Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Judi

Wind-powered, engines only for light

Judi is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat), built 2008 and refurbished 2017. It has 9 cabins and 1 suites and sails itineraries of 5 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

Wind-powered, engines only for light. A two-masted sailing dahabiya of nine cabins built in 2008, moving under wind between Luxor and Aswan past river islands and temples, suited to travellers seeking quiet.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 9Board full boardRoute Esna → Aswan

Fleet: Independent
Accommodation: 9 cabins · 1 suites
Built: 2008
Dimensions: 47.5 × 7.5 m
Route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Al Ramady Island, El Sheikh Fadl, El Fouza Island, Gebel El Silsila, Kom Ombo, Aswan
Trip length: 5 · 7 nights
Departures: Every Sunday

About Judi

Built in 2008, Judi is a two-masted dahabiya that moves under sail, her engines used only to make electricity. Eight en-suite cabins of fourteen square metres and a twenty-four-square-metre owner's suite with a private terrace carry a small group between Luxor and Aswan, with the river close enough to reach down and touch.

Her route threads the quiet stretches, mooring at Al Ramady Island, El Fouza Island and Gebel El Silsila as well as the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo. A twenty-nine-metre sun deck runs the length of the boat, with sun beds and a shower, and an Arabic seating corner set for mint tea.

Inside are a salon lounge with a bar and a library of books, DVDs and board games. Meals are full board, European and Egyptian, served at a long banqueting table on deck. Wi-Fi runs throughout, with departures every Sunday.

Highlights

Sails under wind; engines only for power
Nine cabins including a terrace owner's suite
Moors at Gebel El Silsila and river islands
Twenty-nine-metre sun deck with Arabic tea corner
Departs every Sunday, full board

At sail

Day by day

Judi sails one published programme. Its own route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Al Ramady Island, El Sheikh Fadl, El Fouza Island, Gebel El Silsila, Kom Ombo, Aswan Departures every sunday. 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 · 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 Judi.

Price the whole boat

What Judi costs in 2026/2027

The published rate is US$1,225 per person, 5-night , checked on 2026-09-05.

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

What this figure is, and is not

Our sources disagree on this boat's rate, so we are not publishing 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: 8 en-suite cabins of 14 sqm, each with two single beds or a king-size bed
1 owner's suite of 24 sqm with private terrace and private lounge, panoramic Nile views
Dining: European and Egyptian cuisine, full board
Large banqueting table on the sun deck
Arabic corner with mint tea service
Wine list
Facilities: Spacious salon lounge with bar
29-metre sun deck with sun beds and shower
Oriental seating area with Arabic decor
Library with books and DVDs, board games
Free Wi-Fi throughout
24-hour electric power supply (2 x 80 KW generators, 220V)
Accompanying motorboat
Water purification system
Composite sound insulation
Fire alarm, sprinkler and smoke detector systems
Gift shop
Doctor available 24/7
Itineraries: 5 nights Luxor to Aswan
6 days / 5 nights Esna to Aswan
7 nights Luxor - Aswan - Luxor

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

Dahabiya Nile cruises explained How much a dahabiya cruise costs Best small-boat Nile cruises Nile River Cruise: the complete guide Nile cruise vs land tour

Good to know

Judi questions, answered

How much does Judi cost?

Advertised rates start from US$1,225 per person; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Judi have?

9 cabins and 1 suites.

What route does Judi sail?

Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Al Ramady Island, El Sheikh Fadl, El Fouza Island, Gebel El Silsila, Kom Ombo, Aswan, departing Every Sunday.

What's included on Judi?

Full board, sightseeing and all transfers by private coach, private English-speaking guide, all entrance fees, round-trip airport transfers and assistance. Excludes tips, laundry and extra alcoholic drinks. +25% surcharge 22 Dec-4 Jan and Easter. Children under 4 free, 4-11 at 50%.