Nile River Boat CruiseDahabiya Cruise Aswan to Luxor: The 4-Day Sailing, Price and Stops
A dahabiya cruise from Aswan to Luxor is the slow way down the river. This listing from Oceanus Tours runs 4 days and 3 nights on a traditional sailing boat and costs $1,100 per person on GetYourGuide. It holds a 4.8 rating from 58 verified reviews. Entrance fees for the sites named in the itinerary are included, along with all meals, water and hot drinks. You stop at Philae, Kom Ombo, Gebel El-Silsila, a village and Edfu, then disembark near Esna for the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Karnak. This page breaks down what the price really covers, what the days look like and who should pick a bigger boat instead. For the full range, see the Nile river cruise comparison. Compare it with the other Nile cruises.
About This Tour
Oceanus Tours sails a traditional dahabiya from Aswan north to Luxor over 4 days and 3 nights. A dahabiya is a shallow-bottomed sailing boat with two or more sails, the standard way for tourists to travel the Nile until the 1870s. The listing does not state a group size, and reviews describe about twenty guests on board. The listing does not name the boat, and one review reports it has no engine and is towed at a distance by a small tugboat, which keeps the sailing quiet.
The route runs Aswan to Luxor with stops at Philae, Kom Ombo, Gebel El-Silsila, a local village and Edfu. On day 4 you disembark at Esna and drive to the Luxor west bank for the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Karnak before a final transfer to your destination in Luxor. Entrance fees for the listed sites are included, as are all meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 4.
$1,100 per person on GetYourGuide, with reserve now and pay later available.
4 days, 3 nights. Day 1 starts at lunch, day 4 ends after breakfast and the Luxor visits.
Pickup from Aswan airport or your Aswan hotel. It ends with a transfer to your destination in Luxor.
A traditional dahabiya. The listing does not state a cabin count or group size. Reviews describe roughly twenty guests.
Entrance fees for the sites in the itinerary are included, plus all meals, water, hot drinks and a local Egyptian drink on the sun deck.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Check Dates and Availability
The listing shows starting times only when you check availability. Cancellation stays free until 24 hours before departure.
Quick answer The short answer
This dahabiya cruise from Aswan to Luxor costs $1,100 per person for 4 days and 3 nights, rated 4.8 from 58 reviews. Entrance fees for the listed sites, all meals, water and hot drinks are included, which many big-ship listings leave out. You sail under canvas with stops at Philae, Kom Ombo, Gebel El-Silsila, a village and Edfu, then tour the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Karnak after disembarking at Esna.
Key takeaways
- See exactly what the $1,100 covers, including the entrance fees and the small print.
- Follow the trip stop by stop in the day-by-day account.
- If you want a cheaper big ship with tickets included, compare the 3-Night Cruise with Temple Tickets at $600.
- Browse every Nile river cruise on the site before you decide.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $1,100 per person covers more than most listings on this route, but a few things stay outside it. Here is the line by line.
Included
Entrance fees for the sites named in the itinerary are included: Philae, Kom Ombo, Gebel El-Silsila, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Karnak. That matters. Many big-ship listings charge temple tickets on top.
All meals run from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 4, with water and hot drinks during the stay and a local Egyptian drink served on the sun deck while sailing. An expert tour guide travels with you in English or French, and pickup from Aswan airport or your hotel is part of the deal. A goodbye party is held on board on day 3.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Temple entrance fees | Yes | Only for the sites named in the itinerary |
| All meals | Yes | Lunch day 1 to breakfast day 4 |
| Water and hot drinks | Yes | Plus a local Egyptian drink on the sun deck |
| Guide | Yes | Expert guide, English or French |
| Aswan pickup | Yes | Airport or hotel |
| Luxor drop-off | Yes | Final transfer to your destination in Luxor |
| Soft drinks and alcohol | No | Only water and hot drinks are stated |
| Tips | No | Not stated as included. Tipping crew and guide is customary in Egypt |
| Abu Simbel | No | Not on this itinerary. It sits on Lake Nasser south of Aswan |
| Luxor balloon | No | Not mentioned in the listing |
| Checkout charge | Not stated | No mandatory extras are stated for this listing |
Not Included and the Honest Small Print
The listing excludes anything not mentioned in the itinerary, which in practice means other soft drinks, alcohol and tips. Carry Egyptian pounds for the crew and guide, since baksheesh is expected and no tip amount is stated. Abu Simbel is not part of this trip.
If it is a priority, book a separate excursion from Aswan before or after, or look at a listing that adds it. Bring your passport or a copy for check in. Pack comfortable shoes, sun protection and beachwear for the swim stop.
Pets, drones, bikes and smoking indoors are not allowed.
- Drinks beyond water and hot drinks come from your own pocket.
