L’Orient Dahabiya
A 5-star dahabiya with lateen sails, intimate cabins, chef-prepared full-board dining, and access to quieter Nile shore sites.
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
At first light, the lateen sail lifts above the Nile and the riverbank begins to move at walking pace. From L’Orient Dahabiya, you watch village gardens, palm groves, and pale desert cliffs pass without the engine noise of a large cruiser. The slower rhythm leaves room for coffee on deck, a chef-prepared lunch, and quiet pauses at shore where larger boats cannot stop.
Our Egyptologists bring the landscape into focus, from ancient stonework at Gebel Silsila to the working river communities along the banks. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, selects and arranges the vessel, shore visits, transfers, and local support, so the day feels considered rather than hurried.
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
- Shaded sundeck lounge
- Onboard dining room with panoramic windows
- Air conditioning
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard L’orient Dahabiya on a full-board basis
- All guided tours and entrance fees
- Professional Egyptologist throughout the cruise
- Transfers to/from the boat in Luxor or Aswan
- All taxes and service charges
Not included
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Tipping
- Optional tours
- Personal expenses
- Domestic flights (available on request)
Accessibility
Who can join this
This Nile dahabiya cruise involves uneven terrain, stone steps, and small boat gangways that require steady balance. Boarding and disembarkation use a short gangplank or steps with variable height depending on river level; assistance from the crew is standard but there is no elevator on board. Cabins are compact and often reached via narrow staircases, so guests who use wheelchairs that cannot be folded/assisted will find the vessel impractical. Onshore sites such as El Kab and Gebel Silsila include unpaved paths, soft sand, and steep temple approaches. If you have reduced mobility we can arrange meet-and-assist at airports and vehicles with tail lifts for transfers where locally available, but full independent wheelchair access for all shore visits cannot be guaranteed. Please tell us about mobility aids, service dogs, or other support needs at time of booking so we can advise which parts of the itinerary are feasible.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The dahabiya model is lower-impact by design, using wind power via traditional lateen sails for primary propulsion on many sailing legs and small auxiliary engines only when necessary. On the ground, we use air-conditioned minibuses that meet Euro 4 emissions equivalents where available, and we contract local restaurants, Egyptologists, and guides from the communities along the Nile to channel tourism income locally. Crew, chefs, and shore partners are paid according to local wage practices rather than informal cash-only arrangements. For site visits we follow posted visitor routes and brief guests on responsible behavior around archaeological remains. If you prefer carbon-offset options we can quote verified offsets at booking.
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 plus a photocopy
- Sunhat and high-SPF sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip
- Lightweight daypack for excursions
- Reusable water bottle
- Small medical kit and any prescription medicines
- Plug adapter type C or F
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable layers for hot days and cool evenings
- Long sleeves and long trousers for sun and insect protection
- Covered shoulders and knees for temple and mosque visits
- Flat, closed or secure sandals for temple steps and quarries
- A light windproof jacket for breezy evenings on deck
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, one child per cabin maximum; two or more children require their own cabin. Strollers can be used on flat paved areas but are impractical on the vessel and at many shore sites that have steps, sand, or narrow paths. Please notify us of ages and any special requirements at booking so we can advise cabin configurations and safety precautions.
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-496220
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