9-day Cairo, Luxor and Dahabiya Holiday
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Departs
- Daily
- New
- Couples·
- Families with teens·
- Groups·
- Seniors
Snapshot
Good to know
- Duration
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Operated by
- Discovery Tours Egypt
- Includes
- Four B&B hotel nights · Four nights on a dahabiya, all meals · Internal flights · All transfers · Egyptologist-led visits · Entry fees in the programme
Best time to go
From October to April, when the days are warm rather than hot and sitting out on deck is a pleasure.
02Overview
A first look
Over nine days this holiday takes in Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, a full day exploring Luxor, and four nights aboard a dahabiya sailing upriver from Esna to Aswan. With just a few cabins on board, a dahabiya offers a far more peaceful way to see the Nile than a large cruise ship. Internal flights, transfers, guided visits with an Egyptologist and the entry fees in the programme are all included.
Background
The facts
A nine-day Egypt holiday starting and finishing in Cairo, with three hotel nights there, one in Luxor and four nights aboard a dahabiya, a small traditional sailing boat, between Esna and Aswan. Internal flights link Cairo with Luxor and Aswan. Visits include Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, both banks at Luxor, the temples of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, and Philae and the High Dam at Aswan.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Couples, friends and small families who want to see Cairo, Luxor and Aswan properly but would rather sail on a small, peaceful boat than join a large cruise ship.
Maybe not, if
- Anyone hoping for a big ship with a pool and nightly entertainment, or who cannot begin their holiday on a Friday.
What lingers
- 01The Giza pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, guided by an Egyptologist
- 02A day in Luxor taking in the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple, Karnak and Luxor Temple
- 03Four nights sailing from Esna to Aswan on a traditional dahabiya, with all meals
- 04The riverside temples of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo
- 05Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk at Aswan
- 06Internal flights between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
9 days / 8 nights
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Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation.
| Comfort level | Where you stay | October – Aprilcurrent season | May – September |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Cairo Jewel Sport City Luxor Iberotel Luxor by JAZ Dahabiya Bens Dahabiya · Amoura Dahabiya | October – April: from £2,156 | May – September: from £2,032 |
| Classic | Cairo Sonesta Hotel Tower & Casino – Cairo · Swiss Inn Pyramids Golf Resort Luxor Steigenberger Resort Achti Luxor · Sonesta St George Dahabiya Iris Luxury Dahabiya · Royal Cleopatra Dahabiya | October – April: from £2,543 | May – September: from £2,032 |
| Prestige | Cairo Steigenberger Cairo Pyramids · Hilton Cairo Grand Nile Luxor Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Dahabiya Azhar Dahabiya | October – April: from £3,356 | May – September: from £2,835 |
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.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
- Airport transfer
- Private transfer
- All entry tickets
- Breakfast
- Full board
- Group Egyptologist
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Four hotel nights on a bed-and-breakfast basis: three in Cairo and one in Luxor.
- Four nights aboard a dahabiya from Esna to Aswan, all meals included.
- Internal flights from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan back to Cairo.
- Private air-conditioned transfers throughout, including the drive from Luxor to Esna.
- Guided visits with an Egyptologist at Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, on both banks at Luxor and at Aswan.
- Entry fees for the sites in the programme, with three tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
- Meet-and-greet on arrival at Cairo airport.
Not included
- International flights and your Egyptian visa.
- Tips for guides, drivers and the boat’s crew.
- Entry to the pyramid interiors and to premium tombs such as Tutankhamun’s and Seti I’s.
- Drinks, and any meals not shown in the programme.
- Optional excursions such as Abu Simbel or a balloon flight over Luxor.
On the ground
Your route
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01What exactly is a dahabiya?
It is a traditional sailing boat of the Nile, with two great sails and normally six to twelve cabins. It is far smaller and calmer than a cruise ship and can tie up at peaceful spots the big boats sail straight past.02On which day does the holiday begin?
Dahabiyas take on passengers at Esna on Mondays, so the holiday begins in Cairo on a Friday. Let us know when you would like to travel and we will confirm the dates.03What does the holiday include?
Four bed-and-breakfast hotel nights (three in Cairo, one in Luxor), four nights on the dahabiya with all meals, internal flights to Luxor and back from Aswan, all transfers, guided visits with an Egyptologist at Giza, Luxor and Aswan, and the entry fees in the programme.04Are flights from the UK included?
No. Everything is covered from the moment you land at Cairo airport until you leave from it, including the two internal flights.05Can children come on the dahabiya?
Yes, families are welcome. Cabin numbers are small and certain boats set a minimum age, so please give us your children’s ages when you get in touch and we will pick a suitable boat.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
What you receive back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your holiday you let us know and the kind of holiday you book. See our current cancellation and refund terms
Product ID: TOU-CAI-523968
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