Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Malika Merit

A two-mast sailer for fourteen guests

Malika Merit is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Oriental Nile Cruises. It has 7 cabins and 1 suites for up to 14 guests and sails itineraries of 3, 4, 5 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

A two-mast sailer for fourteen guests. A seven-cabin, two-mast dahabiya carrying up to fourteen guests between Luxor, Esna and Aswan, suited to small groups wanting a private, traditional sail.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 7 · up to 14 guestsRoute Esna → Aswan

Fleet: Oriental Nile Cruises
Accommodation: 7 cabins · 1 suites
Guests: Up to 14
Dimensions: 50 × 7.5 m
Route: Luxor / Esna - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan
Trip length: 3 · 4 · 5 · 7 nights
Departures: Saturday (7, 4 and 5-night sailings); Wednesday (3-night Aswan to Luxor)

About Malika Merit

Malika Merit is a 50-metre, two-mast sailing dahabiya carrying up to fourteen guests in six cabins and a suite, the suite adding its own private terrace. The small guest count keeps the boat personal and unhurried as it sails the Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan reach.

Itineraries run from three to seven nights, with longer Luxor and Esna to Aswan sailings on Saturdays and a shorter Aswan to Luxor leg midweek, all at the pace of the sail.

A dining room with a bar, a lounge with a library and a sun deck fitted with an open-air jacuzzi, pergolas and daybeds give room to settle between temples, with a doctor on call and full fire-safety equipment aboard.

Highlights

Seven cabins, up to fourteen guests
50-metre two-mast sailing rig
Suite with private terrace
Sun deck with jacuzzi, pergolas and daybeds
Sails Luxor and Esna to Aswan reach

At sail

Day by day

Malika Merit sails 3 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor / Esna - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan Departures saturday (7, 4 and 5-night sailings); wednesday (3-night aswan to luxor). 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

7 cabins · up to 14 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 Malika Merit.

Price the whole boat

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: Six cabins - air conditioning, private bathroom with shower and basin, satellite TV, telephone, soundproof panoramic windows, electronic safe, hairdryer, coffee/tea service, Egyptian cotton linens. Operator states 'Each cabin 17.75m and bathroom 3.75m included'.
One suite - as cabin plus private terrace and enhanced furnishings.
Dining: Dining room with bar
Sun deck dining area
Wine available on board
Facilities: Dining room with bar
Lounge with DVD, satellite TV and library
Sun deck with open-air Jacuzzi, pergolas, daybeds and dining area
Boutique / gift shop
Laundry, housekeeping, room service, express pressing
Doctor on call 24 hours
Fire safety equipment, first aid kit, trained emergency staff
Two-mast sailing rig
Itineraries: 8 days / 7 nights Luxor to Luxor, Saturdays
4 days / 3 nights Aswan to Luxor, Wednesdays
5 days / 4 nights Luxor to Aswan, Saturdays
6 days / 5 nights Luxor to Aswan, Saturdays

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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Good to know

Malika Merit questions, answered

How many cabins does Malika Merit have?

7 cabins and 1 suites, for up to 14 guests.

What route does Malika Merit sail?

Luxor / Esna - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan, departing Saturday (7, 4 and 5-night sailings); Wednesday (3-night Aswan to Luxor).

What is included in the fare on Malika Merit?

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 Malika Merit before booking.