BudgetDay Trip
Stopover
Cairo Stopover: Pyramids in 24 Hours
Private departurePyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum
1 days·★ 4.7
From · per person
$54indicative · exact quote in 24h
Nile CruiseUltra-Luxury
6 days · 5 nights · Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan
5-Night Luxury Dahabiya Sailing Cruise
Traditional wooden sailboat, intimate experience
★ 5 · 204 reviews—Private journeyFrom $4890 pp
All tours are private. Your group only — no strangers, no shared coaches, no fixed departures.
Journey highlights
- ★Sail the legendary Nile aboard a deluxe cruise vessel with full board
- ★Visit Karnak and Luxor Temples — the largest religious complex on earth
- ★Explore Valley of the Kings tombs including Tutankhamun's resting place
- ★Marvel at Edfu and Kom Ombo — the best-preserved Ptolemaic temples
- ★Experience Aswan's Philae Temple, High Dam, and Nubian culture
About this journey
This 6-day ultra-luxury nile cruise introduces you to the very best of Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, crafted by Egypt Stay & Tours' specialists with over 20 years of Egypt expertise. From the moment your private chauffeur greets you at the airport to your final farewell, every detail has been considered. You'll travel with an expert Egyptologist (or local equivalent) who brings ancient history to life, stay in carefully selected ultra-luxury accommodations, and experience moments most travellers miss.
Unlike generic group tours, this itinerary is fully customisable. Add experiences, extend stays, upgrade hotels, or adjust the pace — we tailor every journey to suit your style. With 24/7 in-country support, transparent pricing, and direct relationships with all suppliers (including our own seven hotels in Egypt), you'll experience Egypt the way it should be experienced: seamlessly, authentically, and without compromise.
Egyptologist's note
What this trip really shows you
A dahabiya is the historical mode of Nile travel — a flat-bottomed two-mast wooden sailing boat with usually six to ten cabins, a single shared deck, and no engine for most of the route. The whole experience is structurally different from a floating hotel: you sail with the wind, you anchor at small temples and villages the large cruisers cannot reach (El Kab, Gebel Silsila, the Nag el-Hammam quarries), and the entire boat is your group.
Five nights is the standard luxury dahabiya length: Esna → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan, with stops at sites that do not appear on any standard cruise itinerary. The 5★ hotel comparison is wrong — this is more like a small private yacht with a chef and a guide.
Historical context
Florence Nightingale, Gustave Flaubert, and Amelia Edwards all kept dahabiya travel diaries between the 1840s and 1870s. The boat type is the same; the routing is broadly the same; the difference is that the Esna lock and the modern dam have changed where you can stop. The small temple at El Kab — dedicated to the vulture goddess Nekhbet — is one of the dahabiya stops that has been continuously visited by these wooden boats since the Victorian era.
What you'll experience
- Sail under canvas — the dahabiya uses its lateen sails when the wind allows
- Visit the small temples at El Kab and Gebel Silsila that large cruisers cannot reach
- Have the entire boat as your group — typically 6-10 cabins maximum
- Eat chef-prepared meals served on the deck rather than buffet-line dining rooms
- Anchor in quiet moorings overnight rather than in the noisy Esna lock convoy
- Compare the standard Edfu and Kom Ombo temples seen at quiet hours rather than peak
Insider tip from your guide
Ask whether your dahabiya carries a small zodiac or skiff for shore visits — the better boats use them for the El Kab landing, where there is no proper dock and the larger cruisers literally cannot stop.
Best for
Travellers who want a sailing experience, not a floating hotelCouples and small private groupsRepeat Egypt visitors who already did the standard cruiseGuests who value silence, scale, and route uniqueness
Day-by-day itinerary
Travel to Aswan by train, road, or onward Nile cruise. Visit Philae Temple and the Aswan High Dam. Afternoon felucca sail around Elephantine Island.
What's included
- ✓Private airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- ✓All accommodation (5 nights) on bed & breakfast basis
- ✓All sightseeing and excursions per itinerary
- ✓Expert local guide
- ✓All entry fees to monuments and sites
- ✓All transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle
- ✓Bottled water during tours
- ✓All taxes and service charges
- ✓24/7 emergency support during your trip
- ✓Lunch on touring days
- ✓Welcome dinner on day 1
- ✓Domestic flights (where included in itinerary)
- ✓VIP fast-track at airports
- ✓All meals (full board)
- ✓Premium 5-star hotel category
- ✓Private guide throughout (no group sharing)
- ✓Champagne welcome at hotel
- ✓Exclusive after-hours site access where available
- ✓Nile cruise accommodation with full board (all meals included)
What's not included
- —International flights to/from your home country
- —Egypt entry visa (USD $25 on arrival or e-visa available)
- —Travel insurance (mandatory — we can recommend providers)
- —Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, minibar)
- —Optional excursions and activities
- —Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff (USD $8–12 per person per day suggested)
- —Drinks with meals (unless specifically stated)
- —Anything not specified in 'Inclusions'
Practical information
Practical Information
Best Time to Visit
October to April (cooler weather, peak season)
Departure Dates
Daily departures · Year-round
Languages Available
English, Arabic, German, French, Italian, Spanish (on request)
Physical Rating
Easy to moderate — comfortable for most travellers, some walking on uneven surfaces at sites
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation up to 90 days before departure. 50% refund 60-89 days. 25% refund 30-59 days. No refund within 30 days. (Special policies apply to Christmas/NYE/peak holiday departures.)
Deposit Required
20% at booking, balance 30 days before departure
Frequently Asked Questions
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