Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Storia the Dahabeya

Ten cabins under sail, Luxor to Aswan

Storia the Dahabeya is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by The AND Group Nile Cruises (AD Nile Cruises). It has 8 cabins and 2 suites for up to 18 guests and sails itineraries of 3 or 4 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

Ten cabins under sail, Luxor to Aswan. A modern sailing dahabiya of eight cabins and two suites carrying up to eighteen guests between Luxor and Aswan, suited to travellers wanting a small, unhurried Nile.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 8 · up to 18 guestsRoute Esna → Aswan

Fleet: The AND Group Nile Cruises (AD Nile Cruises)
Accommodation: 8 cabins · 2 suites
Guests: Up to 18
Dimensions: 72 m
Route: Luxor - Esna (lock) - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan (Philae / High Dam), and the reverse
Trip length: 3 · 4 nights
Departures: Mondays from Luxor (4 and 7 nights) and Fridays from Aswan (3 and 7 nights).
Season: Operates around all year.

About Storia the Dahabeya

Storia sails the quiet reach between Luxor and Aswan for no more than eighteen guests, in eight cabins and two suites. The route follows the classic ports, through the Esna lock to Edfu and Kom Ombo and on to Aswan, at the drifting pace that lets the temples be seen without the crowds of the big ships.

Cabins and suites carry king or twin beds, and the larger Polaris and Moonlight suites add living areas and indoor glass balconies. Four venues handle the eating and drinking across the day, from the window-lined Dining Room to the upper-deck Veranda with its starlit barbecue.

Onboard there is a plunge pool, a spa, a gym with Nile views and a sun deck, alongside Egyptology sessions, cooking classes and stargazing. The boat can be booked whole for a private group.

Highlights

Eight cabins and two suites, up to 18 guests
Luxor to Aswan via Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo
Four dining and bar venues aboard
Plunge pool, spa, gym and sun deck
Egyptology talks, cooking classes, stargazing

At sail

Day by day

Storia the Dahabeya sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor - Esna (lock) - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan (Philae / High Dam), and the reverse Departures mondays from luxor (4 and 7 nights) and fridays from aswan (3 and 7 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.

Take the whole boat

8 cabins · up to 18 guests · whole boat from about US$7,396 a night

About US$7,396 a night for the whole boat, or roughly US$44,376 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 Storia the Dahabeya.

That is the arithmetic of Storia the Dahabeya'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 Storia the Dahabeya costs in 2026/2027

The published rate is US$1,849 'Starting at' price for the 5 Days / 4 Nights Luxor-to-Aswan departure (every Monday). Per-guest 'from' price as presented by the reseller. , checked on 2026-08-30.

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

What this figure is, and is not

This is the operator's own advertised rate, not a quote from us.
The published figure is quoted 'Starting at' price for the 5 Days / 4 Nights Luxor-to-Aswan departure (every Monday). Per-guest 'from' price as presented by the reseller., 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: Luxury Cabin - 28 sqm (301 square feet), King bed, occupancy 2
Luxury Cabin Twin - 28 sqm, Twin beds, occupancy 2
Accessible Luxury Cabin - wheelchair accessible
Polaris Suite - 1, 60 sqm, King bed, occupancy 3; includes living area, desk, indoor glass balcony
Moonlight Suite - 1, 70 sqm, King bed, occupancy 3; extended living room, indoor glass balcony, bathroom with freestanding tub and shower
Dining: The Dining Room - main restaurant, floor-to-ceiling windows, locally sourced seasonal menus
The Salon Bar and Lounge - cocktails and light bites
The Terrace - poolside breakfast/lunch/dinner and craft cocktails
The Veranda - upper deck, mixology and starlit BBQ.
Facilities: Plunge pool
Sun deck / solarium
Spa (natural-oil treatments)
Gymnasium with Nile views
Elevator
Library/lounge areas
24-hour security
Doctor on call
Wheelchair accessible cabin and elevator
Egyptology sessions, cooking classes, star gazing
Itineraries: 4 nights / 5 days Luxor to Aswan via Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo (every Monday from Luxor)
3 nights / 4 days Aswan to Luxor via Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna Lock (every Friday from Aswan)
7-night Luxor-to-Luxor and 7-night Aswan-to-Aswan round trips

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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Good to know

Storia the Dahabeya questions, answered

How much does Storia the Dahabeya cost?

Advertised rates start from US$1,849 per person for 3 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Storia the Dahabeya have?

8 cabins and 2 suites, for up to 18 guests.

What route does Storia the Dahabeya sail?

Luxor - Esna (lock) - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan (Philae / High Dam), and the reverse, departing Mondays from Luxor (4 and 7 nights) and Fridays from Aswan (3 and 7 nights)..

What's included on Storia the Dahabeya?

Full board on board plus guided excursions with entrance fees per the itinerary

What guests say

Independent traveller reviews of Storia the Dahabeya, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.

5 out of 5via Tripadvisor (43)

★★★★★
“The best trip we've ever taken! … The pictures don't do this boat justice; the reality is far better. It's incredible. Lunch was a 6-course meal each day, breakfast was brilliant, and a fantastic evening meal on the upper deck each night.”
— James, Manchester, United Kingdom · via Tripadvisor