Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan
Asiya
A two-mast sailer for eighteen guests
Asiya is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Oriental Nile Cruises, built 2008 and refurbished 2017. It has 9 cabins and 1 suites for up to 18 guests and sails itineraries of 5 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.
Good to know
A two-mast sailer for eighteen guests. A nine-cabin, two-mast dahabiya built in 2008 carrying up to eighteen guests from Esna to Aswan, suited to small groups, families and friends travelling together.
- Fleet
- Oriental Nile Cruises
- Accommodation
- 9 cabins · 1 suites
- Guests
- Up to 18
- Built
- 2008
- Dimensions
- 47.5 × 7.5 m
- Route
- Esna - Edfu - Gebel el Silsila - Kom Ombo - Aswan
- Trip length
- 5 nights
- Departures
- Every Saturday from Aswan.
About Asiya
Asiya is a 47.5-metre, two-mast sailing dahabiya built in 2008 and renovated in 2017, carrying a maximum of eighteen guests in eight cabins of around 14 square metres and a 23 square metre Owner's Suite with an 11-metre private terrace. Its scale makes it a natural fit for a family or group travelling together.
The six-day, five-night route sails from Esna to Aswan, calling at Edfu by horse carriage, Gebel el-Silsila, Kom Ombo and the temples and market at Aswan. Two sails carry the boat, with a motorboat aboard for lighter winds.
Full-board Egyptian cuisine is served throughout, including fresh fish bought directly from Nile fishermen and afternoon tea. A 29-metre sun deck shaded by two pergolas and a salon-bar with a library give room to spread out along the river.
Highlights
- Built 2008, up to eighteen guests
- Owner's Suite with eleven-metre private terrace
- Six-day Esna to Aswan route
- Fresh Nile fish from local fishermen
- 29-metre sun deck shaded by pergolas
At sail
Day by day
Asiya sails one published programme. Its own route: Esna - Edfu - Gebel el Silsila - Kom Ombo - Aswan Departures every saturday from aswan.. The order of the temples is fixed by the river, so what changes between programmes is the direction and how much is fitted into each day.
Day 1
Transfer to Esna and embark
Most boats collect guests in Luxor and drive the 50 km to Esna, since the lock is the practical starting point. Sail out and moor at an island.
Visits Esna lock
Day 2
El Kab and Edfu
The painted rock tombs at El Kab in the morning, a site no cruise ship stops at, then the Temple of Horus before dusk.
Visits El Kab · Edfu
Day 3
Gebel el-Silsila
The sandstone quarries and rock-cut chapels, then a long afternoon under sail. Moor at a sandbank.
Visits Gebel el-Silsila
Day 4
Kom Ombo
The double temple at first light, before the cruise ships arrive, and often the camel market at Daraw.
Visits Kom Ombo · Daraw
Day 5
Sail to Aswan
A slow final day on the water, mooring near Aswan.
Day 6
Disembark at Aswan
Disembark at Aswan after breakfast. The Aswan sites are not part of the river itinerary on an operator-sold sailing: Philae, the High Dam and Abu Simbel are added on either side, which is the main difference between this and an agency package.
Optional Philae · High Dam · Abu Simbel
Day structure aggregated from the published itineraries for this class of boat and direction. Operators shift a call by half a day and the Esna lock queue moves everything; confirm the running order for your departure.
Take the whole boat
9 cabins · up to 18 guests · whole-boat charter on request
At this size two or three families travel together without anyone being split between boats, and the crew cooks for your party alone. Tell us your dates, and how many adults and children, and we will price the whole of Asiya.
The boat in detail
- Cabin categories
- Double cabin x8 - approx. 14 sqm, twin beds or king-size bed, A/C, telephone, wardrobe, large windows, private bathroom with shower and washbasin, Egyptian cotton bedding
- Owner's Suite x1 - approx. 23.37 sqm with an 11.25 m private terrace, large bed, private bathroom with power shower, telephone, wardrobe
- Dining
- Traditional Egyptian cuisine - breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Afternoon tea service
- Fresh local fish bought directly from Nile fishermen
- Complimentary tea, coffee, mineral water and freshly squeezed juices
- Facilities
- Sun deck 29 m long with tables, chairs, oriental seating and sunloungers, partially shaded by two 20 m pergolas
- Salon and bar of 46.9 sqm with comfortable seating, A/C, satellite TV, DVD player, free internet and a library
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Two sails plus an accompanying motorboat
- 24-hour electric power supply, 220 V
- Water filter
- Laundry service and room service
- Itineraries
- 6 days / 5 nights Esna to Aswan, every Saturday: Day 1 Luxor sightseeing then embark at Esna; Day 2 Edfu Temple by horse carriage; Day 3 Gebel el Silsila Temple; Day 4 Kom Ombo Temple; Day 5 Aswan temples and market; Day 6 disembark
- 5-night Sunday sailings also listed
Keep planning
Plan your Nile cruise
Good to know
Asiya questions, answered
How many cabins does Asiya have?
9 cabins and 1 suites, for up to 18 guests.
What route does Asiya sail?
Esna - Edfu - Gebel el Silsila - Kom Ombo - Aswan, departing Every Saturday from Aswan..
What is included in the fare on Asiya?
A dahabiya fare of this kind normally covers your cabin on full board, entrance to the temples named in the itinerary, an Egyptologist guide, the listed shore excursions and transfers at each end. Tips, drinks, optional excursions such as Abu Simbel, and personal expenses are normally extra. Whether soft drinks, Wi-Fi and service charges sit inside the fare genuinely differs between operators, so confirm those for Asiya before booking.
What guests say
Independent traveller reviews of Asiya, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.
5 out of 5via Tripadvisor (12)
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