6-Day Luxor to Aswan Dahabiya Cruise Holiday, Cairo Night
A traditional Nile sailing boat for four nights, with a guide throughout, Luxor's West Bank, the great temples on to Aswan and a final night in Cairo.
The short answer
6-Day Luxor to Aswan Dahabiya Cruise Holiday, Cairo Night is a 6-day, 5-night trip to Luxor and Aswan. Starts on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,463 per person, two sharing (Comfort, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Smaller and quieter than a cruise ship, a dahabiya is the traditional sailing boat of the Nile, and it is how you travel on this holiday. You land at Luxor and spend day 1 on the West Bank: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon. A private transfer takes you to Esna, where you join the boat for the evening and four nights afloat.
From there you head south, calling at Edfu and Kom Ombo before a day in Aswan at the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae. An English-speaking Egyptologist guides the sailing throughout. On day 5 you leave the boat and fly to Cairo for a night in a hotel, kept deliberately as a buffer before your flight home on day 6.
What lingers
- 01Four nights on a dahabiya, a traditional Nile sailing boat, with an Egyptologist guiding throughout
- 02The Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon on day 1
- 03A private transfer to Esna and joining your dahabiya in the evening
- 04Edfu and Kom Ombo temples beside the river
- 05A day of about eight hours in Aswan: the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple
- 06A flight from Aswan to Cairo and a last night in a Cairo hotel before you fly home
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation at the properties listed or similar.
| Comfort level | Where you stay or similar | Per personfrom, Oct–Apr | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfortfrom £1,4634★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Dahabiya · 4 nightsBens Dahabiya · Amoura Dahabiya Cairo · 1 nightJewel Sport City | £1,463May–Sep: from £1,359 | |
| Classicfrom £1,8085★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Dahabiya · 4 nightsIris Luxury Dahabiya · Royal Cleopatra Dahabiya | £1,808May–Sep: from £1,359 | |
| Prestigefrom £2,5255★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Dahabiya · 4 nightsAzhar Dahabiya | £2,525May–Sep: from £2,004 | |
| Luxuryfrom £4,0935★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Dahabiya · 4 nightsMinya Dahabiya Cairo · 1 nightSt. Regis Cairo | £4,093May–Sep: from £2,764 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast · Nile cruise on full board. You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality. Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
6 Days / 5 Nights · Luxor · Esna · Edfu · Gebel El Silsila · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- 1
Your private driver meets you at Luxor Airport and drives you into downtown Luxor. The day belongs to the West Bank, with an English-speaking Egyptologist, and takes about six hours: the Valley of the Kings, where three tombs are included, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon. It is planned around the time your flight lands, which the airline sets. Entrance fees and transport are covered.
A private transfer then runs you to Esna, where you join your dahabiya in the evening, with dinner served on board.
- 2
Today's visit is the Temple of Edfu, the Temple of Horus and one of the best preserved in Egypt, with your Egyptologist. Your entrance ticket is included. The remainder of the day is spent on the river, with breakfast, lunch and dinner served aboard.
- 3
At Kom Ombo you visit a double temple on the river bank, shared by Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god, with your Egyptologist. The entrance ticket is included. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on the dahabiya as it carries on towards Aswan.
- 4
You have a full day in Aswan, around eight hours, with a local Egyptologist. First comes the High Dam, then the Northern Quarries and the Unfinished Obelisk. A motorboat crosses to Agilkia Island and the Temple of Isis at Philae, with a pause for refreshments and photographs before the boat and transfer back. Entrance fees and transport are included, and all meals are taken on board.
- 5
Breakfast is the last meal on the dahabiya. You then leave the boat and your private driver takes you to Aswan Airport, about an hour away, for the flight to Cairo, with a 23 kg luggage allowance. The airline sets the flight time. In Cairo you are met and driven to your hotel, and nothing else is planned.
The night in Cairo is there on purpose: it is a safety window should the internal flight run late, so you reach your flight home without worry.
- 6
Once you have had breakfast and checked out, a private driver takes you to Cairo Airport for your flight home, and the transfer representative helps with your luggage. The transfer is planned at around ninety minutes, so send us your flight time and we will set the pickup.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Four nights on a dahabiya on full board, and one night in a Cairo hotel with breakfast
- The Luxor arrival transfer and the private transfer from Luxor to Esna
- An English-speaking Egyptologist guiding the whole sailing
- The Valley of the Kings with three tombs, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon, with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport
- Entrance tickets for the Temple of Edfu and the Temple of Kom Ombo
- An eight-hour day in Aswan: the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple, with the boat to Agilkia Island, entrance fees and transport
- The transfer to Aswan Airport, the internal flight from Aswan to Cairo with 23 kg of luggage and the transfer to your Cairo hotel
- The transfer from your Cairo hotel to Cairo Airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and boat staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Hotel nights before or after the holiday
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Visit Karnak late afternoon for softer light on the first court and fewer bus arrivals.
