Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Sekhmet

Ten cabins under sail, Luxor to Aswan

Sekhmet is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Dahabeya Egypte, built 2000 and refurbished 2023. It has 10 cabins and sails itineraries of 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

Ten cabins under sail, Luxor to Aswan. A ten-cabin sailing dahabiya on the eight-day round trip between Luxor and Aswan, suited to travellers who want the temples at an unhurried, small-group pace.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 10Route Esna → Aswan

Fleet: Dahabeya Egypte
Accommodation: 10 cabins
Built: 2000
Dimensions: 35 × 7 m
Route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Hor Diab island, Aswan (Philae, Unfinished Obelisk), return to Luxor
Trip length: 7 nights
Departures: Every Saturday (Saturday to Saturday)
Season: 2026/2027 season departures published from January to May and October to December

About Sekhmet

Sekhmet is a two-deck dahabiya of ten cabins, built in 2000, sailing the classic eight-day, seven-night loop from Luxor up to Aswan and back. The route takes in the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut, the Esna lock, Edfu and Kom Ombo, a mooring at Hor Diab island, and Philae at Aswan before returning to Karnak and Luxor temples.

Much of the charm is on deck: a wide panoramic sun deck with a jacuzzi to cool off in, and a glazed, air-conditioned dining room for meals whatever the weather. Chef-prepared Egyptian and international dishes are often served outdoors under the stars, and the days ashore include a cooking class and lunch with a local family.

Nine of the cabins are superior cabins with French windows on the upper deck, with one triple cabin on the promenade deck. Every cabin has air conditioning, a private shower room, hairdryer, safe, mini-fridge and windows that open, with free Wi-Fi throughout. Departures run every Saturday across the winter and spring season.

Highlights

Ten cabins over two decks, built 2000
Eight-day Luxor to Aswan round trip
Panoramic sun deck with jacuzzi
Glazed air-conditioned dining room
Cooking class and lunch with a local family

At sail

Day by day

The canonical 5-day / 4-night rhythm on the Esna to Aswan reach; Sekhmet sails itineraries of 7 nights on the same water. Days flex with wind and mooring rights, which is half the point of a sailing boat.

Day 1
Embark at Esna
Transfer in, settle into your cabin, and a first sail south as the crew raises the lateen sails.
Lunch · Dinner
Day 2
Edfu · Temple of Horus
The best preserved temple in Egypt in the morning quiet, then onward to an island mooring.
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 3
The quiet Nile
A sailing day: village walks where the boat moors, swimming off the deck where conditions allow, tea as the sails come down.
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 4
Kom Ombo
The double temple to Sobek and Horus late in the day, then a last night on the water short of Aswan.
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 5
Disembark at Aswan
Ashore after breakfast. Philae Temple sits twenty minutes away, and Abu Simbel works as an extension.
Breakfast

Take the whole boat

10 cabins · whole boat from about US$2,223 a night

About US$2,223 a night for the whole boat, or roughly US$13,338 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 Sekhmet.

That is the arithmetic of Sekhmet'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 Sekhmet costs in 2026/2027

The published rate is US$778 per person, 7-night , checked on 2026-09-05.

We are not publishing a trip total for Sekhmet, 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, 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: Superior cabin with French window x9 (upper deck)
Triple cabin x1 (promenade deck)
Dining: Chef-prepared authentic Egyptian and international cuisine, often served outdoors under the stars
Unlimited soft drinks included; local beer approx. EUR 7 and local wine approx. EUR 20 payable extra
On-board cooking class; lunch with a local family ashore; farewell dinner
Facilities: Large panoramic sun deck / solarium
Jacuzzi
Air-conditioned glazed dining room
Indoor salon
Air conditioning in all cabins
Private shower room, hairdryer, safe, mini-fridge and opening exterior windows in every cabin
Free Wi-Fi
EU 220V sockets
Itineraries: 8 days / 7 nights Luxor - Aswan - Luxor round trip (Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Esna lock, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Hor Diab island, Aswan/Philae, back to Luxor for Karnak and Luxor temples)

Keep planning

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Good to know

Sekhmet questions, answered

How much does Sekhmet cost?

Advertised rates start from US$778 per person for 7 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Sekhmet have?

10 cabins.

What route does Sekhmet sail?

Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Hor Diab island, Aswan (Philae, Unfinished Obelisk), return to Luxor, departing Every Saturday (Saturday to Saturday).

What's included on Sekhmet?

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; optional Abu Simbel excursion +EUR 120.