Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Hathor

A sailing dahabiya, Luxor and Aswan

Hathor is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Hathor Cruise. It has 8 cabins and 4 suites and sails itineraries of 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

A sailing dahabiya, Luxor and Aswan. A sailing dahabiya cruising the reach between Luxor and Aswan over three to seven nights, with a spa and three cabin tiers, suited to travellers wanting comfort at a small scale.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 8Board full boardRoute Esna → Aswan

Fleet: Hathor Cruise
Accommodation: 8 cabins · 4 suites
Route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, El-Ramady Island, Gabel El Selsela, Kom Ombo, Hor Diab Island, Aswan; charter routings extend to Dendera and Cairo.
Trip length: 3 · 4 · 7 nights
Departures: Wednesday ex Aswan (3 nights); Saturday ex Luxor (4 and 7 nights)

About Hathor

Hathor is a sailing dahabiya working the classic reach between Luxor and Aswan, mooring where the larger ships pass by. The five-day programme threads Esna, Edfu, El-Ramady Island, Gebel el-Silsila, Kom Ombo and Hor Diab Island before Aswan, with charter routings that can extend as far as Dendera and Cairo.

Accommodation comes in three tiers, from Luxury Rooms to Suites and Royal Suites, each cabin fitted with a satellite screen, a safe and a bath or walk-in shower. Above deck there is a Seneb Spa, lounges and a sun deck, with full-board dining that runs to a grilled dinner ashore at El-Ramady Island.

Departures leave Aswan on Wednesdays for three nights and Luxor on Saturdays for four or seven, and the whole boat can be chartered for a party travelling on its own.

Highlights

Sails Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Gebel el-Silsila, Aswan
Three cabin tiers, rooms to royal suites
Seneb Spa, lounges and sun deck
Full board, grilled dinner ashore
Three to seven nights; whole-boat charter offered

At sail

Day by day

Hathor sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, El-Ramady Island, Gabel El Selsela, Kom Ombo, Hor Diab Island, Aswan; charter routings extend to Dendera and Cairo. Departures wednesday ex aswan (3 nights); saturday ex luxor (4 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.

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

8 cabins · whole boat from about US$12,267 a night

About US$12,267 a night for the whole boat, or roughly US$73,602 for a six-night sailing.

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 Hathor.

That is the arithmetic of Hathor'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 Hathor costs in 2026/2027

The published rate is US$2,300 per person, 3-night , checked on 2026-08-30.

We are not publishing a trip total for Hathor, for the reasons below. Ask us and we will quote the sailing you want.

What this figure is, and is not

The published figure is quoted per person, 3-night, which does not multiply into a trip total.
Rates move with season, cabin and departure. We quote every sailing live, and there is no booking fee to ask.

Source: the operator's published rates

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: Luxury Rooms
Luxury Suites
Luxury Royal Suites
Dining: Gourmet restaurant-level fine dining
Full board; grilled dinner on board at El-Ramady Island on the 5-day programme
Facilities: Seneb Spa
Sun deck
Lounges
Restaurant
In-cabin LED satellite screen, bathtub or walk-in shower, safe box
Itineraries: 3 nights / 4 days Aswan to Luxor, every Wednesday
4 nights / 5 days Luxor to Aswan, every Saturday
7 nights / 8 days Luxor - Aswan - Luxor, every Saturday
Charter routings also offered: Luxor-Aswan, Aswan-Luxor, Luxor-Aswan-Luxor, Dendera-Aswan, Aswan-Dendera, Cairo-Aswan, Aswan-Cairo

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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Good to know

Hathor questions, answered

How much does Hathor cost?

Advertised rates start from US$2,300 per person for 3 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Hathor have?

8 cabins and 4 suites.

What route does Hathor sail?

Luxor, Esna, Edfu, El-Ramady Island, Gabel El Selsela, Kom Ombo, Hor Diab Island, Aswan; charter routings extend to Dendera and Cairo., departing Wednesday ex Aswan (3 nights); Saturday ex Luxor (4 and 7 nights).

What's included on Hathor?

Airport/station meet and assist, full-board accommodation, Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned transport, all listed entrance fees, service charges and taxes. Excludes optional tours, personal expenses and tipping.