Private charter · Available as a private charter only — the whole boat, exclusively for your party.
Roi Farouk Dahabiya
A 5-star dahabiya with lateen sails, intimate cabins, chef-prepared full-board dining, and quiet access to smaller Nile shore sites.
The short answer
Roi Farouk 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 of Roi Farouk Dahabiya catches the Nile breeze, while fishermen guide narrow boats past reeds and mud-brick villages. From the shaded deck, you can watch the riverbank change slowly, pause at quieter archaeological sites, and hear little beyond water against the hull and the captain’s commands.
Unlike large Nile cruisers, this intimate dahabiya reaches places such as El Kab and Gebel Silsila, with time to explore rather than rush back to a busy ship schedule. Our Egyptologists explain the landscapes and monuments in context, while we arrange your cabin, shore visits, chef-prepared meals, and transfers with a licensed Egyptian tour operator coordinating each detail on the ground.
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
- Dining room
- Lounge
- Sun deck with shaded seating
- Wi-Fi in public areas
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard Roi Farouk Dahabiya
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
- Expert Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to all listed sites
- All ground transfers in Luxor and Aswan
- Service charges and taxes
Not included
- Tipping for staff and guide
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Optional tours or activities
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Domestic flights (if required)
- Travel and health insurance
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
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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 and photocopy
- Sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen
- Comfortable closed walking shoes with good grip
- Lightweight layers for cool mornings and evenings
- Small daypack for shore excursions
- Reusable water bottle
- Any personal medication plus a written summary of prescriptions
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in natural fibres
- Covered shoulders and knee-length skirts/trousers for temples and mosques
- A light windproof jacket for evening sailing
- Sturdy closed shoes for archaeological sites
- Wide-brim sun hat and UV protection sunglasses
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 aged 12 years and above 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 are practical on board but may be difficult on sandy or cobbled shore approaches; high chairs are not guaranteed on every vessel, so request them in advance and we will arrange where possible.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This dahabiya cruise involves uneven surfaces, narrow gangways, stone steps at temple approaches and soft sand at some landings. Guests should be able to step up and down a 30 to 50 centimetre gangway and walk short distances on cobbles and compacted sand, often without handrails. Wheelchair users will find full independent access limited; transfer into and around sites typically requires assistance. If you use a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair, tell us in advance so we can advise on practicable shore visits. We provide local staff assistance for embarkation and disembarkation, and crew can help on board, but many archaeological sites include stairs and steep ramps that remain inaccessible or difficult for visitors with significant mobility limitations. If you have reduced mobility, please contact us with full details so we can assess suitability and propose alternatives.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The dahabiya uses sail power as its principal means of propulsion while on the Nile, supplemented by a low-emission auxiliary engine for manoeuvring in locks and tight channels. We contract local captains and Egyptian crew, and the chef sources fresh produce from vegetable markets in Luxor, Esna and Aswan to support small vendors. Luggage transfers and shore transport use modern air conditioned minibuses with Euro 4/5 engines where available; we avoid using oversized coaches that do not fit narrow village streets. Visits to smaller archaeological sites such as El Kab and Hagar Salsala benefit directly local guides and village economies because the boat can moor closer to shore than larger cruisers. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we require partner suppliers to follow local waste disposal regulations and to avoid single-use plastics on board where practical. Unlike large cruiser itineraries, the dahabiya route reduces wake in shallow channels and limits passage through sensitive riverbank vegetation.
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-628448
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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