Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan
Royal Cleopatra
Eight cabins under sail, Esna to Aswan
Royal Cleopatra is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Cleopatra Dahabiyat, built 2016. It has 8 cabins and 2 suites for up to 16 guests and sails itineraries of 3 or 4 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.
Good to know
Eight cabins under sail, Esna to Aswan. A five-star sailing dahabiya of eight cabins and two suites for up to sixteen guests on the Luxor-Aswan reach, for travellers wanting a slower, intimate Nile.
- Fleet
- Cleopatra Dahabiyat
- Accommodation
- 8 cabins · 2 suites
- Guests
- Up to 16
- Built
- 2016
- Dimensions
- 38 m
- Route
- Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan (Philae); approx. 240 km of navigable Nile
- Trip length
- 3 · 4 nights
- Departures
- Monday from Luxor / Esna (4 nights); Friday from Aswan (3 nights).
- Season
- October to April high season; peak 18 Dec to 6 Jan and 21 Mar to 4 Apr, with weekly departures October to April.
About Royal Cleopatra
Royal Cleopatra is a five-star sailing dahabiya over three decks, with eight cabins and two suites for up to sixteen guests. The range runs from single and double cabins through superior and honeymoon rooms to a panoramic quadruple and two suites with private terraces.
The boat sails the roughly 240-kilometre reach between Luxor and Aswan, embarking at Esna and calling at Edfu and Kom Ombo, on trips of three to seven nights with weekly high-season departures. Longer sailings add an optional Abu Simbel extension.
Full-board dining runs from lunch on the day of boarding, served across indoor and outdoor areas, and the decks carry loungers, a rooftop terrace and a lounge bar, with a doctor and concierge on call.
Highlights
- Five-star dahabiya, up to 16 guests
- Eight cabins and two terrace suites
- Luxor to Aswan via Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo
- Rooftop terrace and sun-deck loungers
- Full-board dining, indoor and outdoor
At sail
Day by day
Royal Cleopatra sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan (Philae); approx Departures monday from luxor / esna (4 nights); friday from aswan (3 nights).. 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
Unlike most Nile cruises, this fare does not cover temple and monument entry tickets - budget for those separately. The Egyptologist guide and the transfers at each end are included. Published by the operator for its whole fleet; confirm what your own booking covers before you travel.
Included
- Full board aboard: all meals, with tea and coffee
- An air-conditioned cabin with a private bathroom
- An Egyptologist guide for all the listed visits
- Transfers between the airport, your hotel and the boat
- Wi-Fi aboard, on fair use
- Filtered drinking water throughout
- All sailing and mooring fees
Not included
- Temple and monument entry tickets, which are paid separately
- Soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits
- Gratuities for the crew and the guide
- International and domestic flights, and your Egyptian entry visa
- Optional excursions: Abu Simbel and the hot-air balloon
Take the whole boat
8 cabins · up to 16 guests · whole boat from about US$3,200 a night
About US$3,200 a night for the whole boat, or roughly US$19,200 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 Royal Cleopatra.
That is the arithmetic of Royal Cleopatra'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.
What Royal Cleopatra costs in 2026/2027
The published rate is US$200 per person per night , checked on 2026-09-05.
| Sailing | Per person, from |
|---|---|
| 3 nights | US$600 |
| 4 nights | US$800 |
The boat in detail
- Cabin categories
- Single cabin
- Double cabin
- Superior cabin
- Honeymoon cabin
- Panoramic quadruple room (2 bedrooms)
- Suite with private terrace (2)
- Dining
- Full board from lunch on embarkation day to breakfast on disembarkation day
- Traditional Egyptian and international cuisine, chef-prepared
- Water served with meals; alcoholic and other beverages excluded
- Facilities
- Sun deck with loungers
- Rooftop terrace
- Lounge / lounge bar
- Indoor and outdoor dining areas
- 24-hour reception
- Gift shop
- Daily housekeeping
- 24-hour doctor
- Concierge service
- Itineraries
- 5 days / 4 nights Luxor (Esna) - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan
- 4 days / 3 nights Aswan - Kom Ombo - Edfu - Esna (Luxor)
- 7-night full Nile journey with optional Abu Simbel extension
Keep planning
Plan your Nile cruise
Good to know
Royal Cleopatra questions, answered
How much does Royal Cleopatra cost?
Advertised rates start from US$200 per person for 3 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.
How many cabins does Royal Cleopatra have?
8 cabins and 2 suites, for up to 16 guests.
What route does Royal Cleopatra sail?
Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan (Philae); approx. 240 km of navigable Nile, departing Monday from Luxor / Esna (4 nights); Friday from Aswan (3 nights)..
What's included on Royal Cleopatra?
Full board, water with meals, rooftop terrace / lounge / dining room, Wi-Fi in public areas, shore excursions per confirmed programme, arrival and departure transfers. Excludes alcohol, gratuities, temple entrance fees unless specified, flights, visas.
What guests say
Independent traveller reviews of Royal Cleopatra, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.
4.9 out of 5via Tripadvisor (24)
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