Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaLuxor → Aswan

Mövenpick SB Hayah

Eight suites between Luxor and Aswan

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

Good to know

Eight suites between Luxor and Aswan. A boutique eight-suite dahabiya sailing Luxor to Aswan over three to four nights, suited to travellers who want suite space and a quiet river in one boat.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 8Route Luxor → Aswan

Fleet: Mövenpick (Accor)
Accommodation: 8 cabins · 8 suites
Route: Luxor to Aswan and Aswan to Luxor; moored at a private dock in Luxor 15 km south of Luxor airport
Trip length: 3 · 4 nights

About Mövenpick SB Hayah

SB Hayah is a boutique dahabiya of eight suites, sailing the Nile between Luxor and Aswan from a private dock south of Luxor. The suites run from 27 to 47.5 sq m, each with panoramic river views and Egyptian cotton linens, and butler service can be arranged on request.

Days follow the slow rhythm of the river, with temple and tomb excursions ashore, local market visits and evenings of traditional music. Onboard there is a sun-deck pool, shaded lounges over the water, and a wellness area with a gym, massage room, steam room and sauna.

Dining is served in an elegant indoor room or outside on deck, with menus the chef adjusts to guests' preferences. Itineraries run three or four nights in either direction between the two cities.

Highlights

Boutique dahabiya, eight panoramic suites
Sails Luxor to Aswan from a private dock
Suites 27-47.5 sq m, Egyptian cotton linens
Sun-deck pool, gym, steam room and sauna
Indoor and open-deck dining, custom menus

At sail

Day by day

Mövenpick SB Hayah sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor to Aswan and Aswan to Luxor; moored at a private dock in Luxor 15 km south of Luxor airport 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 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 Mövenpick SB Hayah.

Price the whole boat

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: Panorama Suite x2 - 47.5 sqm
Ambassador Suite x1 - 39 sqm
Royal Suite x2 - 34 sqm
Deluxe Suite x1 - 33 sqm
Senior Suite x2 - 27 sqm
All suites: panoramic Nile views, high-quality Egyptian cotton linens, butler service on request
Dining: Indoor dining room
Outdoor deck dining
Customisable chef menus accommodating dietary preferences
Facilities: Sun deck pool
Shaded lounge areas with river views
Onboard gym
Massage room
Steam room and sauna
Butler service on request
Elegant dining room plus outdoor deck dining
Customised menus for dietary preferences
Temple/tomb excursions, local market tours, traditional music and dance performances
Itineraries: 4 days / 3 nights - Aswan to Luxor
5 days / 4 nights - Luxor to Aswan

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

Mövenpick SB Hayah questions, answered

How many cabins does Mövenpick SB Hayah have?

8 cabins and 8 suites.

What route does Mövenpick SB Hayah sail?

Luxor to Aswan and Aswan to Luxor; moored at a private dock in Luxor 15 km south of Luxor airport.

What is included in the fare on Mövenpick SB Hayah?

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 Mövenpick SB Hayah before booking.