineering prowess.
Return to the dahabiya for lunch and spend the afternoon exploring Aswan Market at your own pace, discovering spices, perfumes, and local handicrafts. Overnight stay is in Aswan, allowing you to soak in the serene river city ambiance.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 6: Optional Abu Simbel & Al Ramady Island
After breakfast on board, there is an option for an early morning excursion to Abu Simbel Temple, one of Egypt’s most iconic monuments carved into the mountains by Ramses II. Return to the dahabiya for lunch, then enjoy a relaxing sail back toward Al Ramady Island, a peaceful spot to unwind. Dinner is served on board, and the night is spent anchored near the island.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 7: Sail to Esna & Return to Luxor
Begin an early morning sail toward Esna, enjoying breakfast on board as the river flows gently past. Navigate through the famous Esna Lock while enjoying lunch on board. Continue sailing north toward Luxor, arriving in the late afternoon. Dinner is served on the dahabiya as you spend your final night moored on the West Bank, reflecting on your unforgettable Nile journey.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 8: Disembarkation in Luxor
After breakfast, check out and disembark in Luxor, concluding your enriching and scenic dahabiya cruise along the Nile.
Meals: Breakfast
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- Meet and Assist Service by our representatives
- Accommodation For 5 Nights or 7 Nights on Dahabiya Full-board
- Experienced English Speaking tour guide throughout
- Private Air Conditioned Transport
- Entrance Fees to all Mentioned sites on Itinerary
- All Service Charges and Taxes
Not included
- Egypt Entry Visa
- Any items not mentioned in the itinerary
- Tipping
Travel Policy Guide of Min Travel
Every figure you see on our site is expressed in US Dollars (USD) by default, but paying in your home currency is never a problem. Whether you settle up in Euros (EUR), British Pounds (GBP), or another widely traded currency, we simply apply the official exchange rate in force on the day your payment clears.
Because the travel market shifts with the seasons and with what suppliers can actually deliver, the rates we advertise are not permanent and can be revised at any moment without advance warning. The reassuring part: the second we receive your deposit or your payment in full, that figure is frozen and protected for the rest of your booking.
Here is what a Min Travel package typically puts in your hands:
- Comfortable lodging exactly as laid out in your itinerary
- Transport arranged privately or as part of a group
- Licensed, professional guides accompanying you
- Breakfast each morning, plus any additional meals noted in your plan
- Admission charges for the attractions we include
- Domestic flights or transfers wherever the trip calls for them
- Round-the-clock, 24/7 assistance from our team on the ground
For the precise list of what is and is not covered, always refer to the confirmation and itinerary tied to your own reservation.
Holiday Supplement: Trips and Nile Cruises falling over Christmas, New Year, or Easter carry a 25% surcharge, a reflection of how heavily these peak dates are booked.
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.
FAQ
Picture a handsomely built wooden sailboat gliding quietly along the Nile, and you have the essence of a Dahabiya cruise. These traditional vessels are made for unhurried, intimate journeys, typically hosting just 10-20 guests. The result is a boutique atmosphere with attentive, personalised service and the freedom to reach small islands and remote villages that larger ships simply can't. It's a rare mix of luxury, privacy, and authenticity, letting you experience the river much as travellers did centuries ago, only now with modern comforts, gourmet dining, and warm hospitality throughout.
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.
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