Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Nile Holiday

A whole-boat charter, Aswan to Luxor

Nile Holiday is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat). It has 9 cabins and 2 suites for up to 18 guests and sails itineraries of 3 or 4 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

A whole-boat charter, Aswan to Luxor. A sailing dahabiya offered as a private whole-boat charter between Aswan and Luxor over three or four nights, suited to families and small groups travelling together.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 9 · up to 18 guestsBoard full boardRoute Esna → Aswan

Fleet: Independent
Accommodation: 9 cabins · 2 suites
Guests: Up to 18
Route: Aswan (High Dam, Philae Temple on Agilkia Island), Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna Lock, Luxor (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple)
Trip length: 3 · 4 nights

About Nile Holiday

Nile Holiday is a sailing dahabiya taken as a private charter, the whole boat and its crew given over to a single party. The four-day run drifts from Aswan down to Luxor, while the five-day version boards at Esna and sails the other way, both threading past Kom Ombo, Edfu and the Esna Lock between the great temple sites of Aswan and Luxor.

The cabins are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, and the boat carries a sun deck for the hours under sail. Meals are full board, cooked aboard by the onboard chef, with a gourmet dinner served under the stars and vegetarian and special diets on request.

Because she runs as a private charter in either direction, the trip belongs entirely to the group aboard, which suits multi-generational families and small private parties.

Highlights

Private whole-boat charter for one party
Aswan to Luxor via Kom Ombo and Edfu
Air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms
Full board, dinner under the stars
Runs in either direction, three or four nights

At sail

Day by day

Nile Holiday sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Aswan (High Dam, Philae Temple on Agilkia Island), Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna Lock, Luxor (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple) 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

9 cabins · up to 18 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 Nile Holiday.

Price the whole boat

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: Air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms (no categories, counts or sizes published)
Dining: Full board on board
Gourmet dinner under the stars prepared by the onboard chef
Vegetarian and special dietary requirements on request
Facilities: Sun deck
Air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms
Onboard dining areas
Itineraries: 4 days / 3 nights Aswan to Luxor (private charter)
5 days / 4 nights Luxor to Aswan, embarking at Esna (private charter)

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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Good to know

Nile Holiday questions, answered

How many cabins does Nile Holiday have?

9 cabins and 2 suites.

What route does Nile Holiday sail?

Aswan (High Dam, Philae Temple on Agilkia Island), Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna Lock, Luxor (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple).

What is included in the fare on Nile Holiday?

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 Nile Holiday before booking.