5 Days Dahabiya Boutique Cruise from Luxor to Aswan | Egypt Tours

Step 7: Breakfast Onboard 

Wake to the gentle lapping of the Nile and enjoy breakfast on deck as the sun rises over Luxor's East Bank.

Step 8: West Bank Tour – Valley of the Kings 

Cross to Luxor's West Bank and enter the legendary Valley of the Kings. Your ticket includes entry to 3 royal tombs of your choice (excluding Tutankhamun and Seti I). Your guide will help you select the best open tombs and explain the meaning behind the stunning funerary art.

Step 9: Temple of Queen Hatshepsut 

Visit the dramatic three-tiered mortuary temple of Egypt's only female pharaoh. Marvel at the architecture that blends seamlessly into the surrounding cliffs while your guide shares the story of Hatshepsut's rise to power.

Step 10: Colossi of Memnon 

Stop for photos at the two massive 18-meter-high quartzite statues that once guarded Amenhotep III's mortuary temple.

Step 11: Return to Dahabiya & Sail Toward Esna 

Return to the Dahabiya for lunch as the boat begins to sail north toward Esna. Relax on deck, watch rural Egyptian life pass by, and enjoy the peaceful rhythm of the Nile.

Step 12: Esna Lock Crossing 

Experience the fascinating passage through the Esna Lock. Watch as the water level changes and local vendors on small boats call up to passengers, tossing blankets and souvenirs for negotiation. This is a uniquely Egyptian experience.

Step 13: Dinner & Overnight Near a Nile Island 

Enjoy dinner onboard as the Dahabiya anchors near a peaceful Nile island. The night is silent except for the sounds of the river.

Overnight: Dahabiya anchored near Esna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Step 14: Breakfast Onboard & Sail to Edfu 

Enjoy breakfast while the Dahabiya continues its gentle journey south toward Edfu.

Step 15: Visit Edfu Temple – Temple of Horus 

Disembark and take a traditional horse-drawn carriage (included) to the Temple of Horus at Edfu. This is one of the best-preserved temples in all of Egypt, buried under desert sand for centuries until its rediscovery. Walk through the massive pylon gates, admire the black granite statue of Horus, and explore the well-preserved reliefs depicting the eternal battle between Horus and Set. Because Dahabiyas follow their own schedule, you'll avoid the large cruise ship crowds

Step 16: Return to Dahabiya & Lunch 

Return to the Dahabiya and enjoy lunch as you set sail toward Kom Ombo.

Step 17: El Kab Tombs – Hidden Gem Stop 

Here's what makes a Dahabiya special. Stop at El Kab, an ancient site that large cruise ships cannot access. Walk up to cliff-side tombs decorated with vivid scenes of daily life and warfare. You might even spot prehistoric rock carvings. With no crowds, it's just you, your guide, and the whispers of ancient history

Step 18: Sail to Gebel el Silsila 

Continue sailing toward Gebel el Silsila, watching the landscape transform as sandstone cliffs rise from the riverbanks.

Step 19: Anchor at Gebel el Silsila – Dinner Under the Stars 

Anchored at this ancient sandstone quarry, once the source of stone for Egypt's greatest temples. The crew may set up a special dinner on the riverbank—string lights overhead, cushions on the ground, and the stars reflected in the Nile. This is the magic that only a Dahabiya cruise can offer.

Overnight: Dahabiya anchored at Gebel el Silsila
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Step 20: Breakfast Onboard 

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast as the morning sun illuminates the sandstone cliffs.

Step 21: Visit Kom Ombo Temple 

Disembark to explore the unique double temple dedicated to two gods—Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris the falcon god. The temple is perfectly symmetrical, with two entrances, two hypostyle halls, and two sanctuaries. Visit the small Crocodile Museum to see mummified crocodiles discovered in nearby tombs.

Step 22: Return to Dahabiya & Sail to Aswan 

Return to the Dahabiya and enjoy a long, leisurely sail toward Aswan—the "Pearl of the Nile." Relax on the sun deck, read a book, watch farmers tending fields along the riverbanks, and simply breathe in the timeless landscape.

Step 23: Arrival in Aswan & Check-in 

Arrive in Aswan, a city of Nubian charm and calm waters. The Dahabiya docks along the Corniche.

Step 24: Optional Visit to Nubian Village 

Optional excursion (extra cost – $20–30 USD payable locally). Take a motorboat to a traditional Nubian village, painted in bright blues and yellows. Meet local families, learn about their unique culture and language, and enjoy mint tea in a colorful home.

Step 25: Farewell Dinner Onboard 

Enjoy your final dinner onboard, celebrating the journey with your fellow travelers and crew.

Overnight: Dahabiya docked in Aswan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Step 26: Breakfast Onboard 

Enjoy your final breakfast on the Dahabiya before disembarking.

Step 27: Visit Philae Temple 

Take a motorboat across the Nile to the romantic island sanctuary of Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. This beautiful temple complex was painstakingly relocated stone by stone during the UNESCO rescue project when the High Dam was built. Your guide will share the legends of Isis, Osiris, and Horus as you explore this magical site.

Step 28: Visit the Aswan High Dam 

Visit the Aswan High Dam, Egypt's modern engineering marvel. Learn how this massive project controls the Nile's annual flood, provides electricity to the nation, and created Lake Nasser—one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.

Step 29: Visit the Unfinished Obelisk 

Explore the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in its original granite quarry. This massive obelisk cracked during carving, giving archaeologists rare insight into ancient Egyptian stone-working techniques. If completed, it would have been the largest obelisk ever erected.

Step 30: Transfer to Aswan Airport or Your Hotel 

Disembark from the Dahabiya for the final time. Your private driver will transfer you to Aswan International Airport, your Aswan hotel, or your Nile cruise for continued travels.

Meals: Breakfast (Lunch not included on Day 5)