L'Orient Dahabiya
Five-day dahabiya cruise, Luxor to Aswan
At a glance
- Embarks
- Mon
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
Private charter · Available as a private charter only — the whole boat, exclusively for your party.
Snapshot
Good to know
- Guide languages
- Arabic · English · French · German · Italian · Spanish
02Overview
A first look
L’Orient is a traditional sailing dahabiya on the quiet stretch of the Nile between Esna and Aswan — a handful of cabins, meals on deck, and moorings at islands, quarries, and villages the big cruisers pass by. The interiors lean into the golden-age-of-travel mood the name promises.
The route
Luxor and ASWAN
The route
Where this ship sails
The stretch of river this vessel works, and what the sailing is like end to end.
At sea
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in ASWAN.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Bundled in
- Shaded sundeck lounge
- Onboard dining room with panoramic windows
- Air conditioning
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard L’orient Dahabiya on a full-board basis
- All guided tours and entrance fees
- Professional Egyptologist throughout the cruise
- Tea, coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages
- Transfers to/from the boat in Luxor or Aswan
- All taxes and service charges
Not included
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tipping
- Optional tours
- Personal expenses
- Domestic flights (available on request)
Accessibility
Who can join this
This Nile dahabiya cruise involves uneven terrain, stone steps, and small boat gangways that require steady balance. Boarding and disembarkation use a short gangplank or steps with variable height depending on river level; assistance from the crew is standard but there is no elevator on board. Cabins are compact and often reached via narrow staircases, so guests who use wheelchairs that cannot be folded/assisted will find the vessel impractical. Onshore sites such as El Kab and Gebel Silsila include unpaved paths, soft sand, and steep temple approaches. If you have reduced mobility we can arrange meet-and-assist at airports and vehicles with tail lifts for transfers where locally available, but full independent wheelchair access for all shore visits cannot be guaranteed. Please tell us about mobility aids, service dogs, or other support needs at time of booking so we can advise which parts of the itinerary are feasible.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport plus a photocopy
- Sunhat and high-SPF sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip
- Lightweight daypack for excursions
- Reusable water bottle
- Small medical kit and any prescription medicines
- Plug adapter type C or F
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable layers for hot days and cool evenings
- Long sleeves and long trousers for sun and insect protection
- Covered shoulders and knees for temple and mosque visits
- Flat, closed or secure sandals for temple steps and quarries
- A light windproof jacket for breezy evenings on deck
Children & families
Children 0 to 5.99 years travel free; children 6 to 11.99 years pay 50% of the adult fare; children 12 years and older pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents, one child per cabin maximum; two or more children require their own cabin. Strollers can be used on flat paved areas but are impractical on the vessel and at many shore sites that have steps, sand, or narrow paths. Please notify us of ages and any special requirements at booking so we can advise cabin configurations and safety precautions.
Location
On the map
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The dahabiya model is lower-impact by design, using wind power via traditional lateen sails for primary propulsion on many sailing legs and small auxiliary engines only when necessary. On the ground, we use air-conditioned minibuses that meet Euro 4 emissions equivalents where available, and we contract local restaurants, Egyptologists, and guides from the communities along the Nile to channel tourism income locally. Crew, chefs, and shore partners are paid according to local wage practices rather than informal cash-only arrangements. We avoid single-use plastics on board by supplying refillable water stations and encourage guests to bring reusable bottles. For site visits we follow posted visitor routes and brief guests on responsible behavior around archaeological remains. If you prefer carbon-offset options we can quote verified offsets at booking.
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
Product ID: CRU-NIL-496220
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