Meroe Dahabiya Nile Cruise
A five-star dahabiya offering full-board accommodation, panoramic windows, Nile-view balconies, sun deck, lounge bar, and an Egyptologist-guided shore-excursion programme, sailing weekly between Luxor and Aswan.
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days · 5 nights
- Embarks
- Mon
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
Per cabin · Cabins are sold individually — book just your own cabin, sharing the boat with a handful of other guests.
The short answer
Meroe Dahabiya is a six-day Nile cruise visiting Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan, arranged through Discovery Tours Egypt.
·In summary
Meroe Dahabiya sails weekly between Luxor and Aswan, in either direction. Its Egyptologist-guided shore programme includes six named sites, from Karnak Temple to the Valley of the Kings.
- Luxury
- Cultural
- Archaeology & history
- Couples·
- Seniors
Snapshot
Good to know
- Accommodation
- Five-star dahabiya, Standard, Deluxe or Suite cabin
- Destinations
- Esna · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- Includes
- Full board from embarkation-day lunch to disembarkation-day breakfast · Accommodation in the selected cabin class · Egyptologist-guided visits to Karnak and Luxor Temple · Egyptologist-guided visits to Edfu and Kom Ombo · Egyptologist-guided visits to Philae and the Valley of the Kings · Use of the sun deck, lounge bar and dining room · Boarding and leaving the vessel in Luxor and Aswan
- Best for
- Travellers seeking a slower-paced Nile cruise · Couples · History and archaeology enthusiasts · Travellers who prefer smaller vessels
- Guide languages
- English · French · German · Italian · Others
- Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator.
- The shore excursions are described as Egyptologist-guided.
- The product information identifies drinks beyond water with meals, premium site entries, gratuities and port transfers unless requested as exclusions.
What lingers
- 01Egyptologist-guided visits to Karnak and Luxor Temple
- 02See the Valley of the Kings on a guided shore excursion
- 03Visit Edfu’s Temple of Horus and Kom Ombo
- 04Shore visits to Philae, on the Nile near Aswan
- 05Choose from Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabin classes
- 06Use the sun deck and lounge bar between visits
02Overview
A first look
By early evening the Nile light softens and the dahabiya's sun deck becomes a warm, quiet place to read, watch the riverbank cornfields, and hear the boat's gentle glide. Cabins range from compact Standard cabins with panoramic windows to larger Suites with private balconies, while the lounge bar and dining room are where full board meals and late-evening conversation happen.
We arrange a paced shore-excursion programme to Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings, and one of our Egyptologists joins the land visits. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we handle embarkation and disembarkation formalities so your time on the Nile is straightforward.
Background
The facts
Meroe Dahabiya is a six-day Nile cruise vessel arranged through Discovery Tours Egypt. The route links Luxor and Aswan, with weekly sailings in both directions and embarkation and disembarkation at those cities.
The shore programme names Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple in Luxor, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple on Agilkia Island and the Valley of the Kings on Luxor’s West Bank.
These monuments span several periods of ancient Egyptian history and the Greco-Roman era. Karnak’s Hypostyle Hall is a major temple complex feature, while the Valley of the Kings contains rock-cut royal tombs. Philae’s temple complex stands on Agilkia Island.
Cabin grades are Standard, Deluxe and Suite; many cabins have Nile views or private balconies. On-board facilities include a sun deck, lounge bar and dining room. Full board runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day; drinks beyond water with meals and premium tomb entries are extra. Transfers to and from the ports are not included unless requested.
Named in this entry
Meroe Dahabiya·Luxor·Aswan·Karnak Temple·Luxor Temple·Temple of Horus·Edfu·Kom Ombo Temple·Philae Temple·Agilkia Island·The Valley of the Kings·Luxor West Bank
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Meroe Dahabiya suits couples, independent travellers and small groups who prefer a quieter, slower Nile cruise to a large-ship schedule. It is a good fit for history-focused travellers comfortable with guided visits to Karnak, Edfu and the Valley of the Kings.
Maybe not, if
- Choose another option if you need step-free access, frequent short walks or a highly flexible sightseeing schedule. Families with very young children or prams may find the temple visits and longer days tiring.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- A slower sailing and excursion rhythm than tightly scheduled short cruises.
- Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabins provide a choice of comfort level.
- Sun deck and lounge offer places to rest between visits.
Things to Consider
- Temple visits involve walking on uneven ancient stone and steps.
- Full excursion days can be tiring for younger children.
- Drinks beyond water with meals and premium tomb entries cost extra.
- Port transfers are not included unless requested.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Short Nile cruises can compress shore visits into tightly scheduled calls. Meroe Dahabiya alternates sailing with full excursions, giving the visits a more measured pace.
