Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Musk

Six cabins under a lateen sail

Musk is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by HMC Hospitality. It has 6 cabins and 0 suites for up to 12 guests and sails itineraries of 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

Six cabins under a lateen sail. A five-star sailing dahabiya of just six cabins for twelve guests, drifting the Esna-Aswan reach past Gebel Silsila and Kom Ombo, suited to travellers wanting seclusion.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 6 · up to 12 guestsBoard full boardRoute Esna → Aswan

Fleet: HMC Hospitality
Accommodation: 6 cabins · 0 suites
Guests: Up to 12
Dimensions: 40 × 7 m
Route: Luxor (embarkation), Esna, El Kab, Edfu, Gebel Silsila and the Hagar Salsala quarry, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Philae Temple
Trip length: 3 · 4 · 7 nights
Departures: Monday from Esna and Friday from Aswan; some charters run without fixed departure days.

About Musk

Musk is a five-star dahabiya of only six cabins, twelve guests at most, moving chiefly under her lateen sail. Each cabin is individually decorated and named for an ancient aromatic - Kyphi, Cinnamon, Juniper, Myrrh, Henna and Saffron - with a private bathroom of its own.

Her route runs from Luxor through Esna, El Kab, Edfu and Gebel Silsila with its old quarry, on to Kom Ombo, Aswan and Philae. She moors on privately held stretches of riverbank at Luxor and Aswan, away from the busier landings, on trips of one to seven nights.

On board are a sun deck set with rattan deckchairs, an oriental sitting area and a colonial-style lounge. Meals are full board with soft drinks, tea and coffee included; no spirits are served, though guests may bring their own, with ice and mixers provided.

Highlights

Just six cabins, twelve guests
Sails mainly under a lateen sail
Moors on private riverbank at Luxor and Aswan
Calls at Gebel Silsila, Kom Ombo and Philae
Cabins named for ancient aromatics

At sail

Day by day

Musk sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor (embarkation), Esna, El Kab, Edfu, Gebel Silsila and the Hagar Salsala quarry, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Philae Temple Departures monday from esna and friday from aswan; some charters run without fixed departure days.. 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

6 cabins · up to 12 guests · whole-boat charter on request

A boat this size is a single family. Everyone eats at one table, the deck is yours alone, and the boat moves when your party is ready rather than when a schedule says so. Tell us your dates, and how many adults and children, and we will price the whole of Musk.

Price the whole boat

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: Six individually decorated cabins, 15-16 m2 each, named after ancient aromatics: Kyphi, Cinnamon, Juniper, Myrrh, Henna and Saffron. Three are king-size (bed 160 x 200 cm) and three are twin (beds 100 x 200 cm). Each has a private bathroom with shower cabinet, hot water, hairdryer and luggage rack, an individual air-conditioning unit, a complimentary minibar and a bathrobe.
Dining: Full board - breakfast buffet, set-menu lunch and dinner, plus soft drinks, tea and coffee
No hard alcohol served; guests may bring their own, with ice and mixers provided free
Facilities: Sun deck with sunbeds and a shaded lounge
Solarium
Air-conditioned smart lounge and dining room with smart TV, IPTV and Netflix
Bluetooth sound system
Oriental sitting area
Bar
24/7 coffee station with all-day fresh juice and seasonal fruit
Water purification system
John Deere generators (105 kW turbo / 150 hp, 220 V)
Moors on privately owned stretches of riverbank at Luxor and Aswan
Itineraries: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 night options
4 nights Esna to Aswan
3 nights Aswan to Esna

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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Good to know

Musk questions, answered

How many cabins does Musk have?

6 cabins and 0 suites, for up to 12 guests.

What route does Musk sail?

Luxor (embarkation), Esna, El Kab, Edfu, Gebel Silsila and the Hagar Salsala quarry, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Philae Temple, departing Monday from Esna and Friday from Aswan; some charters run without fixed departure days..

What is included in the fare on Musk?

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 Musk before booking.