Sample Suite on board the Dongola Dahabia

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The dahabeya was built in approximately 1835, used by Egypt former royal families and later on celebrities of the 1950's era for pleasure trips. Because of its being painted in gold the Dongola and similar boats were called 'dahabeya' which means 'Golden Boat'.

Sailing on a dahabeya means exploring the Nile in a traditional style being able to enjoy visits of some unique places and monuments unattainable by modern cruise ships. Other memorable experiences are the BBQ on isolated islands or joining the 'chef' for green-grocery shopping in rural markets and villages.

Along the way, we moor on un-inhabited Nile islands, whose virgin landscapes have hardly changed throughout millennia. Wandering the gardens and Nile islands is an idyllic pastime, and the perfect compliment to your visits to Egypt 's matchless monuments.

The Dahabbiyas are beautifully crafted wooden ships, outfitted in colonial style with oriental and Egyptian touches. The interiors boast period furnishing, and each cabin has its own distinct style and interior .

The Dongola offers five cabins for a maximum of ten guests: The 'Kings Suite' in the stern, two 'Prince Cabins' all with private bathroom and two 'Senior Cabins' sharing one bathroom.
All are double cabins with king size beds, eiderdown duvets and opening windows. The Dongola is not air-conditioned

Facilities
The boat features a combination of nostalgic atmosphere and modern comfort, a pleasant place to relax and to enjoy the peace and silence. The salon is the perfect meeting place and sometimes, in cold winter days, dinner is served here. For relaxing and enjoying the passing landscape the sun deck is the place, where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served.

Technical Data
Two masts flat bottom yacht. Length: 34,5 meter, draught 0.6 meter, 20 meter long sun deck, 12.5 meter main mast with 24 meter boom and 360 square meter sail, stern mast 9,5 meter with 16 meter boom and 140 square meter sail.

Royal feluccas and Dahabbiyas bore a larger-than-life image of the pharaoh, seated on a throne, to be seen and venerated by inhabitants even along the most remote canal. In turn, imbued with the same "ka," or spirit, as the living pharaoh himself, it would keep watch over his subjects and their activities.

So integral was the Nile Dahabbiya and felucca to the ancient Egyptian way of life that it assumed legendary attributes. Even today, you can see the oldest known Nile felucca, the regal pharaonic Dahabia of Cheops, the ruler immortalized by the Great Pyramid at Giza. Known as the Solar Boat, it was believed to sail through the skies carrying its royal passenger along sunbeams in his single cabin, the royal suite of its day.

In later times, pashas, emirs, and sultans found that feluccas were indispensable. When Napoleon invaded Egypt, the Mamluks rulers observed the Battle of the Pyramids from their dahabeahs, and in the wake of defeat, set them afire, still laden with treasures, in the middle of the river. Always one to adapt to local practice, Napoleon even had his own dahabeah, the Italy, which was used by his officers to explore Upper Egypt.

In the nineteenth century, the well-equipped Nile Dahabbiya and felucca was essential to the upper-crust adventurer. Lord Kitcheners used several feluccas for his famous trip from Cairo to Khartoum.

It took from two to three months to ascend the Nile under wind power, and another month-and-a-half to float back downstream, stopping at the great temples along the way. King Farouk, Churchill, Montgomery, Mark Twain and others settled in for the journey, and a certain Lady Edwards even had a piano installed on her sailing vessel.

Eventually, steamers displaced dahabeahs, opening up an Egyptian adventure to greater numbers on Thomas Cook's tours, and trains nearly finished them off. But never completely. Even today, despite the inroads of rail, steam power, and highways, the graceful Nile felucca retains its place.

Our private 2 or six cabins Dahabbiyas Nile cruisers are at your disposal to accommodate couples, honeymooners, families, and small groups, affording the unique experience of navigating the ancient river on your own.

A skilled river captain is on board at all times . A guide is at your disposal to plan your itinerary and escort you through the sites you choose to visit. The crew has completely separate quarters, to ensure your privacy.

Click here for the Itineraries on board these deluxe yachts on the Nile