Private charter · Available as a private charter only — the whole boat, exclusively for your party.
Dahabiya Loulia
A 5-star dahabiya with lateen sails, intimate cabins, chef-prepared full-board dining, and access to quieter Nile shore stops.
The short answer
Dahabiya Loulia 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 carries the sound of water against Loulia Dahabiya’s hull as the lateen sail gathers the morning breeze. From the shaded deck, you watch villages, palms, and sandstone banks pass at river pace, with no nightclub or engine noise competing with the landscape.
Our Egyptologists bring context to the smaller shore visits, including El Kab and Gebel Silsila, while the captain chooses quiet stretches where the vessel can pause. Meals are prepared on board, and the atmosphere stays intimate from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, selects and arranges this cruise, your guides, transfers, and shore visits so the practical details are handled before you sail.
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
- Elegant lounge and dining area
- Sun deck with loungers and shaded seating
- Traditional wind-powered sailing
- Onboard kitchen
- Air conditioning
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard Dahabiya Loulia (private cabin with bathroom)
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Egyptologist tour guide
- Entrance fees to all listed attractions
- Private transfers from Luxor/Aswan
- All taxes and service charges
Not included
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Tipping (crew & guide)
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
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 plus photocopy and emergency contact
- Comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes with good grip
- Sun protection: wide-brim hat, sunglasses, sunscreen SPF30+
- Light layer for cool early mornings and evenings
- Small daypack for cameras, water and personal items
- Personal medications, seasickness remedies and basic first-aid
- Plug adapter (Egypt uses types C and F, 220V)
- Reusable water bottle for refills onboard
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting cotton or linen clothing
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- A light sweater or fleece for evenings on deck
- Flat, non-slip shoes for uneven stone and gangplanks
- Modest swimwear if planning to bathe from the riverbank
Children & families
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; 6–11.99 years pay 50%; 12 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 can be used on quayside and larger piers but are impractical on soft riverbanks and inside many archaeological sites; please bring a lightweight, foldable stroller if needed. High chairs and child-specific equipment are limited onboard dahabiyas; if you require these items, request them at booking so we can confirm availability with the vessel provider.
Accessibility
Who can join this
A dahabiya has narrow gangways, low decks and steps between the sundeck, salon and cabins; cabins commonly have one or two steps at their doorways. Boarding from the riverbank or a small quay often requires a short gangplank or a low transfer boat depending on water level. Shore excursions visit ancient sites with uneven stone surfaces, steep temple steps and loose sand, and many temples do not have ramps. Wheelchair users with full independent mobility may be able to board with advance notice and bespoke arrangements, but standard wheelchair access is limited and we cannot guarantee ramped access at every pier or site. If you use a mobility scooter, powered wheelchair or need step-free boarding, tell us at booking so we can assess feasibility, arrange specialist assistance where available, and note that some transfers may require local manual handling by trained staff. We recommend guests with reduced mobility travel with a companion and bring any personal transfer aids you require. Our team can provide further, specific advice after we know your mobility needs and flight details.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
A dahabiya relies primarily on sail power, using lateen sails to reduce engine use while cruising the Nile; small auxiliary diesel engines are used sparingly for manoeuvring in locks and low-wind conditions. We select small, locally run vessels and hire local crews and cooks to ensure wages stay within the local community. Onboard provisioning is sourced from nearby markets where possible; fresh produce, bread and fish commonly come from Luxor, Esna and Aswan suppliers. Waste is segregated onboard where facilities allow, and greywater is managed in accordance with local port rules rather than discharged in archaeological sites. Linen is laundered in nearby towns by local laundries rather than flown to distant facilities, creating steady local employment. Shore visits include licensed Egyptologists and local boatmen who receive direct payment for guided services; admission fees and community payments are made through official channels. If you want to reduce plastic waste onboard, bring a refillable bottle.
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-678556
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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