Independent
Saray El Nil
An 1882 dahabiya, still under sail
Saray El Nil is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Saray El Nile (Karnak, Luxor); marketed in France by Dahabeya Egypte, and resold by Amarco Egypt and Vita Brevis Travel, built 1882 and refurbished 2019. It has 7 cabins and 1 suites and sails 6 · 7 nights itineraries on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.
- Fleet
- Saray El Nile (Karnak, Luxor); marketed in France by Dahabeya Egypte, and resold by Amarco Egypt and Vita Brevis Travel
- Accommodation
- 7 cabins · 1 suites
- Built
- 1882
- Route
- Luxor, Esna lock, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, plus overnight moorings at small Nile islands
- Length
- 6 · 7 nights
- Departures
- Saturday (Luxor - Aswan) and Friday (Aswan - Luxor)
- Season
- Published 2026/2027 departure calendar runs January - May and October - December (Dahabeya Egypte brochure)
About Saray El Nil
Built in 1882 and carefully restored, Saray El Nil carries seven cabins and a balconied junior suite with its own stern terrace, around fourteen guests at most. She sails the classic six-night run between Luxor and Aswan, through the Esna lock and past Edfu and Kom Ombo, with overnight moorings against small Nile islands the larger boats slip by.
The pace is unhurried. Days pass on a hardwood sundeck set with rattan chairs, or in the air-conditioned glass dining room with its wide river view, where full-board Egyptian and international meals are served. One lunch is taken ashore with a local family. A salon with a small library, a bar and a plunge pool fill the hours between temples.
Every cabin has its own shower room, safe and mini-fridge, with Wi-Fi throughout. Departures run Saturdays from Luxor and Fridays from Aswan, across a season that spans January to May and October to December.
Highlights
- Built 1882, restored; seven cabins plus a suite
- Six nights, Luxor to Aswan and reverse
- Moors overnight at small Nile islands
- Glass dining room, sundeck and plunge pool
- One lunch ashore with a local family
The boat in detail
- Cabin categories
- Standard cabin x6 (3 with a large bed, 3 with twin beds) | Junior suite with balcony / private stern terrace x1
- Dining
- Full board; Egyptian and international cuisine | Indoor buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner in the air-conditioned glass dining room seating up to 14 | Unlimited soft drinks included; local beer approx. EUR 7 and local wine approx. EUR 20 payable extra | Lunch with a local family ashore on one day
- Facilities
- Hardwood sundeck approx. 20 m x 6 m with handcrafted rattan furniture and 1920s-style deck chairs | Air-conditioned glass dining room with 360-degree view | Salon with private library | Bar with refrigeration | Plunge pool / water basin | Air conditioning throughout | Private shower room, hairdryer, safe and mini-fridge in every cabin | Free Wi-Fi | EU 220V sockets | Laundry service | Modern stainless-steel galley
- Itineraries
- 7 days / 6 nights Luxor - Aswan (departs Saturday) | 7 days / 6 nights Aswan - Luxor (departs Friday) | 3, 4 or 7 nights from Luxor or Aswan, shared or private charter (Vita Brevis Travel)
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