Private charter · Available as a private charter only — the whole boat, exclusively for your party.
Abydos Dahabiya
A 5-star sail-powered dahabiya offering intimate cabins, lateen-sail travel, and chef-prepared full-board dining.
The short answer
Abydos is a dahabiya. Embark in Aswan on a Friday for 3 nights to Esna, or in Esna on a Monday for 4 nights to Aswan. Rates are on request: send us your dates for a live price.
02Overview
A first look
By late afternoon, the Nile turns copper around the lateen sail, and the riverbank slips past in near silence. From the deck of Abydos Dahabiya, you can watch village fields, limestone cliffs, and fishermen’s boats move at the river’s unhurried pace while the chef prepares dinner below.
Our Egyptologists bring context to quieter stops such as El Kab, Gebel Silsila, and the Hagar Salsala quarry, then leave space to sit in the shade, listen to the water, and follow the captain’s sail adjustments. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, selects and arranges the vessel, shore visits, meals, and ground services, so your journey is coordinated by people who know the Nile firsthand.
The route
Where this ship sails
The stretch of river this ship works.
Cabin pricing
Rates on request
We don't have current published rates for this ship. Send us your dates and we'll come back with a live price for the cabin you want.
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.
Bundled in
- Air conditioning
- Private bathrooms
- Sun Deck
- Restaurant
- Wi-Fi
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard Abydos Dahabiya on a full-board basis
- All guided excursions with a licensed Egyptologist
- All entrance fees to temples and archaeological sites
- Daily snacks
- Airport or hotel pickup and drop-off transfers in Luxor or Aswan
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Gratuities (tipping)
- Personal expenses
- Optional tours not listed in the program
- Domestic flights (available on request)
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
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.
- Queen Nefeer Dahabiya Nile Cruise
5-Star Standard dahabiya
Embarks Mon from Esna / Fri from Aswan
From $1,390 per person
- Amoura Dahabiya Nile Cruise
5-Star Standard dahabiya
Embarks Mon from Esna / Fri from Aswan
From $1,434 per person
- Akhnaton Dahabiya Nile Cruise
5-Star Standard dahabiya
Embarks Mon from Esna / Fri from Aswan
From $1,456 per person
The route
Luxor and Aswan
- EsnaThe temple & the river lock
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
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
- Comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- High-factor sunscreen (SPF30 or above)
- Light rain jacket for spring/autumn evenings
- Reusable water bottle
- Small daypack for shore excursions
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting cotton clothing
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- A warm layer for cool early-morning or evening breezes
- Non-slip shoes for wet gangplanks and riverbanks
- Sun-protective swimwear for optional river swims
Children & families
Children aged 0–5.99 years travel free; children 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult price; children 12 years and older pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents, maximum one child per cabin; two or more children require a separate cabin. Strollers are practical ashore in town areas but are difficult to use on sands and temple steps; high chairs may be available on request at partner hotels before embarkation but cannot be guaranteed on board the dahabiya. Please tell us ages and any special requirements at booking so we can advise on bedding and safety.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This dahabiya cruise involves boarding a small sail-powered vessel and walking on uneven quays, soft sand at some landing points, and ancient stone at temples. Expect boarding via a gangplank with handrails; some landings require a short step up from a boat to a jetty. Onshore visits include steps, narrow passageways, and uneven carved stone surfaces at sites such as Gebel Silsila and El Kab. Wheelchair access is limited: wheelchairs cannot be taken onto the dahabiya or onto most temple approaches. Guests with reduced mobility should contact us before booking so we can assess transfers and arrange a private vehicle for riverbank access where feasible. We provide forklifts or ramps at certain partner docks when available, but these are not guaranteed. Travelers should be able to manage short walks and stairs, or bring a traveling companion to assist.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
We use small sail-powered dahabiyas which rely on wind as the primary propulsion when conditions permit, reducing engine hours compared with large motor cruisers. During transfers we use air-conditioned minibuses that meet Euro 3 emissions equivalents used locally; drivers are contracted from the local community and paid per transfer rather than per passenger, which reduces deadhead mileage. Our chef-prepared menus favour locally sourced produce and fish from the Nile valley markets when available, and we work with suppliers in Luxor and Aswan who employ local staff. Crew waste is segregated on board where port facilities permit. Where we hire local guides and boatmen for temple landings, their fees go directly to local households, and we publish suggested tipping guidelines so payments are transparent.
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
Last updated Product ID: CRU-NIL-940562
At a glance
- Length
- 3 or 4 nights
- Embarks
- Mon in Esna · Fri in Aswan
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
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