Sonesta Amirat Dahabiya
A 5-star dahabiya with lateen sails, intimate cabins, chef-prepared full-board dining, and access to smaller Nile shore sites.
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days · 6 nights
- Embarks
- Sat
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
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
At sunrise, the Nile carries the soft creak of rigging past palm-lined banks, while the lateen sail gathers the first breeze. On Sonesta Amirat Dahabiya, the pace leaves room to watch village life, pause at quieter river sites, and feel the difference between sailing and moving through Egypt by road.
Our Egyptologists connect each stop to the landscape around it, then leave space for an unhurried lunch or conversation with the captain. Chef-prepared meals are served aboard, and the smaller setting keeps the river in view rather than separating you from it. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we arrange your dahabiya booking, shore visits, transfers, and local support before you travel, so the practical details are settled from the start.
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
Both directions
Where this ship sails
This vessel works more than one stretch of the river. The direction changes the order of the temples, the number of nights and which city you fly out of.
On board
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Esna and disembarkation in Aswan.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Bundled in
- Restaurant
- Sun Deck
- Wi-Fi
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard Sonesta Amirat Dahabiya
- All meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Expert Egyptologist guide on all tours
- Entrance fees to included sites
- Transfers to/from embarkation points
- Sailing permits and service charges
Not included
- International or domestic flights
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Tipping for crew and guide
- Optional excursions not mentioned
Accessibility
Who can join this
This dahabiya cruise involves uneven surfaces, narrow gangways and multiple low steps between the riverbank and the vessel, plus stone paths and loose gravel at some archaeological sites. Guests should be able to walk short distances on cobbles and sand, manage 4–12 steps without a handrail, and step down from a small launch when boarding at simple river landings. Wheelchair users will find full independent access limited: the vessel and many landing sites are not wheelchair-accessible. If you use a mobility aid, tell us in advance so we can arrange additional assistance, simplified transfers where possible, and shore visits matched to accessibility needs. Service animals are accepted with advance notice, subject to local regulations.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
On this route we use a sail-powered dahabiya, which reduces engine use while sailing between stops, supplemented by a small auxiliary motor when wind conditions require it. Onshore transfers are with modern air-conditioned minibuses that meet Euro 4-equivalent emissions standards used by our local suppliers. We work directly with locally based captains, Egyptian chefs and shore guides, and we pay local site guides and village artisans for visits and demonstrations, keeping income in the communities we visit. Single-use plastics are minimised on board, and kitchen staff source produce from nearby markets when available. If you have specific dietary, environmental or single-use plastic preferences, tell us at booking so we can request them with the supplier.
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, photocopy and local currency (Egyptian pounds)
- Comfortable, closed shoes for archaeological sites
- Sunscreen SPF50+, lip protection and a wide-brim hat
- Lightweight layers, plus a warmer layer for cool desert evenings
- Reusable water bottle
- Small daypack for shore excursions and personal items
- Basic medication, seasickness remedies and a small first-aid kit
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in breathable fabrics
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- A lightweight windproof jacket for mornings on deck
- Sturdy sandals or trainers with closed toes for uneven ground
- Sunglasses and a scarf to protect from sun and river breeze
Children & families
Children aged 0–5.99 years travel free; children 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult price; children aged 12 and over pay the full adult rate. Children must share a cabin with their parents, maximum one child per cabin; two or more children require their own cabin. Strollers are practical on board during sailing, but they are cumbersome at river landings and archaeological sites with steps and uneven ground, so a lightweight foldable stroller is recommended. High chairs and child-specific equipment can usually be arranged on request, please ask at booking.
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-453146
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