Azhar Dahabiya Nile Cruise
5-star dahabiya with sun deck, shaded lounge bar, small pool, Standard/Deluxe/Suite cabins with Nile-view windows or balconies, full-board dining; sails weekly between Luxor and Aswan.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 6 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
The short answer
Azhar Dahabiya is a 5-star Nile cruise vessel arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Esna · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- Guide languages
- English · French · German · Italian · Others
02 Overview
A first look
By dawn the Nile is mirror-calm and the dahabiya slips from Luxor's quay, the sun warming the stone façades on the riverbank while light wind lifts faint sailcloth smells. On deck you will move between sun and shade, lounge with a Nile view, descend to a small pool, and sleep in cabins graded Standard, Deluxe or Suite with panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies where fitted.
We hand-pick Azhar Dahabiya for travellers who prefer a quieter, small-ship atmosphere and a gentler pace than larger Nile cruisers. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we arrange bookings, embarkation and shore-excursion coordination, and one of our Egyptologists will meet you on embarkation to brief the voyage.
Background
The facts
Azhar Dahabiya is a 5-star luxury dahabiya on the Nile that is arranged for travel between Luxor and Aswan. Dahabiyas are smaller sailing vessels than large cruise ships, which generally means fewer cabins, a quieter onboard atmosphere, and more space for scheduled shore excursions at temple sites along the river corridor.
The vessel’s excursion programme alternates sailing days with visits to major Upper Egypt monuments, including Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the Luxor side, and Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo, and Philae on the Aswan side. The itinerary also includes the Valley of the Kings, which lies on the west bank of Luxor and is one of Egypt’s best-known royal necropolises.
Azhar Dahabiya sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, with embarkation and disembarkation in those two cities. Onboard facilities include a sun deck, shaded lounge bar, dining saloon, and a small pool, while cabin categories are graded Standard, Deluxe, and Suite, with Nile-view windows or balconies where fitted.
Full board applies from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Standard entrance fees for included sightseeing are normally covered unless a specific exclusion is stated; premium tomb access, pyramid interiors, and gratuities are typically extra.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This is suited to travellers who prefer a small-vessel Nile sailing with structured sightseeing rather than a large ship with heavy onboard programming. It is a good fit for couples, mature travellers, and history-focused guests who want time at major temples and tomb sites without a fast-paced overland schedule.
What lingers
- 01 Sun deck with lounge seating and panoramic Nile views
- 02 Cabin grades from Standard to Suite, many with Nile-view windows or balconies
- 03 On-board dining saloon serving full board, from embarkation lunch to disembarkation breakfast
- 04 Shore-excursion programme to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings
- 05 Weekly sailings in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, with alternating sailing and excursion days
- 06
The route
Esna and Aswan
Choose your direction
- Esna → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
- Aswan → Esna3 nightsdownstream, with the current
At sea
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Esna and disembarkation in Aswan.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Cabin pricing
Pricing & seasonal rates
Per person in USD, based on cabin sharing. Single supplements apply. Holiday surcharges apply at Christmas, New Year & Easter.
Per Person Pricing
| Cabin | May to September | October to April |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Traveler | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| 2-4 Pax (per person) | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| 5-8 Pax (per person) | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| 9-16 Pax (per person) | $1,500 | $1,500 |
Children 0–5.99 years free · 6–11.99 years pay 50% · 12+ pay full adult price. Children must share a cabin with parents (max 2 per cabin).
Indicative rates only – pricing and cabins fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
On property
What's here
- airport-shuttle
- beach-access
- parking
- non-smoking
- air-conditioning
- restaurant
- room-service
- family-rooms
- concierge
- spa
- bar
- wifi
- pool
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard Azhar Dahabiya in an air-conditioned cabin
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Certified Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to all listed sites
- Private transfers to/from the Dahabiya
- Tea, coffee, bottled water during meals
- Taxes and service charges
Not included
- Tipping for crew and guide
- Optional tours (balloon ride, Nubian village, Abu Simbel, etc.)
- Any personal expenses
- Additional beverages not included in the meal plan
- Domestic or international flights
Accessibility
Who can join this
The dahabiya has physical demands that travellers should know in advance. Boarding and disembarkation require negotiating a short gangway and one or two steps, which may be uneven when the vessel is tied to a riverbank. On board there are cabin thresholds, narrow corridors and often a short flight of stairs between cabin decks and the sun deck. Shore excursions include walking on uneven ancient stone, loose sand and stepped temple entrances. Wheelchair roll-on access is not available in most cabins; foldable mobility aids may be carried but need assistance from crew. If you use a wheelchair, or have reduced mobility, tell us before booking so we can advise whether this vessel meets your needs and arrange a suitable alternative. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we can supply specific details about cabin layouts and assist with planning accessible excursions, but we cannot alter the vessel's fixed staircases or historic-site steps.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and copies
- Sunscreen SPF50+, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
- Lightweight daypack for shore excursions
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip for uneven stone
- Reusable water bottle, refillable on board
- Personal medications plus a basic first-aid kit
- Plug adapter (Egypt uses types C and F)
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in natural fibres
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- A warm layer for cooler evenings on the Nile
- Flat, closed or secure sandals for walking on stone
- Smart-casual outfit for dinner in the dining room
Children & families
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; children aged 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult fare; children 12 years and above 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 fold for storage; onboard cabins are compact so a travel cot may not fit comfortably in smaller cabin classes. Please advise ages at booking so we can confirm availability and cabin suitability.
Location
On the map
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The dahabiya is a small-sailed Nile cruiser that typically uses a diesel propulsion system supplemented by sails when conditions allow, which reduces fuel use compared with larger motor-only ships. Fuel-efficient twin-engine diesel motors and regular hull maintenance help limit consumption. The vessel sources fresh produce from local markets in Luxor and Aswan, employing regional suppliers and seasonal ingredients where possible; laundry and catering work with the same local businesses, so your spend supports local livelihoods. Crew are hired locally, with wages and tips paid on board; shore guides are contracted per excursion, with fees paid directly to the guide. We encourage guests to use refillable water bottles, avoid single-use plastics, and accept that historic-site constraints limit what can be recycled on board. Unlike larger motor cruisers, a dahabiya has a smaller crew complement and lower guest capacity, which reduces per-person resource use but also means amenities and waste-sorting facilities are more limited. If sustainability certifications are important to you, tell us and we will provide supplier-level information before booking.
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Licensed local Egyptologists
ETAA-credentialed, on payroll
-
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
-
Site preservation
We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols
-
Carbon-aware itineraries
Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical
If plans change
Cancellation
- More than 30 days
- Full refund less a £50 admin fee
- 15–30 days
- 50% refund
- Within 14 days
- No refund – date changes considered case by case
Last updated 18 May 2026 Product ID: CRU-LUX-541975
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