- Budget cash for tips to the crew and the guide.
- No Abu Simbel, no balloon, no High Dam or Unfinished Obelisk stop.
- Bring your passport or a copy for boarding.
Cabin Options
The listing does not state cabin classes or sizes. Reviews mention a suite upgrade for one traveler who boarded first, so cabins vary on board. Ask the operator directly through GetYourGuide if cabin type matters to you.
For a big ship with tickets included at a lower price, the 3-Night Cruise with Temple Tickets is the alternative to price against.
Sources: Nile, Wikipedia, Aswan, Wikipedia
The covered deck of a dahabiya has sofas and open sides facing the river. Photo: Lars Plougmann, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing gives no clock times for departure, only the shape of each day. Here is that shape, stop by stop.
Day 1: Aswan and Philae
You are picked up from Aswan airport or your hotel and check in to the dahabiya. Lunch is served on board. The first visit is the Temple of Philae, which sits on an island in the middle of the Nile.
Philae reopened in 1980 after the temples were moved in the late 1970s, and its Temple of Isis is the centrepiece. In the evening your guide explains Egypt's history on board, and you sleep on the river.
Day 2: Sailing and Kom Ombo
The morning belongs to the river. The dahabiya sails north under canvas with views of the bank. Kom Ombo lies on the Nile 50 km north of Aswan, and its temple is unusual because it has two principal entrances, which suggests two temples united in one.
Back on board there is a swim stop in a safe area of the river, and a local Egyptian drink is served on the sun deck. Overnight on board.
Day 3: Gebel El-Silsila, a Village and Edfu
Day 3 is the fullest sailing day. You stop at Gebel El-Silsila, then visit a local village. Edfu follows, with the Temple of Horus.
A goodbye party is held on board this evening.
Day 4: Esna to Luxor
You disembark at Esna, which lies 55 km south of Luxor on the west bank. From there, air-conditioned road transfers take you to the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and Karnak, whose Great Hypostyle Hall covers 5,000 m2 with 134 columns. Entrance fees for all three are in the price.
The trip ends with a transfer to your destination in Luxor. Dahabiyas travel slowly and stop often, so expect long quiet stretches between visits rather than an engine-driven timetable. If the boat passes the lock at Esna, a wait is possible, though this listing does not state one.
The Nile Dahabiya | 3 & 4 Night Boutique Nile Cruise Between Luxor & Aswan
A tour company shows a dahabiya, the sailing boat used for 3 and 4 night boutique Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan. Third-party video by Egypt Adventures Travel. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
This is a small, slow boat with real limits. Some travelers should book a different kind of Nile river cruise.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
The listing states it is not suitable for people over 95, and no minimum age or wheelchair access is stated. Temples mean walking on uneven ground, and the Valley of the Kings involves slopes and heat. If you need step-free access, ask the operator before booking rather than assume.
Abu Simbel is absent, and early starts on any Abu Simbel trip are the norm, so travelers who want it should pick a listing that includes it, such as the 3-Night Cruise with Abu Simbel and Balloon at $340 before $110 in mandatory Viator checkout charges.
- Travelers who want Abu Simbel or the Luxor balloon in the same booking.
- Anyone needing guaranteed wheelchair access, which is not stated.
- Budget travelers. At $1,100 it costs more than the $600 big ship with tickets included.
The Trade-offs to Accept
A dahabiya sails at the wind's pace. One traveler reports the boat has no engine and is towed from a distance by a small tugboat, so progress is unhurried. If that bothers you, a motor cruise such as the 2-Night Small-Group Cruise is a motor cruise with groups limited to 18 at $590 per person.
Drinks beyond water and hot drinks are extra, tips are extra, and no group size is stated even though reviews suggest around twenty guests. Summer is hard on this route: Aswan's average summer highs stay above 40 C. The cooler months from October to April are the comfortable window. Free cancellation ends 24 hours before departure, so a full refund is not available after that.
Rock-cut shrines face the Nile at Gebel el-Silsila. Photo: Lars Plougmann from United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
The tour starts at your Aswan hotel or the airport and ends at your Luxor destination. Here is how to reach them and what to add around the cruise.
Reaching Aswan and Leaving Luxor
Pickup from Aswan airport is included, so flying in is the simplest start. Cairo to Aswan is 753 km in a straight line and Rome2Rio shows a flight at 3h48m door to door with about 1h25m in the air, or a 14h15m train. Aswan airport sits roughly 10 to 16 km from the city centre, sources differ.
At the end, the final transfer takes you to your destination in Luxor. Luxor to Aswan by road is between 214 and 220 km depending on the source, and the train takes about 3h30m if you plan a return. Your passport must be valid at least 6 months after arrival, and the visa fee was raised to US$45 in December per Gulf News while the FCDO still lists US$30 on arrival, so check before you fly.
