Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Nofret

Twelve guests under sail to Luxor

Nofret is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Ashranda. It carries up to 12 guests and sails itineraries of 3 or 4 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

Twelve guests under sail to Luxor. A five-star sailing dahabiya for up to twelve guests, sailing between Aswan and Luxor over three to four nights, suited to travellers seeking a quiet, small-scale Nile.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersBoard full boardRoute Esna → Aswan

Fleet: Ashranda
Guests: Up to 12
Route: Aswan, Kom Ombo, Gabal el Silsila, Edfu, El Kab, Esna, Luxor
Trip length: 3 · 4 nights
Departures: Wednesdays from Aswan; Saturdays from Luxor

About Nofret

Nofret is one of Ashranda's twin dahabiyas, taking her name from a Fourth Dynasty noblewoman whose name means beautiful. She carries at most twelve guests, a sailing boat rather than a motor cruiser, drifting the quiet reach between Aswan and Luxor.

Her sailings of three or four nights run by way of Kom Ombo, Gebel el-Silsila, Edfu, El Kab and Esna, departing Wednesdays from Aswan and Saturdays from Luxor. Full board is served in an elegant fine dining room.

Cabins carry large panoramic windows over the river, a private safe, air-conditioning, minibar and hairdryer. The sun deck is set with chaise lounges for the slow hours between temples.

Highlights

Up to twelve guests aboard
Sails Kom Ombo, Gebel el-Silsila, Edfu, El Kab
Departs Wednesday Aswan, Saturday Luxor
Panoramic river windows in every cabin
Full-board dining in fine dining room

At sail

Day by day

Nofret sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Aswan, Kom Ombo, Gabal el Silsila, Edfu, El Kab, Esna, Luxor Departures wednesdays from aswan; saturdays from 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.

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

A small hull · 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 Nofret.

Price the whole boat

The boat in detail

Dining: Full board basis
Elegant fine dining room
Facilities: Sun deck with chaise-longue chairs
Elegant fine dining room
Large windows with a panoramic view in cabins
In-room private safe
Hairdryer
Wireless internet
Soft drinks in the minibar
Tea and coffee
Air conditioning and heater
In-cabin phone
Towels
Itineraries: 4 days / 3 nights Aswan to Luxor (3 nights, departs Wednesday)
5 days / 4 nights Aswan to Luxor (4 nights, departs Wednesday)
5 days / 4 nights Luxor to Aswan (4 nights, departs Saturday)

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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Good to know

Nofret questions, answered

What route does Nofret sail?

Aswan, Kom Ombo, Gabal el Silsila, Edfu, El Kab, Esna, Luxor, departing Wednesdays from Aswan; Saturdays from Luxor.

What is included in the fare on Nofret?

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 Nofret before booking.