Egypt Private Nile Cruise: Luxury Dahabiya Adventure – 12 Days

Sail the Nile in style on a private luxury dahabiya, exploring Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel. 

This 12-day journey combines ancient wonders, cultural immersion, and serene river cruising for an unforgettable Egyptian adventure.

We start with three nights in Cairo, exploring its museums, neighbourhoods, and monuments. 

We then fly to Luxor where we board a private dahabiya for seven nights on the Nile, sailing south to Aswan and back with stops at temples, tombs, and villages along the way. 

A flight back to Cairo and a final overnight concludes this trip.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Cairo

We’ll be picked up at the surprisingly modern and calm Cairo airport (Cairo is many things, many great things, but modern and calm are not two of them) and taken to our hotel and see some of this marvellous city as we cross it to the Nile.

We’ll settle in, meet Younes, our guide and private Egyptologist who’ll be accompanying us on our trip, and then we rest, familiarize ourselves with the hotel, or venture out into the city to get a taste of its unique energy. People know Cairo as a gateway to the pyramids and Ancient Egypt, and it is, but it is so much more, one of the great cities of the world, more like Lagos or Mexico City than Paris or Berlin, but very much something you’ll want to experience at least a little of.

Ask your guide for recommendations of nearby cafes, or which neighbourhoods to take a car to.

Day 2 Grand Egyptian Museum & Pyramids of Giza

We set out together in private transportation for a full day, that gives us two very different encounters with ancient Egypt.

First, we visit the recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum. This is the world’s most important collection of archaeological artifacts, including parts of the Tutankhamun collection displayed all together for the first time. The scale is unlike any other museum in the country, and it is one of the finest in the world.

From there, we continue to the Giza Plateau. The three main pyramids—Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure—still stand at the edge of Cairo’s sprawl. We’ll take time at several key vantage points, including the panoramic lookout and the base of the Great Pyramid. The Sphinx, partly buried for much of its history, sits just down from Khafre’s causeway.

We end with a meal at the 9 Pyramids Lounge, set slightly apart from the main site, with an open view across the desert to all nine pyramids, from the major tombs to the smaller satellite structures.

This is what most of us picture when we picture Egypt, and it doesn’t disappoint.

But this is only the beginning.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 Coptic Cairo, Garbage City, City of Tahrir

We spend the day with our Egyptologist and host exploring Cairo in layers. We begin in Manshiyat Naser, sometimes called Garbage City, where waste collection and informal recycling have shaped a distinct part of the urban fabric.

Nearby, the Monastery of Saint Simon is partly carved into the Mokattam cliffs and large enough to hold thousands during services.

From there, we cross to Old Cairo. In the Coptic quarter, we walk through narrow lanes to visit the Hanging Church, one of the oldest in the city, built atop a Roman gate.

Later, we visit the Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa'i mosques— neighbouring structures near the Citadel, built centuries apart but aligned in scale. One was once the tallest structure in Cairo; the other houses several royal tombs, including that of the last Shah of Iran.

We break for lunch at Zeyara on El Moez Street, in the heart of the historic Fatimid city.

After a short return to the hotel, we reconvene for an exclusive private visit to the original Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, opened specially for our group.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 Arrival in Luxor, Karnak & Luxor temples & Embarkation

We’ll fly south from Cairo to Luxor this morning, a flight of just over an hour. Once we arrive, we’ll board our dahabiya, a luxurious version of the more traditional river vessels adapted and built for modern day Nile cruising, and settle into our cabins before lunch on board.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit Karnak and Luxor Temples. Karnak was expanded over generations by pharaohs who each added gateways, halls, and sanctuaries. The result is a series of structures aligned along ancient sightlines and rebuilt with increasingly massive stones. The Temple of Luxor stands closer to the river. Unlike Karnak, it holds fewer additions and gives a clearer sense of the layout and symbolism of a single religious complex.

We’ll return to the boat for the rest of the afternoon. The dahabiya remains docked overnight, giving us time to rest before our journey begins. Dinner will be served on board.

Luxor occupies the site of ancient Waset, a major religious centre that the Greeks later called Thebes. The ruins here cover both banks of the Nile and include some of the most studied architecture in the world.

• Your Dahabiya: Nawara or similar (7 Nights)

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Valley of the Kings & Esna

We begin with breakfast on board, then cross the Nile to the western bank. This was the land of mortuary temples and royal tombs. Our visit includes several important sites: the Valley of the Kings, the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el- Bahari, and the tomb of Seti I—a rare inclusion, since most travellers only see its facsimile. The original is among the deepest and most intricately decorated tombs in the valley and is only available to us with a special entrance pass.

The itinerary continues with the temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu, where carved reliefs record scenes of military campaigns and ritual life. Before returning to the boat, we’ll stop for a photograph near the Colossi of Memnon, two seated statues that once guarded the entrance to a temple now largely vanished.

Lunch is served on board before we begin our slow sail toward Esna. The dahabiya meanders back and forth along the river, with open views of fields, riverbanks, and small villages along the way.