What the Cruise Leaves Out
Abu Simbel is the big one. It sits on Lake Nasser south of Aswan, the ministry charges EGP 750 for foreign adults, and the temples are open 6:00 to 17:00, so book a road excursion from Aswan before boarding. In Aswan itself the Unfinished Obelisk and the High Dam are not on this itinerary, and the guide to things to do in Aswan covers them.
In Luxor, Luxor Temple is not in the itinerary even though Karnak is. A short felucca ride at Elephantine Island costs from $15 if you arrive early. For a longer private trip in the same direction, see the 4-Night Cruise with Private Guide.
The guides to the Edfu Temple and the Philae Temple go deeper on two of the stops.
- Abu Simbel from Aswan: EGP 750 adult, open 6:00 to 17:00, needs its own excursion.
- The Aswan High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk: near the start point, easy add-ons.
- Luxor Temple on the east bank: not on this itinerary, so add it after the cruise.
- A felucca sail in Aswan from $15 if you arrive a day early.
Itinerary: 4 Days, 3 Nights
The listing states no clock times for departure, so days are described by their phases. Stops follow the order given.
-
Start
Aswan pickup and check in
Pickup from Aswan airport or your hotel, then check in to the dahabiya and lunch on board.
-
Afternoon
Temple of Philae
Boat out to the island temple of Philae, whose Temple of Isis sits in the middle of the Nile. Entrance fee included.
-
Evening
On board talk and first night
Your expert guide explains Egypt's culture and history on board. Overnight on the river.
-
Day 2, morning
Sailing north
A full stretch of quiet sailing under canvas with views of the river bank.
-
Day 2, afternoon
Kom Ombo and a swim stop
Visit the twin temples of Kom Ombo, then swim in a safe stretch of the Nile and take a local Egyptian drink on the sun deck.
-
Day 3
Gebel El-Silsila, village and Edfu
Stop at the Gebel El-Silsila quarries, visit a local village, then tour the Temple of Horus at Edfu. A goodbye party is held on board this evening.
-
Last half day
Esna to Luxor sites and drop-off
Disembark at Esna and transfer to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Karnak, fees included, then a final transfer to your destination in Luxor.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of this listing against the rest of the market.
What we genuinely like
- Entrance fees for all seven listed sites are included, which many big-ship listings leave out.
- All meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 4, plus water, hot drinks and a sun deck drink.
- Rated 4.8 from 58 verified GetYourGuide bookings.
- Quiet sailing under sail, with a swim stop and a village visit that big ships skip.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve now, pay later.
The honest downsides
- At $1,100 per person it costs far more than the $600 big ship that also includes temple tickets.
- The listing does not name the boat, state the group size or give cabin details.
- No Abu Simbel, no balloon, no Luxor Temple, and no drinks beyond water and hot drinks.
- One traveler reports the boat is towed by a small tugboat, so it is not pure sailing.
- Only a 24-hour cancellation window and no wheelchair access stated.
Who it's NOT for: Travelers on a budget, anyone who needs Abu Simbel or the balloon in the same booking, and guests who require guaranteed wheelchair access should book a different cruise.
Questions About This Dahabiya Cruise
How much does the 4-day dahabiya cruise from Aswan to Luxor cost?
$1,100 per person on GetYourGuide for 4 days and 3 nights, with reserve now and pay later. That is well above the 3-Night Cruise with Temple Tickets at $600, though the dahabiya carries far fewer guests.
Are temple entrance fees included?
Yes. The Includes list covers entrance fees for every site named in the itinerary, from Philae to Karnak. Drinks beyond water and hot drinks are not included, so read what the price covers before booking.
Which temples and sites do you visit?
Philae, Kom Ombo, Gebel El-Silsila, a local village, Edfu, then the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Karnak after disembarking at Esna. The Edfu Temple guide has more on the best-preserved stop.
Does the dahabiya have an engine?
The listing does not say. One traveler reports the boat has no engine and is towed from a distance by a small tugboat, which makes the sailing quiet. If you want a motor cruise instead, the 2-Night Small-Group Cruise is the alternative.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve without paying today. That window is shorter than some listings, so check dates carefully on the booking page.
Is this a good cruise for older travelers?
The listing states it is not suitable for people over 95 and no wheelchair access is stated. Temple visits involve walking on uneven ground. For a boat with a clearer group structure, compare the other Nile river cruises in the catalog.
Is Abu Simbel part of this cruise?
No. Abu Simbel sits on Lake Nasser south of Aswan and is not in this itinerary. Book a separate excursion from Aswan before boarding, or choose a listing that includes it.
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