Sonesta Dahabiya Nile Cruise
(Boarding Aswan – 8 Days)

Boarding Aswan

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Yachts on the Nile. Cruise the same way the Pharaohs did. Private Egyptologist, Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle, and Private Chauffeur. We have even included all the tips. No Hidden Charges. No Additional Tax. Starts every Saturday in either Luxor or Aswan. An Eight Day / seven night journey. Add a once in a life time tour of the restored Queen Nefertari’s Tomb, as well as Dendera and Abydos Temples.

Sonesta Dahabiya, the latest addition to the Sonesta Nile Cruises portfolio, combines comfort and beauty in a most inspiring way, promising a remarkable, rewarding cruise experience of legendary hospitality. The Sonesta Dahabiya will take you back in time to a gentler, more gracious era in a 7-night cruise experience between Luxor and Aswan. A unique experience down the Nile by traditional small sailing vessel that was commonly used during those elegant days of the monarchy (1920s – 40s) when aristocrats and sophisticated travellers loved to cruise the Nile in style. We’ve revived those elegant days with modern comforts and conveniences.

Being part of the Sonesta Nile Cruise’s high-scale brand portfolio of deluxe service Nile cruisers, facilities aboard the Sonesta Dahabiya are endless, including a stylish lounge, an open-air oriental style jacuzzi, a spacious and partially shaded sundeck.

Offering 5 deluxe cabins and 2 elegant suites (with private terrace), Dahabiya allows you to experience an imaginary world of luxury and privacy. All cabins and suites feature private direct-dial telephones, individual climate control. hairdryers, mini-bars, safety deposit boxes, plasma TVs and movie programs.

Day 1: Saturday – Aswan (or Luxor)
Transfer is included in Aswan from your hotel or Aswan Airport (Please advise your arrival details). Private chauffeur and private air-conditioned vehicle for your transfer. Embarkation in Aswan for a relaxing week sailing the Nile on a luxuriously appointed Sonesta dahabiya. For interested guests: please join us on a short camel ride to a nearby Nubian Village, time permitting we may be able to go to Soheil Island. In the evening your guide will call on you for a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Aswan souks and waterfront. Overnight, the ship moors on the Nile banks of Aswan. Private Egyptologist, Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle, Private Chauffeur. Cabin amenity for tonight: A fruit basket awaits you in your cabin with our compliments.

Aswan, Egypt. Photo by youssef_alam, Wikimedia Commons

Day 2: Sunday – Aswan – On Board Your Nile Cruise
Today you will visit the Aswan High Dam (completed in 1971); the Old Dam (completed in 1902). You will also visit the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, a structure rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser at the time of the High Dam’s construction. We tour the Nubian Museum before heading back to the Sonesta dahabiya.

For nature lovers we include a tour of the Botanical Garden Island in Aswan (while others will simply have you sail around the island without setting foot on it!), then we go on to Gharb Sehail and tour some of the mini nature protected Islands in the middle of the Nile with sandy beaches and beautiful rare plants.

Evening Sound and Light show at Philae Temple. Overnight moored in Aswan. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur. Cabin amenity for tonight: Kartouches with your names in Hieroglyphic. With our compliments.

Day 3: Monday – On Board Your Nile Cruise
Morning sail to Kom Ombo to see the Ptolemaic temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus, god of the morning sun. Overnight moored beside a Nile island.Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur. Cabin amenity for tonight: Egyptian sweets platter. With our compliments.

The Richmond Party, Sonesta Luxury Yacht Dahabiya Cruise on the Nile. Photo by The Mighty Alan – aka Mighty Ra.

Day 4: Tuesday – On Board Your Nile Cruise
This morning you will sail to Edfu to visit the wonderfully preserved Temple of Edfu. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur. Overnight moored beside an island. Cabin amenity for tonight: Galabya (the local flowing traditional garb). With our compliments.

Day 5: Wednesday – We Include the Tour to Esna Temple
Today will be a leisurely day. After breakfast, sail to Esna and go through Esna Locks. We Include the tour to Esna Temple, and onward to Luxor, where your dahabiya moors overnight. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.

Day 6: Thursday- On Board Your Nile Cruise
Excursion to the West Bank to visit the great burial places of the Pharaohs – the Valley of the Kings – where Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922. Continue to the adjacent Valley of the Queens, Medinet Habu Temple, the Ramesseum Temple and the Colossi of Memnon, then on to: Deir El Medinah is on Luxor’s west bank where you get a totally different perspective on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers’ settlement of Deir el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed and decorated the tombs.

Here we’ll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt might not have been a workers’ paradise, we’ll see that artisans and builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud to be the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement in its tour and cruise programs.

Overnight moored on the Nile banks of Luxor. Evening Sound and Light show at Karnak. Please bring a jacket. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.

Karnak, Egypt. Photo by Ron Guay.

Day 7: Friday – On Board Your Nile Cruise
You will visit the magnificent temple complex of Amon-Ra at Karnak, with its vast hypostyle hall of 137 columns, followed by the imposing 28 th Dynasty Luxor Temple, and Luxor Museum. In the evening your guide will call on you for a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout Luxor souks and water front. Overnight moored in Luxor. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.

Day 8: Saturday
Breakfast aboard the dahabiya followed by disembarkation. Transfer is included – always on a private basis – to the airport or train station – Bon Voyage.

Rate Includes:

• All transfers in Luxor and Aswan, always on a private basis.
• Private: Guided sightseeing including all entrance fees, all as per itinerary. (our competitors offer you group touring)
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with a private chauffeur
• Pre set meals as listed including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner
• Tea/ coffle and afternoon tea while on board the Deluxe Nile Cruise
• One large bottle of water (for each guest) delivered to your cabin daily while on board the cruise.
• One small bottle of water for each guest, with each meal, every day while on board the cruise
• An Egyptian Galabiya (100% Egyptian Cotton) with our compliments, delivered to your cabin
• A welcome fruit basket, awaits you in your cabin upon arrival with our compliments.

Rate Does Not Includes:

• Travel Insurance.
• tips.
• International air fare from / to your home country.
• Domestic air fare within Egypt.
• Visa fee is $ 15 payable in cash upon arrival at Cairo or Luxor Airport, the visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for: American, EU, Canadian, Singaporean and Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Our local rep. will meet you with a sign in your name after you exit the terminal.