Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Malouka

Compact cabins, classic charm, Esna to Aswan

Malouka is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Nour El Nil, built 2008. It has 10 cabins and 2 suites for up to 20 guests and sails itineraries of 5 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

Compact cabins, classic charm, Esna to Aswan. A 2008-built Nour El Nil sailing dahabiya of ten cabins for up to twenty guests, sailing Esna to Aswan, suited to travellers who prize intimacy over space.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 10 · up to 20 guestsRoute Esna → Aswan

Fleet: Nour El Nil
Accommodation: 10 cabins · 2 suites
Guests: Up to 20
Built: 2008
Dimensions: 52 × 7.5 m
Route: Esna - El Kab - Edfu - Gebel Silsileh - Kom Ombo - Aswan
Trip length: 5 nights
Departures: Typically every Monday from Esna to Aswan, on a Monday-to-Saturday 6-day cruise, though availability can show several overlapping departure weeks per month rather than a single fixed weekday.
Season: Operates year-round except June, July and August, which are not sold due to extreme heat. Mid/late September to late May recommended.

About Malouka

Malouka is a Nour El Nil dahabiya built in 2008, carrying up to twenty guests in eight Luxury Rooms and two Panoramic Suites whose compact cabins reflect the classic dahabiya style. Shaded deck seating, a salon and open-air dining give the boat an unhurried, personal feel.

The six-day sail runs roughly 250 kilometres from Esna to Aswan, calling at the Temple of Khnum, El Kab and Edfu, Gebel Silsileh where the Nile narrows, and Kom Ombo, with a full sailing day for walks, a swim from the boat or time on deck. All meals, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are included.

The boat operates year-round except June to August, with Wi-Fi aboard but kept light.

Highlights

Built 2008, ten cabins, twenty guests
Compact cabins in classic dahabiya style
Six-day Esna to Aswan sail, around 250 km
Swimming from the boat on sailing days
All meals and soft drinks included

At sail

Day by day

Malouka sails one published programme. Its own route: Esna - El Kab - Edfu - Gebel Silsileh - Kom Ombo - Aswan Departures typically every monday from esna to aswan, on a monday-to-saturday 6-day cruise, though availability can show several overlapping departure weeks per month rather than a single fixed weekday.. 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

10 cabins · up to 20 guests · whole boat from about US$11,880 a night

About US$11,880 a night for the whole boat, or roughly US$71,280 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 Malouka.

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

The published rate is US$2,970 per person, 5-night , checked on 2026-09-09.

We are not publishing a trip total for Malouka, 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, 5-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: Cabin - 2 units, 21.0 sqm
Cabin - 8 units, 13.4 sqm
Dining: All meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages included
Open-air deck dining
Facilities: Sun / cruise deck with shaded seating
Salon / lounge
Dining area
Open-air dining on deck
Swimming from the boat during sailing days
Itineraries: 5 nights / 6 days, Esna to Aswan, approx. 250 km: Day 1 Esna (Temple of Khnum, 9 m below street level; textile markets); Day 2 El Kab (temple of Nekhbet, decorated tombs) & Edfu (Temple of Horus); Day 3 sailing day, optional morning walk, swimming, desert walk; Day 4 Gebel Silsileh (sandstone quarries, temple of Horemheb, Nile at its narrowest); Day 5 Kom Ombo (Ptolemaic temple and Crocodile Museum); Day 6 disembark Aswan in the morning

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

Malouka questions, answered

How much does Malouka cost?

Advertised rates start from US$2,970 per person for 5 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Malouka have?

10 cabins and 2 suites, for up to 20 guests.

What route does Malouka sail?

Esna - El Kab - Edfu - Gebel Silsileh - Kom Ombo - Aswan, departing Typically every Monday from Esna to Aswan, on a Monday-to-Saturday 6-day cruise, though availability can show several overlapping departure weeks per month rather than a single fixed weekday..

What's included on Malouka?

Included: transfer from Luxor hotel to the boats in Esna; entrance fees to the 5 sites visited on the route; official licensed Egyptian guide in the language requested; all meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages; crew and guide tips; return transfer from boat to Aswan mainland hotel. Not included

What guests say

Independent traveller reviews of Malouka, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.

★★★★★
“We became part of the Malouka "family" and had a fabulous experience: the crew was incredibly welcoming, helpful, and did all they could to ensure we were comfortable. We were very sorry to say goodbye to them! The food was delicious.”
— Kathy E, USA · via Tripadvisor