Nine days in Egypt, but not on a big cruise ship. This one is on a dahabiya — a traditional twin-masted sailing vessel with 8-10 cabins. No crowds, no fixed buffet times, no queue for the sundeck. The dahabiya moves at 8-10 km/h, so you actually see the Nile, not just the inside of a floating hotel.
Three days in Cairo first: the Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, and Old Cairo. Then fly to Luxor, board the Princess Farida Luxury Dahabiya, and sail south to Aswan over four nights. The dahabiya stops at villages, locks, and temples that big ships skip — Esna Lock, El Selsela gorge, the horse carriage ride to Edfu Temple.
The Princess Farida is a 5-star dahabiya. Full board is included (breakfast, lunch, dinner). Drinks — including water at meals — are extra.
What you actually see
Cairo — Days 1-3. Day 1 is arrival. Day 2 covers Giza Plateau (Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, Sphinx, Valley Temple), then Saqqara (Step Pyramid) and Memphis. Day 3 covers the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Citadel of Saladin, Coptic Cairo (Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue), and Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
Luxor — Day 4. Fly from Cairo in the morning. Board the dahabiya. Afternoon at Karnak Temple — the Hypostyle Hall with 134 columns. Then Luxor Temple, illuminated after sunset. Overnight moored in Luxor.
Luxor West Bank & Esna — Day 5. Valley of the Kings at 7:45 AM. Ticket covers 3 tombs. Then Hatshepsut’s Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. A 35-minute drive brings you to a village before Esna, where you rejoin the dahabiya. Sail through the Esna Lock — a memorable slice of everyday Nile life.
Edfu & El Selsela — Day 6. Horse-drawn carriage ride through Edfu to the Temple of Horus — one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Then sail south to El Selsela (Gebel Silsila), a sandstone gorge that supplied stone for many of Egypt’s temples. Quiet, dramatic, and empty of tourists.
Kom Ombo & Aswan — Day 7. Sail to Kom Ombo. The temple is unusual — two sanctuaries side by side, dedicated to Sobek (crocodile god) and Horus. Then sail to Aswan. Afternoon: Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple (boat ride to the island).
Cairo — Days 8-9. Disembark in Aswan. Fly back to Cairo. Day 8 is a free afternoon. Day 9 is departure.
About the Dahabiya
The Princess Farida is a 5-star dahabiya with 8-10 cabins. Twin-masted, traditional design, but modern amenities: en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, a sundeck with loungers, and a small library. Dining is on board — usually on the sundeck or in the main salon. The crew includes a chef, a captain, and a small service team.
Full board means breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included. Drinks (water, soft drinks, alcohol) are NOT included. Budget $15-25 per person per day for water and soft drinks. You can refill your own bottle from the ship’s filtered supply at the front desk.
The dahabiya sails for 3-5 hours per day, usually in the morning or late afternoon. The rest of the time you’re at temples or moored. It’s slow travel, on purpose.
About the flights
Two flights are included: Cairo → Luxor (Day 4) and Aswan → Cairo (Day 8). Both on EgyptAir, economy class. Luggage: 23 kg checked, 7 kg carry-on per person.
Important note on pricing: The $2,999 base price is based on double occupancy. Dahabiya cabins are limited (8-10 per sailing) and sell out faster than big cruise ships. High season (September-April) is $3,400-3,800 per person. Flight prices also change — booked 3+ months out, both flights total about $200-260 per person. Last-minute (under 3 weeks), they can reach $450-550 per person. We’ll quote you the exact price before confirming. We don’t markup flights or the dahabiya — you pay what the supplier charges.
The hotel
Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa (Cairo, 4 nights). 5-star, pyramid views from some rooms. Pool, several restaurants, spa. 10 minutes from the Giza plateau. 45 minutes from downtown Cairo in normal traffic.
What’s included
- 4 nights at Le Méridien Pyramids (Cairo)
- 4 nights on Princess Farida Luxury Dahabiya (full board)
- Two economy flights: Cairo→Luxor, Aswan→Cairo
- Daily breakfast
- Lunch on all tour days
- Dinner on dahabiya nights (4 nights)
- All entrance fees (Giza Plateau, Saqqara, Memphis, GEM, Citadel, Coptic Cairo, Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Edfu, Kom Ombo, High Dam, Philae)
- Private A/C vehicle in Cairo
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Airport transfers in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan
- Horse carriage at Edfu
- Taftaf at Valley of the Kings
- Motor boat to Philae Island
- Bottled water during tours
What’s not included
- International flights
- Visa ($25 on arrival for most nationalities)
- Drinks on the dahabiya (water, soft drinks, alcohol) — budget $15-25 per person per day
- Dinner in Cairo (4 nights — Day 1, 2, 3, 8)
- Tips for guide, driver, and dahabiya crew ($10-15 per person per day land, $5-8 dahabiya)
- Abu Simbel day trip ($350-400 by flight, $100-130 by road)
- Extra tombs in Valley of the Kings (Tutankhamun $20, Seti I $25)
- Optional hot air balloon in Luxor ($120-150)
- Travel insurance
Honest notes
Dahabiya is not a big cruise ship. If you want a pool, a gym, evening entertainment, and 100 other passengers, book a standard Nile cruise. The dahabiya has 8-10 cabins, no pool, no gym, and no shows. It has peace, quiet, and a view of the Nile that big ships can’t match.
Day 8 is a travel day. Disembark in Aswan, fly back to Cairo, check in at Le Méridien Pyramids. You arrive in the afternoon and have the rest of the day free. Day 9 is departure.
Drinks on the dahabiya are extra. Full board covers food only. Water with meals costs around $3-5 per bottle. Soft drinks $4-6. Beer $8-10. Wine $10-15 per glass. You can bring your own water bottle and refill from the ship’s filtered supply.
Abu Simbel is optional. Not included in the $2,999 price. If you want it, we schedule it on Day 7 morning before the Philae visit, or Day 8 morning before the flight. Flight: $350-400 per person. Road convoy: $100-130 per person.
Best time of year: October to April for cooler weather. Dahabiya sailings are limited in summer (June-August) because of the heat and low demand. Book 4-6 months ahead for October-April.
Saqqara and Memphis are on Day 2, not Day 3. Some operators split them. We keep them together because they’re close to Giza and make a natural full day.
Who this is for
- Couples and honeymooners who want privacy and quiet
- Travelers who’ve done big cruise ships and want something different
- Anyone who wants to actually sail the Nile, not motor down it
- People who prefer small groups (8-10 passengers, not 100+)
Who this is not for
- Travelers who want a pool, gym, and evening entertainment on board
- Families with young kids (no kids’ activities on a dahabiya)
- Anyone who gets bored without a fixed schedule
- Budget travelers — dahabiyas cost more per night than big cruise ships
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