Private Charter
Dahabiya Nile Cruises
Zein Nile Chateau Dahabiya
Zein Nile Chateau Dahabiya is a traditional wooden sailing boat taking a maximum of twelve guests in two suites and four cabins,…
Cruise category
Dahabiya Nile Cruises
Dahabiya Nile cruises are small boutique sailing journeys with fewer cabins, slower pacing, quieter river scenery, and a more intimate atmosphere than large cruise ships. They suit travelers who prefer privacy, character, calm sailing days, and a less crowded Nile experience.
A dahabiya is a different kind of journey, not a smaller cruise ship
A dahabiya is a twin-masted sailing boat carrying roughly 8 to 24 guests, against 60 to 150 on a standard cruise ship. The 15 boats in this category start between about $990 and $1,890 per person. That is deluxe-to-luxury money for a vessel with no pool and no lift — and travellers who understand what they are buying rarely regret it.
Private Charter
Luxury Dahabiya
Movenpick SB Feddya Dahabiya
A Movenpick-branded dahabiya: traditional sailing-boat design, en-suite cabins, and a quiet four-night drift from Luxor to Aswan.
Boutique Sailing
Dahabiya Nile Cruises
Nawara Dahabiya
A small dahabiya with a handful of en-suite cabins and attentive crew service, for couples and small groups who want the river…
Luxury Dahabiya
Sonesta Amirat Dahabiya
A luxury dahabiya with boutique cabins and close crew service, for travellers who want elegant styling on a small sailing boat.
Dahabiya Fleet
Meroe Dahabiya
Meroe Dahabiya pairs A traditional two-masted sailing dahabiya from the well-known Nour El Nil fleet with the classic Edfu and Kom Ombo…
Dahabiya Fleet
Adelaide Dahabiya
Built around A small, privately chartered wooden sailing boat carrying a handful of cabins, Adelaide Dahabiya covers Kom Ombo and Edfu on…
Dahabiya Fleet
Voyages de Pharaon Dahabiya
Voyages de Pharaon Dahabiya gives travelers who want fine dining on a traditional sailboat a real edge: A higher-end dahabiya line with…
Dahabiya Fleet
Lazuli Dahabiya
On the Aswan to Luxor route through Kom Ombo and Edfu, Lazuli Dahabiya stands out for A boutique sailing dahabiya known for…
Dahabiya Fleet
Zekrayaat Dahabiya
Zekrayaat Dahabiya pairs A traditional sailing boat that stops at villages larger ships cannot reach with the classic Edfu and Kom Ombo…
Dahabiya Fleet
Malouka Dahabiya
Built around A privately run dahabiya with a handful of individually decorated cabins, Malouka Dahabiya covers Kom Ombo and Edfu on the…
Dahabiya Fleet
Nubia Dahabiya
Nubia Dahabiya gives travelers who value a slower, unhurried pace over fixed timing a real edge: A traditional sail-powered boat that follows…
Dahabiya Fleet
Amoura Dahabiya
On the Aswan to Luxor route through Kom Ombo and Edfu, Amoura Dahabiya stands out for A small dahabiya with sundeck seating…
Dahabiya Fleet
Kelany Dahabiya
Kelany Dahabiya pairs A traditional two-masted sailing boat with a small dedicated crew per cabin with the classic Edfu and Kom Ombo…
Dahabiya Fleet
Nour Dahabiya
Built around Part of a well-established dahabiya fleet with fixed departure days from Esna, Nour Dahabiya covers Kom Ombo and Edfu on…
Private Feel
Dahabiya Nile Cruises
Zein Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Zein Dahabiya is a small sailing boat for guests who want a calmer, smaller-scale Nile journey between Luxor and Aswan, with a…
Dahabiya Luxury
Storia Nile Dahabiya
A luxury Dahabiya-style sailing for travelers who want a quieter small-boat Nile experience, slower scenery, and a more intimate atmosphere.
What changes when the boat is small
- Where you moor. Dahabiyas tie up at sandbanks, islands and villages that large ships physically cannot reach. This is the substantive difference, not a marketing line.
- When you visit temples. With a dozen guests instead of a hundred, you arrive at Edfu or Kom Ombo outside the coach convoy windows.
- The sound. Under sail there is no engine. Most guests describe this as the thing they remember.
- The pace. Itineraries run 4 to 7 nights because sailing is wind-dependent. Days are slower by design.
What you should know before booking
Most dahabiyas are towed by a small tug for part of the route when wind fails — this is normal and every honest operator will confirm it. Cabins are comfortable but compact, and bathrooms are smaller than on a cruise ship. There is no gym, no shop and usually no doctor on board. Wi-fi is patchy to non-existent for long stretches, which for many guests is the point.
Private charter
Several boats here can be chartered whole for a family or group, which for six or more travellers often costs little more per person than individual cabins on a deluxe ship. If you are travelling as a group, ask us for charter rates before comparing cabin prices — the arithmetic frequently surprises people.