Per cabin · Cabins are sold individually — book just your own cabin, sharing the boat with a handful of other guests.
Abundance Dahabiya Nile Cruise
A 5-star lateen-sail dahabiya with intimate cabins, full-board dining, a sun deck, and access to quiet Nile moorings.
The short answer
Abundance is a 5-Star Ultra Deluxe dahabiya. Embark in Aswan on a Friday for 3 nights to Esna, or in Esna on a Monday for 4 nights to Aswan. Prices start at $2,692 per person sharing a double cabin, including full board, guided sightseeing and transfers.
02Overview
A first look
At first light on the Nile, the lateen sail catches the breeze and the riverbank begins to move quietly past your deck. From the sun deck, you can watch farmers work the fields, hear the water against the hull, and pause at smaller river sites that larger cruisers usually pass by. The pace leaves room for a long lunch, a shaded afternoon, and conversations with the captain as the landscape changes between Luxor and Aswan.
We arrange your sailing with the vessel’s professional crew, chef-prepared meals, and scheduled shore visits. Our Egyptologists meet you at the ancient sites, including Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings, while we coordinate the practical details before you board.
Routes
Where this ship sails
Each route this ship sails. The direction changes the order of the temples, the number of nights and which city you fly out of. Embarkation days and prices are in the table below.
Cruise lengths, embarkation days and prices
Prices are per person in USD, from 2 people sharing a double cabin. Each price covers the whole cruise, the guided sightseeing program along the route, and your arrival and departure transfers between the ship and the local airport or train station.
| Cruise | October – Aprilcurrent season |
|---|---|
| 3 nights · Aswan → Esnaembarks Fridays | October – April: from $2,692double cabinsingle cabin $4,893 |
| 4 nights · Esna → Aswanembarks Mondays | October – April: from $3,496double cabinsingle cabin $6,431 |
Choose your cruise and date in the booking panel for the exact price.
Cabin allocation
- Nile vessels do not have interconnecting cabins.
- Book early and we will ask the vessel to place your party together — usually adjacent, or directly opposite.
- Cabin numbers are confirmed by the vessel at check-in.
Indicative rates only – pricing and cabins fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
On board
Detailed itinerary
- 1
On arrival at Luxor airport or train station, your Egyptologist guide takes you on a full day of sightseeing in Luxor: the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple. In the afternoon you're driven to Esna to board your dahabiya, welcomed aboard by the crew for your first night moored at Esna.
- 2
Breakfast at leisure as the dahabiya sails towards Edfu, arriving around midday. Visit the Temple of Horus by horse-drawn caleche — one of Egypt's largest and best-preserved monuments, its entrance flanked by two granite falcon statues — then browse the bazaar for spices, souvenirs and perfume.
After lunch on board, continue sailing towards the temple at Gebel el-Silsila, with dinner served in the temple grounds, on a nearby island, or on the sun deck.
- 3
Breakfast at leisure, then sail to Kom Ombo to visit the Greco-Roman double temple shared equally between the falcon god Haroeris and the crocodile god Sobek. Continue sailing towards Aswan, watching river life along the banks — water buffalo, donkeys and birdlife — and moor for the night close to the city.
- 4
After breakfast on board, spend the day exploring Aswan — the island Temple of Isis at Philae and the Aswan High Dam — with time to wander the Aswan bazaar. Return to the boat for your final evening and overnight in Aswan.
- 5
After breakfast, disembark and transfer to Aswan airport or train station for your onward departure.
- 1
On arrival at Aswan airport or train station, your Egyptologist guide takes you on a day of sightseeing in Aswan — the island Temple of Isis at Philae and the Aswan High Dam, with time to browse the Aswan bazaar. In the afternoon you board your dahabiya and enjoy lunch on deck as the boat sets sail for Kom Ombo, mooring there for the night.
- 2
Breakfast at leisure, then visit the Greco-Roman temple at Kom Ombo — a perfectly symmetrical double temple with matching halls and sanctuaries dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris and the crocodile god Sobek. Sail on to the quieter temple at Gebel el-Silsila, mooring alongside the rock-cut Speos of Horemheb; dinner is served in the temple grounds or on the sun deck, weather and mood allowing.
