Abydos Dahabiya
A 5-star sail-powered dahabiya offering intimate cabins, lateen-sail travel, and chef-prepared full-board dining.
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
Private charter · Available as a private charter only — the whole boat, exclusively for your party.
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Esna · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- Guide languages
- Arabic · English · French · German · Italian · Spanish
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
Luxor and Aswan
- EsnaThe temple & the river lock
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
The route
Where this ship sails
The stretch of river this vessel works, and what the sailing is like end to end.
On board
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in Aswan.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
What you get back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your trip you tell us and the type of trip you book. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Location
On the map
Product ID: CRU-NIL-940562
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