Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan
Swan
Twelve cabins, three decks, quiet excursions
Swan is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Swan Dahabiya. It has 12 cabins and 2 suites for up to 20 guests and sails itineraries of 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.
Good to know
Twelve cabins, three decks, quiet excursions. A three-deck sailing dahabiya of twelve cabins for around twenty guests, running three to seven nights between Aswan and Luxor past Kom Ombo and Edfu, suited to small groups.
- Fleet
- Swan Dahabiya
- Accommodation
- 12 cabins · 2 suites
- Guests
- Up to 20
- Route
- Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor
- Trip length
- 3 · 4 · 7 nights
- Departures
- Friday from Aswan; Monday from Luxor
About Swan
Swan is a three-deck dahabiya of twelve cabins and two suites, around twenty guests, blending traditional craft with modern comforts. Double cabins run to twenty-four square metres and the premium suites to twenty-eight, each with panoramic windows over the river, a minibar and coffee service.
She sails between Aswan and Luxor, calling at Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna, on trips of three, four or seven nights, including round-trip loops from either end. Departures leave Aswan on Fridays and Luxor on Mondays, with excursions reaching quieter stops off the main line.
On deck are a Jacuzzi, an open-air lounge and a shaded sun terrace, with a bar lounge and restaurant below. Meals are full board - Egyptian organic cuisine, traditional and modern, alongside international dishes - with Wi-Fi throughout.
Highlights
- Twelve cabins and two suites, around twenty guests
- Three decks; suites with panoramic windows
- Three, four or seven nights, Aswan-Luxor
- Jacuzzi, sun terrace and open-air lounge
- Friday from Aswan, Monday from Luxor
At sail
Day by day
Swan sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor Departures friday from aswan; monday from 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.
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
12 cabins · up to 20 guests · whole boat from about US$7,192 a night
About US$7,192 a night for the whole boat, or roughly US$43,152 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 Swan.
That is the arithmetic of Swan'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 Swan costs in 2026/2027
The published rate is US$899 per person, 3-night , checked on 2026-08-30.
We are not publishing a trip total for Swan, 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, 3-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
- Luxury single cabin
- Luxury double cabin (24 sqm)
- Luxury premium suite (28 sqm, panoramic Nile views)
- Dining
- Full board - breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, plus hot beverages and water
- Egyptian organic cuisine, traditional and modern, alongside international dishes
- Evening entertainment
- Facilities
- Jacuzzi
- Sun deck / sun terrace
- Open-air lounge
- Bar lounge
- Restaurant
- Air conditioning in all cabins
- Panoramic cabin windows
- Minibar and coffee/tea service in cabins
- Wi-Fi throughout
- Itineraries
- 4 days / 3 nights Aswan - Kom Ombo - Edfu - Esna - Luxor
- 5 days / 4 nights Luxor - Esna - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan
- 8 days / 7 nights round trip ex Aswan (Aswan - Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor - Esna - Aswan)
- 8 days / 7 nights round trip ex Luxor
Keep planning
Plan your Nile cruise
Good to know
Swan questions, answered
How much does Swan cost?
Advertised rates start from US$899 per person for 3 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.
How many cabins does Swan have?
12 cabins and 2 suites, for up to 20 guests.
What route does Swan sail?
Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor, departing Friday from Aswan; Monday from Luxor.
What's included on Swan?
Airport transfers, ground transportation, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks), hot beverages and water, pool/jacuzzi access, sun deck, evening entertainment
What guests say
Independent traveller reviews of Swan, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.
5 out of 5via Tripadvisor (82)
- ★★★★★
“Our journey aboard the Swan Dahabiya was truly one of the highlights of our time in Egypt. … beautifully designed cabins, elegant common spaces, and a level of comfort that perfectly blends luxury with the charm of traditional Nile sailing. Dining on deck while sailing past ancient temples and villages along the Nile was an experience we'll never forget.”
— Misty, Plattsburgh, New York (USA) · via Tripadvisor
More dahabiyas to compare
Lazuli Karnak
Ten cabins under lateen sails, Esna to Aswan
Amoura
Ten cabins under sail, Esna to Aswan
Azhar
Twelve guests under lateen sail
