Private charter · Available as a private charter only — the whole boat, exclusively for your party.
Dahabiya Zekrayaat
An intimate sail-powered dahabiya with lateen sails, chef-prepared full-board dining, and quiet access to Nile sites beyond larger cruisers.
The short answer
Dahabiya Zekrayaat 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
The lateen sail catches the morning air as Zekrayaat Dahabiya leaves the busy Nile channel, and the sound of water against the hull replaces traffic. From the shaded deck, you watch villages, palms, and limestone banks pass at river pace, with time to notice details that larger cruisers often miss.
Our Egyptologists bring the landscape into focus at El Kab, Gebel Silsila, and the Hagar Salsala quarry, while the captain chooses quieter stretches for sailing. Meals are prepared on board, and the intimate setting leaves room for conversation, reading, and unhurried views. We select and arrange the vessel, shore visits, and ground services through our licensed Egyptian tour operator team, so your Egyptologist is ready when you step ashore.
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
- Wi-Fi
- Sun Deck
- Restaurant
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation on Dahabiya Zekrayaat (full board)
- All sightseeing with a licensed Egyptologist
- Entrance fees to listed attractions
- All transfers by air-conditioned private vehicles
- Felucca ride (when available)
- Service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Tipping for crew and guide
- Optional excursions not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
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
From $1,456 per person
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 protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen SPF30+
- Lightweight daypack for shore excursions
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip for uneven stone
- Reusable water bottle for refills onboard
- Light rain layer or windproof for evenings on deck
- Any personal medication and a basic first-aid kit
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in natural fibers
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- Comfortable closed shoes for archaeological sites
- A light scarf or wrap for sun and modesty
- Evening smart-casual outfit for the dining area
Children & families
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; 6–11.99 years pay 50%; 12+ 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 onboard only if folded and stored, as cabins are compact. Child meals follow the vessel menu, and high chairs are not guaranteed, so please request these at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This dahabiya itinerary involves uneven surfaces, stone steps at archaeological sites, soft sand on some riverbanks and low gangways when boarding. Onboard access is via a short ladder or fixed steps; cabins and the dining area are on one main deck with some cabins reached by one or two steps. Wheelchair users will find full independent access limited, and travelers who need continuous ramp access should contact us before booking. Transfers use coach and smaller launches, which require stepping up and down. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and can arrange additional assistance, meet-and-assist at the airport and local helpers where possible, but we cannot guarantee site ramps or lifts at remote sites such as El Kab or Gebel Silsila.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The dahabiya uses traditional lateen sails and minimal engine use while under sail, reducing fuel consumption compared with engine-only Nile cruisers. We book locally owned dahabiyas and employ Egyptian captains, crews and chefs, with most provisions purchased from markets in Luxor and Aswan. Shore excursions favour smaller sites reachable by the shallow-draft vessel, which spreads visitor pressure away from crowded monuments. Waste is separated onboard where facilities exist. We work with local guides and small suppliers so tourism revenue stays in the communities visited.
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-861249
At a glance
- Length
- 3 or 4 nights
- Embarks
- Mon in Esna · Fri in Aswan
- Board
- Full Board
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