- 3
After breakfast, visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu by horse-drawn caleche — one of Egypt's largest and best-preserved monuments, its entrance flanked by two granite falcon statues — then explore the bazaar for spices, souvenirs and perfume.
The dahabiya moors at a quiet island for a themed Egyptian evening: dinner by the riverbank or on the sun deck, Arabic music, and the option to dress in a gallabeya for the occasion, before sailing on gently towards Esna overnight.
- 4
After breakfast, disembark at Esna and drive to Luxor for a sightseeing day — the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple — before your transfer to Luxor airport or train station for departure.
The ship
- Class
- 5-Star Ultra Deluxe dahabiya
- Cabins
- 5
What lingers
- 01Traditional lateen-sail dahabiya, quieter and slower than motorised cruisers, ideal for secluded moorings
- 02On-board dining with Full Board, including lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day
- 03Shore-excursion program visiting Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings
- 04Small number of cabins across Standard, Deluxe and Suite classes, offering Nile views and personalised service
- 05Sun deck and lounge areas for panoramic river views while sailing between Luxor and Aswan
- 06Frequent stops at local sites such as El Kab, Hagar Silsala and Gebel Silsila that larger cruisers cannot reach
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard Abundance Dahabiya
- All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Egyptologist tour guide
- Entrance fees to included sites
- Transfers to/from the dahabiya
- Sailing permits and taxes
Not included
- Tipping for crew and guide
- Personal expenses
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Optional tours not listed
Add before or after your cruise
The ship sails between Luxor and Aswan. The Pyramids, and most flights home, are in Cairo. These short add-ons join the two.
After you dock
Aswan to Cairo flight and one hotel night
Two nights in Cairo with a day in Alexandria
3-Day Egypt Short Break: Cairo & Luxor
3-Day Cairo & Alexandria Tour
3-Day Luxor Tour from Marsa Alam
3-Day Cairo Tour from Sharm El Sheikh- 3-Day Luxor & Cairo Tour from Hurghada
2-Day Luxor to Cairo Post-Cruise Stay
3-Day Luxor to Cairo Post-Cruise Tour with Alexandria
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise is best suited to adults and older children who prefer a quieter, slower river journey with fewer cabins and more personalized service. It also appeals to travelers interested in ancient sites, photography, and time on the sun deck while sailing between Luxor and Aswan.
Compare
Similar ships to compare
Ships of the same class with the closest prices. Prices are per person, sharing a double cabin, October to April.
- Princess Farida Dahabiya Nile Cruise
5-Star Ultra Deluxe dahabiya
Embarks Mon from Esna / Fri from Aswan
From $2,692 per person
- Adelaide Dahabiya Nile Cruise
5-Star Ultra Deluxe dahabiya
Embarks Mon from Esna / Fri from Aswan
From $2,858 per person
- Lazuli Luxor Dahabiya
5-Star Ultra Deluxe dahabiya
Embarks Mon from Esna / Fri from Aswan
From $2,516 per person
The route
Esna and Aswan
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
Choose your direction
- Esna → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
- Aswan → Esna3 nightsdownstream, with the current
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Esna · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- Guide languages
- Arabic · English · French · German · Italian · Spanish
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and photocopy
- Sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen
- Comfortable closed-toe walking shoes for uneven surfaces
- Lightweight evening layer for cooler nights on deck
- Reusable water bottle for refills onboard
- Small daypack for shore excursions
- Any prescribed medication in original packaging
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in natural fabrics
- Covered shoulders and knee-length skirts or trousers for temples
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip for cobbles and stone steps
- A light sweater or windproof layer for evenings on deck
Children & families
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; 6–11.99 years pay 50%; 12 years and above pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents, maximum one child per cabin; two or more children require their own cabin. Strollers can be cumbersome on gangways and at archaeological sites, so a lightweight, foldable stroller is recommended; high chairs are not guaranteed onboard and must be requested at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This dahabiya route involves boarding a sail-powered Nile boat with gangway steps and narrow companionways, uneven deck surfaces and occasional low door thresholds. Many archaeological sites visited have unpaved paths, steep stone steps, uneven ancient stone surfaces and limited shade; the Valley of the Kings and some temple quays require short walks over cobbles or sand. Wheelchair users will find full independent access difficult, because gangway ramps are steep and not standardised, and most ancient sites lack continuous ramps. We can arrange vehicle assistance from the Luxor International Airport to the embarkation jetty, and crew will help with luggage and boarding where safe to do so; please contact us in advance to review physical needs and hydraulic lift options with our ground team, who will assess feasibility on a case by case basis.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The itinerary uses a traditional lateen-sail dahabiya, a sail-powered craft that reduces engine hours while underway compared with motorised cruisers. For road transfers we use modern minibuses with air conditioning, typically Toyota or Mercedes Sprinter models, shared only with the booked party. We work with locally based captains, Egyptian crew and nearby caterers, which keeps wages and provisioning onshore in Luxor and Aswan. Shore visits use local licensed Egyptologists and small, local guide teams rather than large coach groups, which concentrates spending in village economies such as El Kab and Gebel Silsila. We carry refillable drinking-water containers onboard to limit single-use plastic bottles, and we request guests separate recyclables and food waste for appropriate disposal at port facilities.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How long is the Abundance Dahabiya cruise around Luxor?
