Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaLuxor → Aswan
Iris
Panoramic cabins and a heated pool afloat
Iris is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Travel Art Egypt, built 2025. It has 17 cabins and 6 suites for up to 36 guests and sails itineraries of 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.
Good to know
Panoramic cabins and a heated pool afloat. A larger sailing dahabiya of deluxe cabins and upper-deck suites, sailing Aswan to Luxor via Kom Ombo and Edfu, for those who want river islands with a few more comforts.
- Fleet
- Travel Art Egypt
- Accommodation
- 17 cabins · 6 suites
- Guests
- Up to 36
- Built
- 2025
- Dimensions
- 55 × 8 m
- Route
- Aswan, El Hyrdiya Island, Kom Ombo, Daraw, Gebel El Silsila, Besaw Island, Edfu, Luxor (east and west banks); optional Abu Simbel
- Trip length
- 3 · 4 · 7 nights
- Departures
- Friday ex Aswan (3 nights); Monday ex Luxor (4 nights)
- Season
- Year-round operation, January to December; October to April is the best period.
About Iris
Iris is a more spacious dahabiya, with ten deluxe cabins of around twenty square metres, each fitted with a sliding panoramic window, alongside royal and junior suites on the upper and main decks that add private verandas and wider views. A single deluxe cabin suits solo travellers.
The boat sails between Aswan and Luxor over three to seven nights, mooring at El Hyrdiya and Besaw islands, Kom Ombo, Daraw, Gebel el-Silsila, Edfu and both banks at Luxor. Drifting this reach, it reaches river islands and quieter landings that the big cruisers cannot.
On deck there is a heated swimming pool and jacuzzi, an open-air sun deck with loungers and a library corner with board games. Dining is full board, served in indoor and outdoor areas with Egyptian and international cooking and barbecues on deck.
Highlights
- Ten deluxe cabins with panoramic sliding windows
- Upper-deck suites with private verandas
- Heated swimming pool and jacuzzi on deck
- Moors at El Hyrdiya and Besaw islands
- Aswan to Luxor via Kom Ombo, Edfu
At sail
Day by day
Iris sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Aswan, El Hyrdiya Island, Kom Ombo, Daraw, Gebel El Silsila, Besaw Island, Edfu, Luxor (east and west banks); optional Abu Simbel Departures friday ex aswan (3 nights); monday ex luxor (4 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
17 cabins · up to 36 guests · whole boat from about US$12,455 a night
About US$12,455 a night for the whole boat, or roughly US$74,730 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 Iris.
That is the arithmetic of Iris'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.
What Iris costs in 2026/2027
The published rate is US$1,099 per person, 3-night , checked on 2026-09-05.
We are not publishing a trip total for Iris, for the reasons below. Ask us and we will quote the sailing you want.
What this figure is, and is not
- The published figure may be a low-season or triple-occupancy rate rather than the year-round double.
- 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
- 10 deluxe cabins, 20 sqm each, with sliding panoramic window (4 with large double bed, 6 twin)
- 2 royal suites on the upper deck, 40 sqm each, with veranda
- 2 junior suites on the upper deck, 29 sqm each, with veranda
- 2 junior suites on the main deck, 29 sqm each, panoramic view
- 1 single deluxe cabin, 17 sqm, panoramic view
- Dining
- Indoor and outdoor dining areas
- Egyptian and international cuisine, full board
- Barbecue / outdoor dining
- Tea, coffee and unlimited water included
- Facilities
- Heated swimming pool and jacuzzi
- Open-air sun deck with lounge chairs
- Indoor and outdoor dining areas
- Library corner and board games
- 24-hour reception
- Water purification system
- Laundry service
- Itineraries
- 4 days / 3 nights Aswan to Luxor, departing Fridays
- 5 days / 4 nights Luxor to Aswan, departing Mondays
- 8 days / 7 nights Luxor - Aswan - Luxor
Keep planning
Plan your Nile cruise
Good to know
Iris questions, answered
How much does Iris cost?
Advertised rates start from US$1,099 per person for 5 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.
How many cabins does Iris have?
17 cabins and 6 suites.
What route does Iris sail?
Aswan, El Hyrdiya Island, Kom Ombo, Daraw, Gebel El Silsila, Besaw Island, Edfu, Luxor (east and west banks); optional Abu Simbel, departing Friday ex Aswan (3 nights); Monday ex Luxor (4 nights).
What's included on Iris?
Meet and assist, private A/C transfers, full board accommodation, all entrance fees, English-speaking guide, bottled water, service charges and taxes
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