Yakouta Dahabiya
A 5-star dahabiya with lateen sails, intimate spaces, chef-prepared full-board dining, and access to quieter Nile shore stops.
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- 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 first light on the Nile, the lateen sail lifts above Yakouta Dahabiya while the riverbank stays quiet and the water reflects the changing sky. Sailing at this pace, you can watch village life from the shaded deck, listen to the rigging, and pause where larger cruisers cannot reach.
Our Egyptologists connect each landing to the landscape, from the sandstone quarry at Gebel Silsila to the ancient remains at El Kab. The intimate setting leaves room for unhurried meals, conversation with the captain, and time ashore without a crowded schedule. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, selects and arranges the vessel, shore visits, transfers, and local guidance 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
On property
What's here
- Wi-Fi
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Bar
- Spa
- Laundry
Bundled in
- Sun Deck
- Restaurant
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation onboard the Yakouta Dahabiya
- All meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
- Expert Egyptologist guide for all shore excursions
- Private transfers to and from the boat
- Entrance fees to all listed historical sites
- Daily housekeeping service
- Sailing when weather permits
Not included
- International or domestic flights
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Tipping for crew and guide
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Optional tours not listed in the main itinerary
Accessibility
Who can join this
This dahabiya cruise involves boarding from a river quay and moving between low gangways and narrow deck steps; uneven stone surfaces and soft sand are common at shore stops such as El Kab and Gebel Silsila. Guests should be able to ascend and descend 3 to 6 steps without assistance, and to walk on cobbles, compacted sand and uneven ancient stone for short distances. Wheelchair users will find full independent access limited: the vessel gangway and many historic sites are not suitable for standard wheelchairs. We can arrange a collapsible travel wheelchair or porter assistance where available, but this depends on local supplier capacity and advance notice. Please tell us about mobility needs at booking so we can plan transfers, allocate cabins near access points when possible, and liaise with local site staff. For guests with limited mobility, expect some excursions to require standing for 20 to 40 minutes and brief uphill or stepped approaches at temple entrances.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The dahabiya is primarily wind-powered using lateen sails, reducing diesel use while sailing; however small engines are used for manoeuvring in port and for safety. Onboard transport between quay and shore is by short motorboat or tender, not large tenders. We work with locally based captains, Egyptian crew and a chef who source fresh produce from markets in Luxor and Aswan, supporting local vendors and fishermen. Waste is segregated on board where possible and non-recyclable waste is handed to licensed shore contractors at port calls. Excursion guides and Egyptologists are hired locally for each region, and entrance fees paid at sites contribute directly to site conservation and staffing. If you wish, we can arrange visits to community-run projects near the Nile to direct tourist income to small businesses and artisans. We do not claim carbon neutrality; instead we reduce fuel use by favouring sail, limit single-use plastics on board, and partner with suppliers who follow local waste-disposal rules.
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
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip
- Wide-brim hat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen SPF30 or higher
- Reusable water bottle
- Motion-sickness remedy if you are prone
- Small daypack for shore excursions
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for daytime
- Long sleeves and long trousers for sun protection and temples
- Covered shoulders and knees for mosques and some temples
- A light sweater for cooler evenings on deck
Children & families
Children 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, maximum one child per cabin; two or more children require their own cabin. Strollers are practical on quays and at hotels, but not on many temple approaches or at archaeological sites where steps and uneven stone are common. High chairs and baby equipment depend on local supplier availability, so request these at booking and we will arrange them where possible.
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-984624
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