Private charter · Available as a private charter only — the whole boat, exclusively for your party.
La Rose Dahabiya
A 5-star dahabiya with lateen sails, intimate cabins, chef-prepared full-board dining, and access to smaller Nile shore sites.
The short answer
La Rose 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 beneath La Rose Dahabiya’s lateen sail, while the captain eases the boat toward a quieter riverbank. There is no nightclub or engine hum, only water against the hull, conversation over a chef-prepared meal, and the changing light across fields and desert slopes.
Our Egyptologists guide shore visits to places larger Nile cruisers cannot reach, including El Kab, Gebel Silsila, and the Hagar Salsala quarry. The pace leaves room to sit on deck, listen to village life, and notice details that disappear on a tightly scheduled sailing. Discovery Tours Egypt carefully selects and arranges the vessel, shore visits, meals, and ground support, with our team available throughout your time in Egypt.
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
- Spacious sundeck with loungers
- Dining area
- Air conditioning
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard La Rose Dahabiya
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Certified Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to all listed sites
- Private transfers to/from the boat
- Taxes and service charges
Not included
- Tipping for crew and guide
- Optional tours (hot air balloon, Abu Simbel, felucca rides)
- Additional beverages
- Personal expenses
- Domestic or international flights
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
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 necessary visas
- Lightweight daypack for shore visits
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip
- Sunscreen SPF30 or higher and lip protection
- Wide-brim hat and UV-protection sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Small torch or headlamp for uneven paths
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting cotton or linen clothing
- Long trousers or skirts and covered shoulders for temples
- A light fleece or shawl for cooler evenings on deck
- Closed-toe shoes for archaeological sites and quarries
Children & families
Children 0 to 5.99 years travel free; children 6 to 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, maximum one child per cabin; two or more children require their own cabin. Strollers are practical on flat hotel areas but often impractical on quays and at small landing stages; please bring a lightweight, foldable pushchair if needed. Child-friendly meals can be arranged on request, and we recommend notifying us of ages and any dietary needs at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This dahabiya cruise involves daily embarkations and shore walks on uneven quays, soft sand, and ancient stone at temples and quarries. Expect steps to board and disembark, narrow gangways, occasional loose stones at sites such as Gebel Silsila and El Kab, and short inclines when entering temple precincts. Wheelchair users should note that full wheelchair access is not possible on this route; transfer vehicles and many landing points are not level. Guests with limited mobility can usually be assisted by crew and guides, but please contact us in advance so we can assess specific needs and arrange suitable assistance on shore and at transfer points.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The itinerary uses sail-powered dahabiyas for principal movement on the Nile, reducing engine fuel use while underway. On land we arrange transfers in air-conditioned minibuses or private cars provided by local operators; where available we prefer vehicles maintained locally to preserve employment. Crew and kitchen staff are hired from nearby communities and meals are chef-prepared with ingredients sourced from regional markets. Shore excursions include small-group visits to local villages and craftspeople, with a portion of site fees and supplier payments retained locally. We encourage low-impact behaviour on archaeological sites: keep to marked paths, avoid touching carvings, and use reusable water bottles on board.
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-727822
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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