Exact nights depend on your booking — tell us your dates and we’ll confirm the planned stops and timings.02What time and where is pick-up for the dahabiya?
We usually collect guests from their Luxor hotel between 06:30 and 08:30 on embarkation day. Pickup time depends on your hotel location and the day’s schedule. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator we confirm the exact pickup time 48–24 hours before departure and provide the crew’s contact number for last‑minute coordination.03Which entrance fees and guided visits are included with the Abundance Dahabiya?
Standard public-site entrance fees and the services of our Egyptologist are included unless your itinerary states otherwise. We’ll list included and excluded items clearly when you book.04What is not included with the cruise price?
Excluded items commonly are international flights, alcoholic drinks beyond what’s stated, premium site permits (for example certain tombs), gratuities, and personal travel insurance. Any site-specific extras or late changes that require new permits are billed separately. We’ll always state exclusions before you confirm.05Is the dahabiya suitable for people with limited mobility?
A dahabiya requires boarding by steps and moving over narrow gangways and wooden decks. It is not suitable for wheelchairs or travelers unable to manage 10–15cm height changes and occasional steep stairs. If you have reduced mobility, tell us the exact limitations so we can recommend alternatives or accessibility aids where possible.06Can children travel on the Abundance Dahabiya and are there age restrictions?
Children travel on dahabiyas but the vessel has open decks, low railings and no lifeguarded swimming area, so parental supervision is essential. There is no formal minimum age, but infants and very young children should be able to sit through long drives and early starts. We can advise family cabins and child-minding options on request.07What should I bring and wear onboard and during site visits?
Bring sun protection first: high-SPF sunscreen, broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and a reusable water bottle. Lightweight long sleeves and trousers are best for sun and temple modesty requirements; comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven stone and sand. Also pack a light fleece for cooler mornings and a small daypack for excursions.08Are cameras, tripods and drones allowed during excursions?
Still cameras are generally permitted; flash is often prohibited inside tombs and some temples. Tripods may be restricted at smaller sites. Drones require a permit from Egyptian authorities and are rarely authorised on short itineraries. If you plan to use a drone or professional kit, notify us well before travel so we can arrange permissions where possible.09When is the best time of year to sail a dahabiya from Luxor?
The most comfortable months are October to April, when daytime temperatures average 20–30°C and mornings are mild. Summer months (May–September) regularly exceed 35–40°C with strong sun; cruises are quieter then but require early starts and strict shade management. We advise travelers sensitive to heat to avoid July–August.10Which archaeological sites near Luxor does this dahabiya typically visit?
Itineraries commonly include the Luxor East Bank (Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple) and the West Bank (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut at Deir el‑Bahari, Colossi of Memnon). Longer sails may continue south to Edfu and Kom Ombo. Exact site stops depend on the chosen route and river conditions; we’ll confirm sites when you book.
Last updated Product ID: CRU-LUX-042845
At a glance
- Length
- 3 or 4 nights
- Embarks
- Mon in Esna · Fri in Aswan
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-Star Ultra Deluxe
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