Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Nonia

Nonia is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Ashranda. It has 10 cabins and sails itineraries of 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

Powered by wind and tradition. A five-star sailing dahabiya carrying guests between Aswan and Luxor over three to four nights, suited to travellers who want the slow, wind-powered Nile.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 10Board full boardRoute Esna → Aswan

Fleet: Ashranda
Accommodation: 10 cabins
Dimensions: 55 m
Route: Kom Ombo, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Esna and Esna Lock, Luxor, Gebel el-Silsila, El Kab, Beshir Island, Fawaza Island; some itineraries also include Philae Temple at Aswan, the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple.
Trip length: 3 · 4 · 7 nights
Departures: Friday from Aswan; Monday from Luxor
Season: Rates quoted as valid through 30 April 2027; no closed season stated.

About Nonia

Nonia is one of Ashranda's twin dahabiyas, a boat powered by wind and tradition rather than engines. She carries her guests past Kom Ombo, Gebel el-Silsila, Edfu and El Kab, mooring at Beshir and Fawaza islands the larger vessels pass by.

Sailings of three or four nights run between Aswan and Luxor, taking in the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the lock at Esna. Full board is served in an elegant dining room, with tea and coffee at meals.

Above deck she carries a spacious sun deck of chaise lounges and shaded seating with a cozy lounge below. Cabins open onto large panoramic river windows and hold a private safe, air-conditioning, minibar and hairdryer.

Highlights

Sails past Kom Ombo, Gebel el-Silsila, Edfu
Moors at Beshir and Fawaza islands
Spacious sun deck with shaded seating
Panoramic river windows in cabins
Wind-powered between Aswan and Luxor

At sail

Day by day

Nonia sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Kom Ombo, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Esna and Esna Lock, Luxor, Gebel el-Silsila, El Kab, Beshir Island, Fawaza Island; some itineraries also include Philae Temple at Aswan, the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple. Departures friday from aswan; monday 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.

The fine print

What's included and what isn't

Published by the operator. Confirm what your own booking covers before you travel.

Included

Meet and assist on arrival and departure
All transfers by modern air-conditioned deluxe vehicle
Accommodation on board 5-star dahabiya on full-board basis
Tea and coffee during meals on board
Free soft drinks at minibar
All dahabiya excursions as per itinerary
Entrance fees to all sights between Luxor and Aswan
Egyptologist guide during excursions, guiding in English
All service charges and taxes

Not included

Any extras not mentioned in the itinerary
Tipping kitty (gratuities). Alcoholic drinks are not stated either way

Take the whole boat

10 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 Nonia.

Price the whole boat

What Nonia costs in 2026/2027

The published rate is US$2,350 per person in double room, Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 departures , checked on 2026-08-30.

We are not publishing a trip total for Nonia, for the reasons below. Ask us and we will quote the sailing you want.

What this figure is, and is not

This is the operator's own advertised rate, not a quote from us.
The published figure is quoted per person in double room, Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 departures, 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: Deluxe cabin (double); Deluxe cabin (single) — all 22 m2; no suite grade stated
Dining: Full board basis
Elegant dining room
Tea and coffee with meals
Free soft drinks at the minibar
Facilities: Spacious sun deck with chaise-longue chairs and shaded outdoor seating
Cozy lounge area
Elegant dining room
Large windows with panoramic river views in cabins
In-room private safe
Modern duvets
Hairdryer
Electronic fire and smoke detection
Wireless internet
Complimentary soft drinks in the minibar
Tea and coffee
Air conditioning and heater
In-cabin phone
Towels
Itineraries: 4 days / 3 nights Aswan to Luxor, departing Wednesday or Friday
5 days / 4 nights Aswan to Luxor, departing Wednesday or Friday
5 days / 4 nights Luxor to Aswan, departing Saturday or Monday
7 nights (requires a minimum of 1 double suite)

Keep planning

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Good to know

Nonia questions, answered

How much does Nonia cost?

Advertised rates start from US$2,350 per person; prices vary by season and cabin.

What route does Nonia sail?

Kom Ombo, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Esna and Esna Lock, Luxor, Gebel el-Silsila, El Kab, Beshir Island, Fawaza Island; some itineraries also include Philae Temple at Aswan, the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple..

What's included on Nonia?

Meet and assist, all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle, accommodation on board 5-star dahabiya full board, tea and coffee with meals, free soft drinks at minibar, all excursions, entrance fees, Egyptologist guide, service charges and taxes. Excludes extras and tipping.