Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Fantasia

Twelve cabins under two masts, Luxor to Aswan

Fantasia is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat). It has 12 cabins and 4 suites and sails itineraries of 3, 4, 5 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

Twelve cabins under two masts, Luxor to Aswan. A two-mast sailing dahabiya of twelve cabins, including four aft suites, drifting between Luxor and Aswan over three to seven nights, suited to travellers who prefer a small boat.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 12Board full boardRoute Esna → Aswan

Accommodation: 12 cabins · 4 suites
Route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Al Ramady Island, Aswan; Kom Ombo on the 7-night programme
Trip length: 3 · 4 · 5 · 7 nights
Departures: Wednesday ex Aswan (3 nights); Saturday ex Luxor (4, 5 and 7 nights)

About Fantasia

Fantasia is a two-mast sailing dahabiya carrying twelve cabins across two decks: four suites set at the rear of the boat and eight deluxe cabins with a choice of twin or large bed. She sails the reach between Luxor and Aswan, calling at Esna, Edfu and Al Ramady Island, with Kom Ombo added on the seven-night programme.

Days pass at the pace of the wind, with meals taken in the open air on deck and full board throughout. Between temple visits there is an open-air oriental seating area, a reading lounge, a small boutique and an open-air Jacuzzi, with a massage room aboard and a doctor on call.

Departures run on Wednesdays from Aswan for three nights, and on Saturdays from Luxor for four, five and seven nights, so the trip can be matched to the time you have.

Highlights

Twelve cabins including four aft suites
Sails Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Al Ramady Island, Aswan
Open-air deck dining, full board
Open-air Jacuzzi and massage room
Three to seven nights, midweek departures

At sail

Day by day

Fantasia sails 3 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Al Ramady Island, Aswan; Kom Ombo on the 7-night programme Departures wednesday ex aswan (3 nights); saturday ex luxor (4, 5 and 7 nights). 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.

Esna or Luxor to Aswan, 5 nightsusually departs Monday

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

Luxor to Aswan, 4 nights (package)usually departs Saturday

Day 1
Luxor, embark and Karnak
Board at Luxor. Karnak in the afternoon, before the boat moves.
Visits Karnak
Day 2
The west bank, then the Esna lock
The tombs early, while it is still cool, then cast off and pass through the Esna lock.
Visits Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon · Esna lock
Optional hot-air balloon at dawn
Day 3
Edfu
Edfu, the most complete temple on the river, from the mooring.
Visits Esna lock · Edfu
Day 4
Sailing
No temple on this day. The boat sails the quiet reach south of Edfu and moors where the large ships cannot, which is the reason to take a dahabiya at all. Every one of the three published itineraries leaves this day empty.
Day 5
Aswan, and disembark
The High Dam and Philae on arrival, then disembarkation.
Visits High Dam · Philae
Optional Abu Simbel by road or air

Aswan to Luxor, 3 nightsusually departs Wednesday

Day 1
Aswan, embark
Board at Aswan, then the High Dam and Philae the same afternoon.
Visits High Dam · Philae
Optional felucca among the islands
Day 2
Kom Ombo
Sail north to Kom Ombo, whose double temple stands directly above the water. Half the published itineraries add Gebel el-Silsila, the old sandstone quarry, which no large ship stops at.
Visits Kom Ombo
Optional Abu Simbel, pre-dawn by road or air · Gebel el-Silsila
Day 3
Through the Esna lock
Edfu in the morning on most departures, then the Esna lock, which the boat often waits for. Moor at Luxor.
Visits Esna lock · Edfu
Day 4
The Luxor west bank, and disembark
The west bank on the last morning. Half of the departures add Karnak before the transfer.
Visits Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon
Optional Karnak

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

12 cabins · whole boat from about US$6,720 a night

About US$6,720 a night for the whole boat, or roughly US$40,320 for a six-night sailing.

A boat this size carries a reunion or a celebration: grandparents, parents and children aboard together, the run of the deck, and one bill at the end. Tell us your dates and party size and we will price the whole of Fantasia.

That is the arithmetic of Fantasia's own published cabin fares, not a quoted charter rate. Operators price exclusive use separately, and usually below the sum of the cabins, so tell us your dates and we will come back with the real figure.

Price the whole boat

What Fantasia costs in 2026/2027

The published rate is US$280 per person per night , checked on 2026-08-30.

Sailing	Per person, from
3 nights	US$840
4 nights	US$1,120
5 nights	US$1,400
7 nights	US$1,960

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: 4 suites (aft of the boat)
8 deluxe cabins, twin or large bed
Dining: Open-air dining on deck
Full-board meal plan
Bars
Facilities: Open-air oriental seating area
Open-air dining
Bars and reading lounge
Boutique / gift shop
Open-air Jacuzzi
Massage room (30 minutes complimentary)
Laundry service
Doctor on call 24/7
Accompanying motor boat
Itineraries: 3 nights ex Aswan (Wednesdays)
4 nights ex Luxor (Saturdays)
5 nights ex Luxor (Saturdays)
7 nights ex Luxor (Saturdays)

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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Good to know

Fantasia questions, answered

How much does Fantasia cost?

Advertised rates start from US$280 per person; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Fantasia have?

12 cabins and 4 suites.

What route does Fantasia sail?

Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Al Ramady Island, Aswan; Kom Ombo on the 7-night programme, departing Wednesday ex Aswan (3 nights); Saturday ex Luxor (4, 5 and 7 nights).

What's included on Fantasia?

Full board accommodation, sightseeing and all transfers by private coach, guide, entrance fees. +25% surcharge 22 Dec-4 Jan and Easter.