Dahabiya Nile Cruise

The short answer

Merit 1 & 2 Dahabiya is a seven-day Nile cruise covering Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan, arranged through Discovery Tours Egypt.

Snapshot

Good to know

Accommodation

Cabin accommodation aboard a dahabiya

Includes

Cabin accommodation in the booked class · Full-board dining, starting with lunch on embarkation day and ending with breakfast on disembarkation day · Scheduled excursions to Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple · Scheduled visits to Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings · Daily cabin housekeeping · Use of the sun deck, lounge bar and dining room

Best for

Travellers seeking a slower Nile cruise · Couples · History-focused travellers · Guests who prefer smaller vessels

Guide languages

Arabic · English · French · German · Italian · Spanish

Background

The facts

Suited to

Is this for you?

What lingers

• 01Seven-day Merit 1 Dahabiya between Luxor and Aswan – sail the Nile at a slower pace, moor overnight in quiet villages.
• 02Daily shoreside visits commonly include Luxor West Bank, Esna lock transit, Edfu and Kom Ombo temples.
• 03Philae and Aswan quayside time allows extended two-hour visits; we arrange felucca detours and bookings.
• 04Small-ship atmosphere: no large coaches, reduced disembarkation queues, more time ashore than usual motor cruises.
• 05Meals prepared aboard reflect Nilotic produce; we can arrange dietary adjustments on request.

Worth knowing

How this compares

Most large Nile cruise programmes use fixed shore-call schedules and larger vessels. A dahabiya is a smaller sailing-boat format, and this programme alternates sailing days with visits to named sites rather than presenting the trip as a fast sequence of stops.

The route

Where this ship sails

The stretch of river this vessel works, and what the sailing is like end to end.

• Esna to Aswan4 nights on this shipRead the route guide

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

1. 01

   Choose a cabin category only after confirming whether it has a window or a balcony; features differ by class.

2. 02

   Carry water and sun protection for exposed areas at archaeological sites, even on cooler winter-sun days.

3. 03

   Keep a light layer handy for breezy sailing periods on the Nile, especially in the evening.

4. 04

   Ask before departure which visits require a separate short boat transfer, as at Philae.

Tailor it

Make it yours

• Discovery Tours Egypt can arrange transfers to the embarkation port or from the disembarkation port if requested. Cabin categories differ, with Nile-view windows or balconies depending on class
• premium tombs and other optional sites, such as pyramid interiors, are not included unless stated.

All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.

Accessibility

Who can join this

This Nile dahabiya cruise requires moderate mobility. Public areas may have level access, but access between the vessel and shore can involve steep or stepped gangways, uneven quay stones and assistance from crew. Shore visits at Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings include uneven ancient paving, sand, steps and periods of standing and walking. Wheelchair access for shore visits cannot be guaranteed, and a wheelchair may not be practical at smaller quays. Please tell us about mobility needs before booking so we can check the planned embarkation point, cabin access and excursions. Crew assistance with boarding can be requested, but heavy lifting is not guaranteed.

Before you go

What to pack & wear

While you're here

Worth pairing

• Luxor Temple7 min walk
• Luxor Museum20 min walk
• Karnak Temple4 km
• Valley of the Kings6 km

Why book this with us

Three reasons, stated plainly

1. 01

   Scheduled visits include Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings

2. 02

   Local Egyptologists guide the listed shore excursions

3. 03

   Choose Luxor or Aswan embarkation to suit your route

– Responsible travel

How we travel here

This cruise travels on the Nile aboard a sail-powered dahabiya. Sailing conditions and the vessel’s operating arrangements can affect when auxiliary power is used, so we cannot promise that every stretch is sailed without an engine. The supplied cruise information describes local provisioning through village markets and artisan cooperatives, with crew and Egyptologists drawn from the Luxor and Aswan labour pool. Shore visits use walking and short transfers where practicable rather than automatically adding large coach journeys. Waste separation is practised onboard where harbour facilities allow. Refill drinking-water dispensers are provided; bringing a reusable bottle helps avoid single-use bottles. Follow the crew’s instructions for waste disposal, as facilities differ between stops.

• 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

·In summary

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

1. 01What is a dahabiya and how does it differ from a Nile cruise?

   A dahabiya is a small, traditionally rigged Nile sailing boat offering slow, private cruising over several days. They usually have fewer cabins and quieter decks than large motor cruisers, and itineraries favour longer stops and village landings. We operate dahabiyas rather than group buses, so you should expect a relaxed pace and smaller passenger numbers.
2. 02What is included in the Merit 1 Dahabiya 7-day price?

   Standard inclusions are accommodation aboard the dahabiya, meals, local transfers and guided visits; entrance fees are included unless we state otherwise. Pyramid interiors and premium tombs (Tutankhamun, Seti I) and crew gratuities are excluded unless you ask us to include them. We can tailor cabin arrangements and add our Egyptologist for excursions at extra cost; we are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and operate Merit 1 locally.
3. 03How physically demanding is a 7-day dahabiya holiday?

   A dahabiya holiday involves moderate physical demands: short transfers, boarding a small boat and walking on uneven ancient sites. Expect cobblestones, temple steps and occasional sandy banks; sightseeing days include standing and short uphill walks. If mobility is limited we can arrange assistance and shorter shore excursions–tell us at enquiry.
4. 04Will there be air‑conditioning, electricity and Wi‑Fi on Merit 1 Dahabiya?

   Many dahabiyas have limited electricity and intermittent Wi‑Fi; air‑conditioning varies by vessel and season. We supply exact technical specifications for Merit 1 on enquiry, so you can plan battery packs and device charging. Expect lower bandwidth than hotels–download maps and reading material before you board.
5. 05When is the best time of year to cruise the Nile on a dahabiya?

   The most comfortable months are October to April when temperatures are milder for daytime touring. May–September is much hotter and can make midday walking uncomfortable; we schedule early starts to avoid heat. During Ramadan some sites and restaurants change opening hours, so we may adjust itineraries accordingly.
6. 06Can a seven-day itinerary visit Luxor and Aswan and still include Kom Ombo and Edfu?

   Yes–seven days typically covers Luxor to Aswan or vice versa with scheduled stops at Kom Ombo and Edfu. Dahabiya pace means longer daytime stops but fewer overnight moves than motor cruises, so you see key temples without rushing. Ask us for a sample day‑by‑day schedule and exact transfer times from your hotel or cruise ship.

If plans change

Cancellation

More than 30 days

75% back, or 100% kept as credit towards a future holiday

15–30 days

50% back, or 75% kept as credit

7–14 days

25% back, or 50% kept as credit

2–6 days

Nothing back; 25% kept as credit

Under 48 hours, or if you don't turn up

No refund and no credit

Notice is counted from the day you arrive in Egypt. A few vessels have their own terms; where that's so, we'll let you know before any payment is taken.Read our full cancellation and refund policy