- 02
At Philae, the short boat ride is quickest when arranged immediately after the road transfer.
- 03
Edfu is easier to photograph from the side with the pylon, not straight on, because the forecourt is wider.
- 04
Bring small notes for tipping boat crew and drivers, since card payment is rarely used on site.
- 05
Expect early starts in Luxor, especially in warmer months when tomb areas heat up fast.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose the standard of dahabiya when you book. Ask us about hotel nights in Luxor or Aswan, extra time in Cairo, or adding Abu Simbel.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Visitors who want the Nile from a small sailing boat rather than a large ship. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with a long first day.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, who want a rest on arrival, or who want the Giza Pyramids or Abu Simbel on this trip.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- A small, quiet boat instead of a large cruise ship
- Luxor's West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan and Philae in one route
- A deliberate night in Cairo before the flight home
Things to Consider
- Day 1 is long: the West Bank, then a transfer to Esna to join the boat in the evening
- Space on a dahabiya is limited and boarding involves steps
- Abu Simbel and the Giza Pyramids are not included
Where it fits
A good choice if you want a smaller boat and the main temples in six days, ending with a night in Cairo. Abu Simbel and the Giza Pyramids are not included.
Worth knowing
How this compares
A dahabiya is smaller and quieter than a standard Nile cruise ship. This holiday adds a West Bank day in Luxor before you join the boat, a full day in Aswan, and a night in Cairo before you fly home. The standard of boat is your choice; the sightseeing does not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided Nile dahabiya cruise with a Cairo night
- Accommodation
- A dahabiya for four nights and a Cairo hotel for one, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Luxor · Esna · Edfu · Gebel El Silsila · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- Includes
- 4 nights on a dahabiya, full board · 1 night in a Cairo hotel with breakfast · Flight Aswan to Cairo · Egyptologist guiding throughout the sailing · Entrance fees and transport at every site · Private transfers, including Luxor to Esna
- Best for
- Travellers who prefer a small boat · First-time visitors to the Nile · Couples and small groups
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Luxor International Airport (LXR), Arrivals HallMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any visa or travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- Small day bag
- A light layer for the ship
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for evenings on the river in winter
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every child has a seat in the vehicle, so transport, guiding and meals are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entrance tickets are free for children under 6 and full price from 6. Cabin prices depend on the child's age and the cabin used, so we give you the exact figure once you tell us the age at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This holiday involves walking around large archaeological sites, on uneven stone and sand, with steps and some narrow tomb passages. The Valley of the Kings and the other West Bank sites have long, open stretches with little shade, and day 1 is a long one. A dahabiya is a small traditional boat: boarding involves a gangway and steps, and space on board is limited compared with a large cruise ship. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us what you need when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday uses a dahabiya, private road transfers and a motor boat at Philae, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Sightseeing is arranged through local suppliers in Luxor and Aswan, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle and not to touch the painted walls in tombs.
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 soon you let us know and on the kind of holiday. See our current cancellation and refund terms
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How many nights do we spend on the dahabiya?
Four nights, from Esna to Aswan, on full board. You join the boat on the evening of day 1 with dinner on board, days 2 to 4 include breakfast, lunch and dinner, and breakfast on day 5 is your last meal on board. The fifth night is in a Cairo hotel with breakfast.02Is there a guide, and are entrance fees and transport included?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist guides the whole sailing, and entrance fees and transport are included: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon, the Esna transfers, Edfu, Kom Ombo and the Aswan day.03What exactly is a dahabiya?
A traditional Nile sailing boat with a small number of cabins, smaller and quieter than a cruise ship. You choose a standard when you book, and we confirm the vessel for your dates.04Is day 1 too much?
It is a long day: you land at Luxor, spend the day on the West Bank with your Egyptologist, then take a private transfer to Esna and join the boat that evening. The sightseeing is planned around your arrival flight, whose time the airline sets. Tell us your flight and we will say whether it works; an early arrival is best.05Where do we join the dahabiya?
At Esna, in the evening of day 1, after the sightseeing on the West Bank. A private transfer from Luxor to Esna is included.06Is the flight from Aswan to Cairo included?
Yes. On day 5 a private transfer takes you from the dahabiya to Aswan Airport, about an hour, and your flight to Cairo is booked, with a transfer to your hotel. The airline sets the time. International flights are not included.07Will I catch my flight home?
Your internal and international flights are separate bookings, so a late Aswan to Cairo flight can mean a missed connection. For that reason the holiday ends with a night in Cairo, which we prefer. If you choose to connect on the same day, book a late-evening or night departure, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.08Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
No. Abu Simbel is not part of this itinerary. Ask us about a longer holiday that includes it.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and crew, drinks other than those stated, dinner on day 5 and meals on day 6 beyond breakfast, travel insurance and personal spending.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-LUX-642658
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days · 5 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Wed or Sat
- Route
- Luxor → Esna → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Cairo
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers