Private charter · Available as a private charter only — the whole boat, exclusively for your party.
Altesse Dahabiya
A 5-star dahabiya with lateen sails, intimate cabins, chef-prepared full-board dining, and access to quieter Nile shore sites.
The short answer
Altesse 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
At first light, the Nile is quiet except for the creak of rigging and the soft pull of the lateen sail. From the deck of Altesse Dahabiya, you watch villages, palms, and limestone banks pass at river level, with time to notice details that larger cruisers often miss.
Our Egyptologists give context ashore at places such as El Kab and Gebel Silsila, while the captain chooses a steady pace between stops. Meals are prepared on board, and the intimate setting leaves room for conversation, reading, or simply listening to the water. We arrange your transfers, sightseeing, and carefully selected sailing program, with support from a licensed Egyptian tour operator throughout the journey.
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
- Wi-Fi
- Sun Deck
- Restaurant
- Library and lounge
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard Altesse Dahabiya
- All meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Professional Egyptologist guide
- Entry fees to all included monuments
- Transfers to/from the Dahabiya
- Taxes and service charges
Not included
- Tipping for crew and guide
- Optional activities not listed
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Personal expenses
- Domestic flights (if needed)
- Travel or medical insurance
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 a photocopy stored separately
- Sun protection: sunscreen SPF50+, wide-brim hat, sunglasses
- Comfortable walking shoes with a good grip for uneven surfaces
- Lightweight layers for warm days and cooler evenings on the river
- Reusable water bottle and small daypack for shore visits
- Basic seasickness remedies if you are prone to motion discomfort
- Any prescription medicines plus a printed list of medications
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in natural fabrics
- Covered shoulders and knees for temple and mosque visits
- A light windproof layer for early-morning or evening sailing
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes for archaeological sites and quarries
- Modest swimwear if your itinerary includes a supervised swim stop
Children & families
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; children 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult fare; children 12 years and older pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents; a maximum of one child may share per cabin. If two or more children travel, they require their own cabin. Strollers are practical for town walks but are not useful on the vessel gangway or at most archaeological sites; high chairs are not standard on dahabiyas but can sometimes be provided by request. Please declare ages at booking so we can confirm cabin arrangements and any child-friendly provisions.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This dahabiya cruise involves boarding from a river quay via a gangway with 3 to 6 steps; standard cabins are reached by narrow companionways and at least one stair. Shore visits include uneven stone, cobbles, sandy surfaces, and unpaved paths at sites such as El Kab, Gebel Silsila, and the Hagar Salsala quarry. Wheelchair access is limited: most dahabiyas cannot accept full-size wheelchairs on board, and shore excursions usually require assisted transfers and walking on uneven terrain. Guests with reduced mobility should tell us at booking so we can advise realistic options, arrange extra assistance where possible, and plan excursions with the least-stepping routes. Medical oxygen and powered mobility scooters cannot always be accommodated; please contact us with exact dimensions and needs before travel. Crew will assist with luggage on and off the gangway, and local transfers use private cars with step-in height.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The dahabiya is primarily sail-powered using a traditional lateen sail, which reduces fuel use while sailing between ports; most vessels carry a small auxiliary diesel engine for manoeuvring and during calm wind conditions. We contract locally owned dahabiyas and employ Egyptian captains, chefs, and crew, keeping wages and service income in the communities visited. Our partners source produce and bread from markets in Luxor, Esna, and Aswan, and many use reusable serviceware to reduce single-use plastics on board. Waste separation is asked for on board and handled by the vessel owner in line with local port rules; greywater is managed at designated collection points rather than being discharged in shallow inshore areas. If you wish to support community projects directly, we can share vetted local initiatives and small-scale suppliers used on this route.
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-566251
At a glance
- Length
- 3 or 4 nights
- Embarks
- Mon in Esna · Fri in Aswan
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
You Might Also Like
NileL’Orient Dahabiya
Your Egyptologist guides visits to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the twin temple at Kom Ombo, and the sandstone quarries and rock chapels at Gebel El Silsila. Meals are served on board on a full-board basis, and evenings include a riverside dinner and quiet island anchoring. We do not run large coach tours, the dahabiya carries about eight to fourteen guests for a slower pace and more personal commentary. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and our Egyptologist accompanies all guided visits, so you have local insight at each site.
Nile3 Nights
Amoura Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Amoura Dahabiya is an intimate sail-powered dahabiya offering a slower-paced Nile experience around Luxor. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, has hand-picked the vessel for travelers who prefer lateen sails, small groups and quiet river moorings. The vessel provides chef-prepared Full Board meals, a sun deck for lounging, a shaded lounge bar and cabins with panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies. Unlike mass-market motor cruisers, the dahabiya spends more time ashore and sails when wind conditions allow, producing a gentler rhythm to the day.
From $1,434
Nile5 Nights
Hadeel Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Hadeel Dahabiya is an intimate sail-powered dahabiya with lateen sails and under a dozen cabins, ideal for slow-paced Nile passages. We hand-picked this dahabiya for travelers who prefer personalised service, chef-prepared meals and access to shallower reaches larger motor cruisers cannot visit. The vessel's shore excursion program includes Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings, with stops at Gebel Silsila and El Kab when conditions permit.
From $2,132