Nile dahabiyaSailing dahabiyaEsna → Aswan

Zahra

Six cabins, flower-named, under sail

Zahra is a Nile dahabiya (a traditional wind-powered sailing boat) operated by Oriental Nile Cruises. It has 6 cabins for up to 12 guests and sails itineraries of 3 or 4 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

Six cabins, flower-named, under sail. A five-star sailing dahabiya of six river-view cabins, each named for a flower, working the classic Esna-to-Aswan reach on short three- and four-night hops.

Best for couples · unhurried travellersCabins 6 · up to 12 guestsBoard full boardRoute Esna → Aswan

Fleet: Oriental Nile Cruises
Accommodation: 6 cabins
Guests: Up to 12
Route: Esna (embarkation), El Kab, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Bassao Island, Gebel el Silsila, Kom Ombo (Temple of Sobek), El Herdiab Island, Daraw, Aswan (Philae, High Dam); Luxor sightseeing at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.
Trip length: 3 · 4 nights
Departures: Reported inconsistently: Monday Esna to Aswan (4 nights) and Friday Aswan to Esna (3 nights), with some 5-day programmes on Saturdays.

About Zahra

A five-star sailing dahabiya, Zahra carries six air-conditioned cabins that each take the name of a different flower, all opening to river views. Low thresholds keep the water close as she drifts the quiet reach south of Luxor.

She works the classic Esna-to-Aswan stretch on short hops, four nights southbound and three nights back, with longer Luxor-Aswan programmes also run. The sailing moors at El Kab, Bassao Island, Gebel el-Silsila and the shallows only a small boat can reach, taking in Edfu's Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo, the Daraw camel market and Aswan's Philae and High Dam.

On board are a restaurant, a sun deck and a spa, with full board chef-prepared meals. Cabins are air-conditioned with river views, and WiFi is listed among the facilities.

Highlights

Six cabins, each named for a flower
Five-star sailing dahabiya, river-view cabins
Three- and four-night Esna-Aswan hops
Moors at El Kab and Gebel el-Silsila
Full board chef-prepared dining

At sail

Day by day

Zahra sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Esna (embarkation), El Kab, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Bassao Island, Gebel el Silsila, Kom Ombo (Temple of Sobek), El Herdiab Island, Daraw, Aswan (Philae, High Dam); Luxor sightseeing at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings… Departures reported inconsistently: monday esna to aswan (4 nights) and friday aswan to esna (3 nights), with some 5-day programmes on saturdays.. 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

6 cabins · up to 12 guests · whole boat from about US$1,114 a night

About US$1,114 a night for the whole boat, or roughly US$6,684 for a six-night sailing.

A boat this size is a single family. Everyone eats at one table, the deck is yours alone, and the boat moves when your party is ready rather than when a schedule says so. Tell us your dates, and how many adults and children, and we will price the whole of Zahra.

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

The published rate is US$650 per person, 7-night , checked on 2026-09-05.

We are not publishing a trip total for Zahra, 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: Deluxe cabin - air-conditioned, river views, low thresholds; each cabin named after a flower
Dining: Full board, chef-prepared meals
Gourmet dining
Facilities: Restaurant
Sun deck
Gym
Wi-Fi
Air-conditioned cabins with river views
Spa
Itineraries: 4 nights Esna/Luxor to Aswan
3 nights Aswan to Esna
5 days / 4 nights Luxor to Aswan
4 days Aswan to Luxor
8 days Luxor-Aswan and Aswan-Luxor packages

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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Good to know

Zahra questions, answered

How much does Zahra cost?

Advertised rates start from US$650 per person; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Zahra have?

6 cabins, for up to 12 guests.

What route does Zahra sail?

Esna (embarkation), El Kab, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Bassao Island, Gebel el Silsila, Kom Ombo (Temple of Sobek), El Herdiab Island, Daraw, Aswan (Philae, High Dam); Luxor sightseeing at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings., departing Reported inconsistently: Monday Esna to Aswan (4 nights) and Friday Aswan to Esna (3 nights), with some 5-day programmes on Saturdays..

What's included on Zahra?

Accommodation, all meals, Egyptologist guide, site entrance fees, private transfers, beverages, taxes and service; excludes tips, flights, optional excursions, premium drinks