The route
Esna and Aswan
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
Choose your direction
- Esna → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
- Aswan → Esna3 nightsdownstream, with the current
The route
Where this ship sails
The stretch of river this vessel works, and what the sailing is like end to end.
On board
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Esna and disembarkation in Aswan.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Bundled in
- Full board
- Group Egyptologist
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard Meroe Dahabiya
- All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Complimentary bottled water, soft drinks, tea
- All sightseeing entrance fees
- Professional Egyptologist guide
- Airport/hotel transfers to and from the Dahabiya
- Service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Tips for crew and guide
- Alcoholic beverages
- Optional tours not listed in the itinerary
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Choose a cabin grade based on whether a private balcony matters to you; many, but not all, cabins have one.
- 02
Budget separately for drinks beyond water with meals and any premium tomb entry you wish to add.
- 03
Request port transfers when booking if you need transport to or from Luxor or Aswan.
- 04
Allow for personal gratuities in your onboard spending, as they are not included.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose a Standard, Deluxe or Suite cabin, subject to availability, and request transfers to or from Luxor or Aswan if needed. The cruise sails weekly in both directions; ask us about arranging extra time in Luxor or Aswan alongside it, subject to availability.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Where it fits
The six-day Meroe Dahabiya fits between Luxor and Aswan within a longer Egypt itinerary. Pair it with time in Cairo before or after the Nile, allowing for the flight connection between the regions.
Accessibility
Who can join this
The dahabiya has steps between decks and cabins, and some cabins are reached via two or three narrow staircases; there is no guarantee of lift access to lower cabins. On board, public areas such as the sun deck and lounge have level surfaces but may become crowded during peak times. Shore excursions include walking on uneven ancient stone, temple steps and compacted sand, and some landing stages use small ramps or gangways. Wheelchair users with full mobility in transfers may access the main public areas with assistance, but independent wheelchair access to most archaeological sites is limited. Please tell us about mobility needs when you book so we can advise which cabin class and shore visits are most practical, arrange additional assistance where possible, and note realistic limits at specific sites such as the Valley of the Kings and Philae.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The dahabiya is a low-wake, shallow-draft Nile cruiser that sails under its own power between Luxor and Aswan, using diesel engines typical for river vessels. On-shore excursions are conducted by local coaches with air conditioning; we work with the same coach companies across seasons to reduce supplier churn and improve vehicle maintenance records. Meals are prepared on board using locally sourced produce where available, including vegetables and fish from regional markets, and the crew disposes of organic waste separately from recyclables according to the vessel’s programme. We contract licensed Egyptologists and local guides from the Luxor and Aswan communities, which supports local livelihoods and keeps visitor numbers at each site within the pace and group sizes agreed with site authorities. We recommend travellers bring refillable water bottles to reduce single-use plastics; bottled water is provided on board for safety.
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
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and visa documents
- Comfortable walking footwear with a good grip
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, SPF50+ sunscreen
- Refillable water bottle
- Light daypack for excursions
- Copy of travel insurance and emergency contacts
- Small torch or headlamp for uneven lighting at sites
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in natural fibres
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- A light layer for cool evenings on the Nile
- Comfortable walking shoes or sandals with ankle support
- Wide-brim hat or cap for sun protection
- Swimwear for the sun deck or ship pool if available
Children & families
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; children 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult price; children 12 years and over 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 and store easily on board, but large pushchairs are not practical when embarking or during site landings. High chairs are limited, so please request them in advance and we will arrange them where available.
Cabin pricing
Pricing & seasonal rates
Per person, per cabin, in GBP. Each rate below covers the full sailing, the guided sightseeing programme along the route, and your arrival and departure transfers between the vessel and the local airport or railway station.
5 nights / 6 days · Esna to Aswan
| Cabin | High seasonOctober – April |
|---|---|
| Double cabin | £2,998 |
Cabin allocation
- Nile vessels do not have interconnecting cabins.
- Book early and we will ask the vessel to place your party together — usually adjacent, or directly opposite.
- Cabin numbers are confirmed by the vessel at check-in.
Indicative rates only – pricing and cabins fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
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
Location
On the map
While you're here
Worth pairing
- Karnak TempleRight here
- Luxor TempleRight here
- The Valley of the KingsRight here
- Temple of Horus at EdfuRight here
- Kom Ombo TempleRight here
- Philae TempleRight here
Why book this with us
Three reasons, stated plainly
01
Shore visits cover six named temples and sites
Last updated 25 August 2026Product ID: CRU-NIL-285497
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