Private charter · Available as a private charter only — the whole boat, exclusively for your party.
L’Orient 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
L’Orient 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 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
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
- 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)
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.
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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 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.
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
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-496220
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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