Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Qamar

Eight cabins under three sails

Qamar is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Dahabeya Egypte. It has 8 cabins.

Good to know

Eight cabins under three sails. A sailing dahabiya of eight cabins running between Luxor and Aswan over four to seven nights, suited to travellers wanting the smallest, quietest Nile boat.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 8Route Esna → Aswan

Fleet: Dahabeya Egypte
Accommodation: 8 cabins
Dimensions: 33 × 6 m
Route: Luxor - Esna - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan (and return via Esna to Luxor on the round trip)
Departures: Wednesday from Luxor (8-day and 5-day); Sunday from Aswan (4-day)
Season: New for the 2027 season

About Qamar

Qamar, meaning moon in Arabic, is a compact dahabiya, 33 metres under three sails for near-silent navigation. She carries just eight cabins, six of 18 sqm and two superior cabins with private balconies over the river.

Her sailings run between Luxor and Aswan by way of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, offered as a four-day, five-day or eight-day round trip, departing Wednesdays from Luxor and Sundays from Aswan. A Nubian evening and a farewell dinner are included, along with swimming in the Nile.

The panoramic dining room and lounge carry a refined Oriental decor, and the upper sun deck holds loungers, a hanging armchair and shaded corners. Cabins are air-conditioned with private bathrooms.

Highlights

Just eight cabins, smallest in the fleet
33 metres under three sails
Two superior cabins with private balconies
Sails Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan
Nubian evening and Nile swimming included

At sail

Day by day

Qamar sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor - Esna - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan (and return via Esna to Luxor on the round trip) Departures wednesday from luxor (8-day and 5-day); sunday from aswan (4-day). 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 from about US$2,635 a night

About US$2,635 a night for the whole boat, or roughly US$15,810 for a six-night sailing.

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 Qamar.

That is the arithmetic of Qamar's own published cabin fares, not a quoted charter rate. Operators price exclusive use separately, and usually below the sum of the cabins, so tell us your dates and we will come back with the real figure.

Price the whole boat

What Qamar costs in 2026/2027

The published rate is US$494 per person, 3-night , checked on 2026-09-05.

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

What this figure is, and is not

The published figure may be a low-season or triple-occupancy rate rather than the year-round double.
Converted from the currency the operator quotes in, so it moves with the exchange rate.
The published figure is quoted per person, 3-night, 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: Standard cabin (6, 18 m2, quality bedding, air conditioning, private bathroom)
Superior cabin (2, with private balcony over the Nile)
Dining: Panoramic dining room
Nubian evening and farewell dinner included
Facilities: Dining room and lounge with panoramic Nile views and refined Oriental decor
Upper sun deck with loungers, a suspended armchair and shaded areas
Air conditioning
Private bathrooms
Itineraries: 8 days Luxor - Aswan - Luxor round trip (Wednesday departure)
5 days Luxor to Aswan (Wednesday departure)
4 days Aswan to Luxor (Sunday departure)

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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Good to know

Qamar questions, answered

How much does Qamar cost?

Advertised rates start from US$494 per person; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Qamar have?

8 cabins.

What route does Qamar sail?

Luxor - Esna - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan (and return via Esna to Luxor on the round trip), departing Wednesday from Luxor (8-day and 5-day); Sunday from Aswan (4-day).

What is included in the fare on Qamar?

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 Qamar before booking.