Queen Nefeer Dahabiya Nile Cruise
An intimate 5-star dahabiya with lateen sails, chef-prepared full-board dining, and access to quieter Nile shore sites.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
Per cabin · Cabins are sold individually — book just your own cabin, sharing the boat with a handful of other guests.
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 turns copper beside the lateen sail, and the riverbank slips past at walking pace. From the deck of Queen Nefeer Dahabiya Nile Cruise, you can hear the rigging move in the wind, watch village fields give way to limestone cliffs, and pause where larger cruisers cannot reach. The atmosphere is quiet and personal, with chef-prepared meals and time to linger ashore rather than hurry between major docks.
We arrange the vessel, shore visits, transfers, and the support of our Egyptologists before you travel. Your captain sets the pace on the river, while our local team remains available on land for practical help throughout the sailing.
The route
Esna and Aswan
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
Choose your direction
- Esna → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
- Aswan → Esna3 nightsdownstream, with the current
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 Esna and disembarkation in Aswan.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Accessibility
Who can join this
The Queen Nefeer dahabiya route involves walking on uneven ancient stone, loose gravel, compacted sand and short gangplanks when boarding and disembarking. Many temple sites visited have steps, narrow doorways and uneven floors, for example at El Kab and Gebel Silsila; expect stair climbs and low lighting in some tombs. The vessel itself has narrow corridors and cabins that may have one or two steps between deck levels. Transfers use standard minibuses with one or two steps to board. Wheelchair users require a foldable lightweight chair and an able companion to assist at shore landings and site entrances, as there are no guaranteed ramps or lifts at the small quays and most tombs. If you use a mobility aid, tell us at booking so we can advise on feasibility and arrange the least-steps transfer where possible. Our Egyptologists and crew will assist when safe to do so, but we cannot promise full accessibility at all archaeological sites or fixed ramps at historic quays.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
This dahabiya itinerary uses wind-assisted sailing and quiet diesel for short manoeuvres, which reduces fuel consumption compared with continuous-engine Nile cruisers. We book small, locally owned dahabiyas that carry 8 to 12 cabins, and we prioritise crews and chefs hired from the nearby river communities in Luxor and Aswan. Shore excursions visit smaller sites such as El Kab, Gebel Silsila and Hagar Salsala quarry, where entrance fees support site conservation and local guides; we ask guests to follow site rules and avoid touching fragile surfaces. Onboard waste is segregated where practical, and single-use plastics are minimised; fresh food is prepared by the onboard chef using regional produce purchased in the towns visited. If you have specific sustainability preferences, tell us at booking so we can pass them to the supplier and suggest low-impact options ashore.
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 a photocopy stored separately
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, SPF30+ sunscreen
- Lightweight layers for hot afternoons and cooler evenings
- Small daypack for site visits and water bottle
- Motion-sickness medication if you are sensitive
- Flashlight or headlamp for low-light tomb interiors
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for daytime
- Long sleeves and long trousers or skirts for temple visits
- Shoulders covered when visiting mosques or conservative villages
- Sturdy closed shoes for uneven temple floors and quays
- A light sweater or fleece for early-morning and evening breezes
Children & families
Children aged 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, with a maximum of one child per cabin. Two or more children require a separate cabin. Strollers are practical for streets and hotel lobbies but not for temple approaches or narrow quays; most shore landings require parents to carry infants and pushchairs up short gangplanks. Please tell us the ages of any children at booking so we can confirm cabin bedding and safety arrangements.
Prices by sailing
Prices are per person in USD, from 2 people sharing a double cabin. Each price covers the full sailing, the guided sightseeing programme along the route, and your arrival and departure transfers between the vessel and the local airport or railway station.
| Sailing | October – Aprilcurrent season | Peak dates18 Dec – 6 Jan, 21 Mar – 4 Apr, 9 Apr – 23 Apr |
|---|---|---|
| 3 nights · Aswan → Esnaembarks Fridays | October – April: from $1,231single cabin $1,787 | Peak dates: from $1,427single cabin $2,120 |
| 4 nights · Esna → Aswanembarks Mondays | October – April: from $1,513single cabin $2,254 | Peak dates: from $1,774single cabin $2,698 |
Peak dates: 18 Dec – 6 Jan, 21 Mar – 4 Apr, 9 Apr – 23 Apr. Choose your sailing and date in the booking panel for the exact price.
Cabin allocation
- Nile vessels do not have interconnecting cabins.
- Book early and we will ask the vessel to place your party together — usually adjacent, or directly opposite.
- Cabin numbers are confirmed by the vessel at check-in.
Indicative rates only – pricing and cabins fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
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-283190
You Might Also Like
Nile3 Nights
Amoura Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Amoura Dahabiya is an intimate sail-powered dahabiya offering a slower-paced Nile experience around Luxor. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, has hand-picked the vessel for travelers who prefer lateen sails, small groups and quiet river moorings. The vessel provides chef-prepared Full Board meals, a sun deck for lounging, a shaded lounge bar and cabins with panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies. The excursion program visits sites only shallow-draft boats can reach, and the vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. Unlike mass-market motor cruisers, the dahabiya spends more time ashore and sails when wind conditions allow, producing a gentler rhythm to the day.
From $1,276
Nile3 Nights
Queen Cleopatra Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Queen Cleopatra Dahabiya is an intimate standard dahabiya for private sailing on the Nile. With four double cabins, it suits couples, families or small groups who prefer a quieter boat than a large Nile cruiser. The dahabiya is available for full charter at US$1,000 per night, with a minimum of two cabins required to guarantee sailing. Full Board covers lunch on the embarkation day through breakfast on the disembarkation day. Drinks (including water) are generally charged separately. Unlike larger Nile cruise ships, a dahabiya offers a smaller setting and sailing under lateen sail, although sailing times depend on wind conditions. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, arranges the booking and supporting services on the ground.
From $1,341
Nile3 Nights
Bens Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Bens Dahabiya is an intimate, sail-powered Nile boat arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator. Dahabiyas offer a quieter alternative to larger Nile cruisers, with lateen sails, fewer cabins and a slower pace on the river. Sailing between Egypt’s historic Nile towns, the vessel can reach smaller sites and riverbank villages that larger ships may pass. Meals are served as full board, from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. The atmosphere is closer to a private sailing party than a large cruise program, although wind conditions can affect sailing times and some movement between sites involves uneven ground.
From $1,331