Dahabiya Nile cruises, sailed at a gentler pace

A dahabiya is a traditional flat-bottomed sailing boat with a small number of cabins. It carries far fewer guests than a cruise ship and moves at a gentler pace, which makes the sailing itself part of the experience rather than just transport between temples.

Scale, mainly. A cruise ship is a large motor vessel with many cabins and facilities such as pools and restaurants. A dahabiya is small and quiet, often taken as a private charter, and can moor at landings the bigger ships cannot use. Facilities and capacity vary from boat to boat.

Several of the dahabiyas here sail a three-night itinerary. Others are arranged as private charters where the length is agreed with you. Where a fixed duration is set, it is shown on the boat’s own page.

Yes. The dahabiyas on this page describe sailings in both directions along the Luxor–Aswan stretch of the river. Which direction runs on your dates depends on the boat and the season, so we confirm it when you enquire.

Guided visits to the temples along the route are usually part of a dahabiya journey, but what exactly is covered — entrance fees, drinks, optional excursions — is not identical across boats. Check the inclusions on the individual dahabiya page.

Both. The small cabin count suits couples looking for somewhere quiet, and it also means a family or group can take the whole boat as a private charter. Tell us who is travelling and we will suggest which vessels fit.

October through April brings the most comfortable temperatures for sailing and for time ashore. Summer sailings do operate but are considerably hotter. Availability also varies through the year, so earlier enquiries give more choice of boat.