Top rated1 / 5
3 nights · dahabiya
Luxury dahabiya sailing cruise
★ 4.8 (63 reviews)
The best-reviewed boat on the river: Philae, Kom Ombo, Gebel el-Silsila, a village and Edfu.
All mealsHot drinksGuide
from $1,100
Home › Dahabiya
Dahabiya Nile cruise Aswan to Luxor – slow sailing, small boats
A dahabiya is a wooden sailing boat with a handful of cabins, all meals on board and stops the big ships skip. From Aswan it costs from $900 per person; an open felucca, where you sleep on deck, starts at $230.
Updated Nov 2026 · Prices checked Nov 2026 · per person, two sharing
Top rated sailing boat
Luxury dahabiya sailing cruise
★ 4.8 (63 reviews) · 3 nights
All mealsincluded
Hot drinksincluded
Entry feesnot included
from $1,100Check dates
Which sailing boat?
Dahabiya: a small sailing boat with cabins
Private cabins with a bathroom, meals on deck and a slow route with stops the ships skip.
CabinsAll mealsGuide
3 boats · from $900
See these boatsQuick answer
A dahabiya cruise from Aswan to Luxor costs from $900 per person for two nights and from $1,100 for three, with all meals included. A felucca costs from $230 a night: you sleep on deck and finish the trip to Luxor by car.
- 3 + 3
dahabiyas and feluccas - ~32
guests on the boutique dahabiya - Silsila
a stop big ships skip - Cheaper
in winter on dahabiyas
The three dahabiyas
3 night dahabiya Nile cruise Aswan to Luxor
Two dahabiyas sail three nights and one sails two. The 3-night boats follow the same itinerary with Gebel el-Silsila and a village visit; they differ in price and in how many guests have reviewed them.
Top rated1 / 5
Shortest1 / 3
2 nights · dahabiya
2-night boutique dahabiya
★ 5.0 (3 reviews)
A wind-powered boat for about 32 guests with Wi-Fi, laundry and a party on board on the last night.
All mealsWi-Fi~32 guests
from $900
New1 / 3
3 nights · dahabiya
4-day luxury dahabiya
New, no reviews yet
The same 3-night itinerary as the top-rated boat on a newer listing, at the highest price.
All mealsHot drinksGuide
from $2,100
Side by side
Dahabiya or cruise ship from Aswan?
A dahabiya trades the pool deck and the crowd of a big ship for a quiet boat and a few extra stops. It costs about twice as much per person, and you sail at the wind's pace.
Sailing boat
Dahabiya
Motor ship
Cruise ship
Size
a small wooden boat, about 32 guests on one
a large 5-star ship
Extra stops
Gebel el-Silsila, a village
none
Moves by
wind (engine-free on the boutique boat)
engine
Pool on deck
no
on many ships
3 nights from, per person
$1,100
$450
Best for
a quiet, slower trip
a lower price
Check dates for 2 nights on a dahabiya · live dates and prices for the 2-night boutique dahabiya
Powered by GetYourGuide
What you pay and what you get
Dahabiya Nile cruise Aswan to Luxor price
Dahabiyas cost $900 to $2,100 per person on GetYourGuide. All meals from the first lunch to the last breakfast, water and hot drinks, the guide and the transfers in Aswan and Luxor are in the price. Temple tickets are not, and alcohol is extra.
Unlike the big ships, dahabiyas were cheaper in winter than in summer when we checked: the top-rated boat cost $1,100 for a winter departure and $1,200 in summer, and the boutique boat $900 against $1,200.
All mealsWater, tea, coffeeGuideTransfersEntry fees extraAlcohol extra
2-night boutique dahabiya$900
2 nights · winter $900 · summer $1,200
Luxury dahabiya sailing cruise$1,100
3 nights · winter $1,100 · summer $1,200
4-day luxury dahabiya$2,100
3 nights · one sample price, new listing
Source: GetYourGuide, a winter and a summer departure · Nov 2026
How the days go
4-day luxury dahabiya Nile cruise Aswan to Luxor, day by day
The boat sails most mornings and moors in quiet spots at night. Compared with a ship, you gain Gebel el-Silsila, the old sandstone quarries, and a village visit; you lose the speed.
Day 1Aswan and Philae
Pickup, check-in and lunch on board, then Philae temple. The first night is spent on the boat.
