Description

Dahabiya Nile Sailing 5 days 4 nights

A 5-day, 4-night Dahabiya Nile sailing cruise offers an intimate way to experience Upper Egypt. Typically traveling between Luxor and Aswan, this itinerary allows you to explore historic temples by morning and sail past rural villages and sandy dunes by afternoon.

Typical Weekly Departure Schedule

• Most Common Start Days: Dahabiyas from Luxor to Aswan most frequently depart on Mondays or Saturdays.

• Operator Rotations: Different companies assign specific days to their specific boats to ensure a steady rotation. For example, a fleet operator might have one boat leaving every Saturday, another every Sunday, and another every Monday.

• The Swan Dahabiya: they coordinate their 5-day schedules to line up with weekly flight arrivals into Luxor Airport.

Standard Hourly Daily Timeline

While sailing, the general day-to-day schedule follows a relaxed, sun-guided rhythm:

• 07:00 AM – 08:30 AM: Breakfast on the sun deck while docked or gently sailing.
• 09:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Morning shore excursions to temples, local villages, or ancient quarries before the midday heat hits.
• 01:00 PM – 02:30 PM: Freshly prepared buffet lunch on board while the boat sails to its next destination.
• 03:00 PM – 05:30 PM: “Tea time” on the deck, reading, relaxing, or swimming in the Nile near remote islands.
• 07:30 PM onward: Captain’s dinner on the deck or an island barbecue, often accompanied by traditional Egyptian music.

Day 1: Luxor Embarkation & The West Bank

• Morning: Arrival in Luxor. Board your Dahabiya, enjoy a welcome drink, and settle into your cabin.
• Afternoon: Begin exploring the West Bank. Visit the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon.
• Evening: Enjoy dinner on deck as the boat sets sail toward Esna.

Day 2: El Kab & Edfu

• Morning: Wake up near El Kab to visit the ancient tombs and the massive walls of Nekheb.
• Afternoon: Sail smoothly toward Edfu while lunch is served on board. Take a horse-drawn carriage to visit the impressively preserved Temple of Horus.
• Evening: Continue sailing towards Wadi El Shat or Al Ramady Island. Relax and overnight on board.

Day 3: Gebel el Silsila & Kom Ombo

• Morning: Sail towards the island of Besaw or Al Ramady, where you can take a morning stroll through local farming villages.
• Afternoon: Sail to Gebel el Silsila, an ancient sandstone rock quarry rarely visited by large cruise ships. Explore the rock-cut shrines and the Temple of Horemheb.
• Evening: Continue sailing to Kom Ombo to visit the unique double temple dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haroeris. Overnight near the riverbank.

Day 4: Daraw, Hor Diab & Aswan

• Morning: Sail to Daraw to experience a local market, then cruise to Hor Diab Island to relax or swim in the cleanest waters of the Nile.
• Afternoon: Enjoy lunch while sailing south towards Aswan.
• Evening: Anchor in Aswan. Have a peaceful final night on board under the stars.

Day 5: Aswan Disembarkation & Sightseeing

• Morning: Enjoy breakfast on board and check out. Tour the Unfinished Obelisk, the Aswan High Dam, and the Philae Temple via motorboat.
• Afternoon: Transfer to the Aswan airport, train station, or your hotel