Private charter · Available as a private charter only — the whole boat, exclusively for your party.
Yakouta Dahabiya
A 5-star dahabiya with lateen sails, intimate spaces, chef-prepared full-board dining, and access to quieter Nile shore stops.
The short answer
Yakouta 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 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
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.
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
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 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.
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
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-984624
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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