The Nile by Sailing Dahabiya
The pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then the Nile the old way — under sail, on a small boat, with the temples almost to yourselves.
- The pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum
- The Valley of the Kings and Karnak
- Three nights under sail on a dahabiya
- The temples of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo
- The river quarries of Gebel el-Silsila
- Philae Temple and a felucca at sunset in Aswan
Overview
Most Nile cruises are floating hotels carrying a few hundred guests. A dahabiya is a traditional two-masted sailing boat with a handful of cabins, a wide sun deck and the freedom to moor where the big ships cannot — beside a quiet island, or below ancient quarries reachable only from the river.
The journey begins in Cairo with the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, continues through Luxor's temples and tombs, and ends in Aswan with a felucca at sunset. An Egyptologist travels with the group throughout.
Day by day
- Day 1
Cairo
Met at Cairo airport and taken to the hotel. A quiet evening and welcome dinner.
Overnight · Hotel, Cairo - Day 2
Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum
The pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx with an Egyptologist, then an afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum and its Tutankhamun galleries.
Overnight · Hotel, Cairo - Day 3
Old Cairo, then Luxor
A morning in historic Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili, then an evening flight to Luxor.
Overnight · Hotel, Luxor - Day 4
The West Bank and Karnak
The Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Karnak in the late afternoon light.
Overnight · Hotel, Luxor - Day 5
Esna, and on board
A short drive to Esna and its Temple of Khnum, with its restored painted ceiling. Board the dahabiya and set sail.
Overnight · Sailing dahabiya - Day 6
Edfu
The Temple of Horus at Edfu, among the best preserved in Egypt. An afternoon under sail.
Overnight · Sailing dahabiya - Day 7
Gebel el-Silsila
The ancient sandstone quarries and shrines of Gebel el-Silsila, reached from the river. Dinner on deck.
Overnight · Sailing dahabiya - Day 8
Kom Ombo and Aswan
The riverside temple of Kom Ombo, then arrival in Aswan. Philae Temple in the afternoon and a felucca at sunset.
Overnight · Hotel, Aswan - Day 9
Departure
An optional early flight to Abu Simbel, then a flight to Cairo for onward travel.
A sample itinerary. The order of days may change with local calendars, weather and opening times; the final itinerary is confirmed before you travel.
Register your interest.
Tell us who would travel and roughly when. We will share departure dates and full details, or arrange this journey privately for your own group.
You may also like
North of the Arctic Circle
Stockholm, an overnight Baltic crossing, Helsinki and Tallinn — then north across the Arctic Circle to Lapland and Tromsø for six evenings watching for the Northern Lights, ending slowly in Copenhagen.
View the journey
Kyoto, When the Maples Turn
Temple gardens at the height of the maples, a private tea ceremony, kaiseki dinners at a traditional ryokan and a day among the temples and deer of Nara — timed to miss the crowds.
View the journey
A Chettinad Mansion, Taken Whole
A restored merchant mansion reserved entirely for the group — Burma-teak pillars, Athangudi-tiled halls and courtyards open to the sky, with the region's famous cooking served at the house's own table.
View the journey