Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

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, built 1882 and refurbished 2019. It has 7 cabins and 1 suites and sails itineraries of 6 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

An 1882 dahabiya, still under sail. A restored eight-cabin sailing dahabiya built in 1882, drifting the six-night Luxor-Aswan reach past Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, suited to travellers who want heritage and quiet.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 7Board full boardRoute Esna → Aswan

Fleet: Saray El Nile
Accommodation: 7 cabins · 1 suites
Built: 1882
Dimensions: 33 × 6 m
Route: Luxor, Esna lock, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, plus overnight moorings at small Nile islands
Trip length: 6 · 7 nights
Departures: Saturday (Luxor - Aswan) and Friday (Aswan - Luxor)
Season: Published 2026/2027 departure calendar runs January to May and October to December.

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

At sail

Day by day

Saray El Nil sails one published programme. Its own route: Luxor, Esna lock, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, plus overnight moorings at small Nile islands Departures saturday (luxor - aswan) and friday (aswan - 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.

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

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

7 cabins · 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 Saray El Nil.

That is the arithmetic of Saray El Nil'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 Saray El Nil costs in 2026/2027

The published rate is US$1,600 per person, 7-night , checked on 2026-09-05.

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

What this figure is, and is not

The published figure is quoted per person, 7-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 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

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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Good to know

Saray El Nil questions, answered

How much does Saray El Nil cost?

Advertised rates start from US$1,600 per person for 5 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Saray El Nil have?

7 cabins and 1 suites.

What route does Saray El Nil sail?

Luxor, Esna lock, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, plus overnight moorings at small Nile islands, departing Saturday (Luxor - Aswan) and Friday (Aswan - Luxor).

What's included on Saray El Nil?

Full board except lunches on domestic flight days, unlimited soft drinks, French-speaking Egyptologist guide, site entrance fees, airport transfers. Excludes flights and a EUR 55 per person visa/service fee collected on arrival.