Lotus Dahabiya
An intimate sail-powered Nile dahabiya with lateen sails, chef-prepared full-board dining, and access to smaller shore sites.
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- Board
- Full Board
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 narrows around the dahabiya, the lateen sail draws quietly overhead, and village sounds carry across the water. From the deck of Lotus Dahabiya, you can watch fields, palms, and mud-brick homes pass at river level while your chef prepares dinner nearby.
We arrange a slower rhythm than a large Nile cruiser can offer, with time to pause at places such as El Kab and the Gebel Silsila quarry. Our Egyptologists put each stop into context without rushing you between monuments. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, coordinates your transfers, shore visits, and cabin arrangements before you travel.
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
- Sun Deck
- Restaurant
- Onboard Bar
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard Lotus Dahabiya
- All meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Professional Egyptologist guide
- Visits to all listed archaeological sites
- Entrance fees to included attractions
- All transport to/from the Dahabiya
- Taxes and service charges
Not included
- Tips and personal expenses
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Optional tours or activities
- Domestic flights (if required)
- Travel insurance
Accessibility
Who can join this
This dahabiya cruise requires moderate mobility: guests board and disembark via short gangplanks and step-ladders, and many shore visits involve uneven ancient stone, narrow paths, and steps at temples and tombs. Wheelchair users may be able to access the vessel if they can transfer to a narrow cabin step; fully powered wheelchairs will not fit on the gangplank or inside most cabins. Transfers between the dock and the boat are by minivan with a single step; some sites require short walks on compacted sand or cobbles. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and can arrange additional assistance on request, but we cannot guarantee full wheelchair accessibility at all landing points or smaller archaeological sites. Please contact us with mobility details before booking so we can advise which parts of the itinerary will be suitable and prepare any reasonable adjustments.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
This itinerary is sailed on a traditional dahabiya using lateen sails supplemented by an auxiliary engine when wind conditions require. River transfers and shore transfers use modern air-conditioned minibuses with small group sizes, which reduces per-person emissions compared with large coach tours. We contract local captains, chefs, and Egyptologists directly, paying locally negotiated rates to support neighborhood livelihoods in Luxor, Esna, and Aswan. Provisions are sourced from regional markets where possible, so fresh produce benefits small suppliers. We request guests avoid single-use plastics aboard and encourage them to use refillable bottles. If you wish to offset travel emissions, we can signpost verified local community projects and reforestation initiatives we have worked with.
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 walking shoes with good grip
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, SPF30+ sunscreen
- Lightweight daypack and a refillable water bottle
- A small torch or headlamp for uneven temple pathways
- Any personal medication plus a basic first-aid kit
- Plug adapter for Egyptian 220V sockets (type C, F)
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for hot days
- Layers for cooler mornings and evenings on the Nile
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes for archaeological sites
- A lightweight scarf for sun and wind protection
Children & families
Children aged 0 to 5.99 years travel free; children aged 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 a separate cabin. Strollers are practical on the vessel decks but are not useful at many archaeological sites because of steps and uneven surfaces. We can advise family-friendly cabins and suitable excursions when you book.
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-391898
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