Day 2Sailing to Kom Ombo
A morning under sail and the twin temple of Kom Ombo in the afternoon.
Day 3Silsila, a village, Edfu
The sandstone quarries of Gebel el-Silsila, a local village, then the Temple of Horus at Edfu.
Day 4Luxor
The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Karnak, then the transfer to your hotel.
Meals are served on deck
The covered loungeBoarding at the quay“The experience on the dahabiya was a highlight of our trip to Egypt. The staff made us feel so comfortable and the relaxing view over the Nile was incredibly idyllic.”Patricia, United Kingdom · luxury dahabiya sailing cruise
The budget way to sail
2 nights sailing Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor
A felucca is an open sailing boat with no engine and no cabins. You sail from Aswan with the crew, sleep on deck under blankets and mosquito nets, and a driver takes you on to Edfu and Luxor, because the sailing part ends upriver.
1night on deck
sail to Daraw
★ 4.7 · 3 reviewssail to Daraw
1-night felucca sail
MealsWaterCar to Luxor
One night on the river to Daraw, then Kom Ombo and Edfu by road and on to your hotel in Luxor.
from $230
2nights on deck
sail to Kom Ombo
★ 5.0 · 1 reviewsail to Kom Ombo
2-night felucca sail
Daraw villageBlankets and netsCar to Luxor
Two nights sailing to Kom Ombo with a visit to Daraw village and its market before the drive to Luxor.
from $340
3nights on deck
sail to El Silsila
★ 5.0 · 2 reviewssail to El Silsila
3-night felucca sail
Gebel el-SilsilaDaraw villageCar to Luxor
The longest felucca sail, as far as Gebel el-Silsila, then by car via Edfu to Luxor.
from $450
All three feluccas have between 1 and 3 reviews so far. Temple tickets, drinks and tips are not included.
Check dates for a felucca · live dates and prices for the 2-night felucca sail
Powered by GetYourGuide
Before a night on deck
What to bring on a felucca from Aswan
The crew provides meals, water, tea and coffee, blankets and mosquito nets. Everything else you carry yourself, and nights on the river get cold in winter.
A warm jacket
nights on deck are cold in winter
Towel
not provided on a felucca
Sun hat and sunscreen
there is little shade on deck
Sunglasses
glare off the water
Passport or ID
needed on board
Cash for tips
crew and driver
Reviews
What guests say about sailing from Aswan
Guests praise the crews, the food cooked on board and the quiet of a boat without an engine.
★★★★★
“We had an absolutely incredible experience aboard the Dahabiya Prince Anoush - it truly was a dream trip from start to finish.”
Luxury dahabiya sailing cruise →
★★★★★
“Sailing without an engine, as has always been done, is a highly recommended luxury. It was a great choice. We would do it again without hesitation.”
2-night felucca sail →
★★★★★
“Beautiful boat and amazing staff, lovely cruise and nice food.”
2-night boutique dahabiya →
Dates and live prices
Check dates for the luxury dahabiya
Pick a date to see the live price for your group. Reserve now, pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before.
Powered by GetYourGuide
Good to know
Dahabiya Nile cruise from Aswan, questions travellers ask
Is a dahabiya Nile cruise from Aswan worth the price?
If you want a quiet boat and stops the big ships skip, yes. It costs about twice a standard ship cruise; for the lowest price, a ship or a felucca is better value.
How many guests does a dahabiya take?
Far fewer than a ship. The boutique dahabiya states a capacity of about 32 guests; the other listings do not give a number.
Is a felucca safe overnight?
The felucca trips here sail with a crew who cook and look after you. They are basic: you sleep on deck under blankets and mosquito nets, so they suit travellers comfortable with simple conditions.
Is there a toilet on a felucca?
The listings do not say. Feluccas are small open boats without cabins, so ask the operator before booking if this matters to you.
Do dahabiyas stop where big ships cannot?
Yes. The 3-night and 2-night dahabiyas here visit Gebel el-Silsila and a local village, which the ship cruises do not.
Dahabiya or cruise ship for families?
A ship usually has a pool and more space, and costs less per person. A dahabiya suits families who want a calm boat and are happy with fewer facilities.
Can you book a private dahabiya?
Not as a separate product on GetYourGuide for this route. The dahabiyas here are shared with other guests.
Not sure a sailing boat is for you?
Compare it with the other ways down the river.