We dock for the night in Esna. Dinner is served on board, under a quiet stretch of sky between temple cities.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Esna Lock, Edfu & Ramadi Island

After breakfast on board, we pass through the Esna lock. From there, we continue sailing south toward El Kab, a site that once marked the edge of the desert route to the Red Sea. Its tombs, cut directly into the cliff face, belonged to local governors who held power during Egypt’s early dynasties.

Lunch is served on board as we continue along the river. In the afternoon, we stop at Edfu to visit the temple of Horus. This is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, with a complete set of ritual spaces and reliefs that show how the annual festivals were conducted. The walls, columns, and pylons are largely intact, giving a clear sense of how a major temple once functioned.

After our visit, we return to the dahabiya and continue sailing toward Ramadi, a small river island where we dock for the night. The boat moors on this quiet island away from all the larger cruise boats, giving us a quieter view of the Nile.

Dinner is served on board as we settle into this next stretch of the journey.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Besaw, Gebal El Silsila, Kom Ombo & Herdyab Island

After breakfast, we sail toward Besaw, a riverside village where we’ll disembark for a short walk. The village visit offers a chance to see how life continues along the Nile, shaped by water levels, planting seasons, and longstanding patterns of settlement.

We continue south to Gebel el-Silsila, a narrow stretch of river flanked by sandstone cliffs. This was once a major quarry site supplying temples up and down the Nile. Shrines, stelae, and unfinished carvings remain visible in the stone, along with chapels built by New Kingdom pharaohs.

Lunch is served on board as we sail to Kom Ombo. The temple here is unusual in its symmetrical layout, with two identical halves dedicated to Horus the Elder and Sobek, the crocodile god. Reliefs here include detailed medical instruments and calendars, carved into the inner walls.

We continue sailing toward Herdyab Island, where we dock for the night. The boat remains anchored offshore in a quiet stretch of the river, away from roads and traffic. Dinner is served on board as the light fades across the eastern cliffs.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Aswan

After breakfast, we sail toward Aswan. The approach into the city is slower here, with granite outcrops rising from the river and small islands breaking the current.

Lunch is served on board as we arrive. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the temple of Philae, rebuilt stone by stone on Agilkia Island after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The temple honours Isis and includes shrines, gateways, and a columned court, all relocated in the 1970s to save them from flooding.

We’ll also visit the High Dam itself, a vast modern structure that reshaped Egypt’s relationship with the Nile. It’s one of the largest embankment dams in the world and marks a major shift in the country’s hydraulic history.

The afternoon ends with High Tea at the Old Cataract Hotel, a 19th-century property overlooking the river. The terrace here gives a clear view across the first cataract and Elephantine Island.

Dinner is served on board, and we dock overnight in Aswan. The boat remains moored close to the old city, where river traffic slows and the sky stays clear well into the evening.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Optional Excursion to Abu Simbel

The day begins in Aswan, with time at leisure for those who stay behind.

Optional Excursion: Abu Simbel

Travellers who choose the optional side trip to Abu Simbel will depart early in the morning for the short flight south. The temples, carved into the rock by Ramesses II, include four seated statues at the entrance and a sanctuary aligned with the sun. The site was moved in the 1960s to avoid being flooded by Lake Nasser.

Those who remain in Aswan will join our host for a guided walk through the souk. The market runs along Sharia al-Souq and features spices, dried hibiscus, and woven goods from both Nubian and Upper Egyptian producers. Transfers to and from the boat are included.

Time permitting, we’ll also visit a glass blowing and essential oil workshop - the purveyors here will give us a short demonstration of the creation of intricate glass vases and a chance to sample a range of fragrances produced from the wildflowers of the country.

We return to the dahabiya for a late lunch on board, then continue sailing north. Dinner is served on board, and we dock overnight in Edfu. The river narrows here, and the boat remains close to shore, with cultivated fields stretching inland from the water.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Sail Back to Luxor

We begin the day with breakfast on board, then raise sail for a full day on the river. This is one of the longest uninterrupted

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 Arrival in Luxor, Karnak & Luxor temples & Embarkation

We’ll fly south from Cairo to Luxor this morning, a flight of just over an hour. Once we arrive, we’ll board our dahabiya, a luxurious version of the more traditional river vessels adapted and built for modern day Nile cruising, and settle into our cabins before lunch on board.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit Karnak and Luxor Temples. Karnak was expanded over generations by pharaohs who each added gateways, halls, and sanctuaries. The result is a series of structures aligned along ancient sightlines and rebuilt with increasingly massive stones. The Temple of Luxor stands closer to the river. Unlike Karnak, it holds fewer additions and gives a clearer sense of the layout and symbolism of a single religious complex.

We’ll return to the boat for the rest of the afternoon. The dahabiya remains docked overnight, giving us time to rest before our journey begins. Dinner will be served on board.

Luxor occupies the site of ancient Waset, a major religious centre that the Greeks later called Thebes. The ruins here cover both banks of the Nile and include some of the most studied architecture in the world.

• Your Dahabiya: Nawara or similar (7 Nights)

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Valley of the Kings & Esna

We begin with breakfast on board, then cross the Nile to the western bank. This was the land of mortuary temples and royal tombs. Our visit includes several important sites: the Valley of the Kings, the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el- Bahari, and the tomb of Seti I—a rare inclusion, since most travellers only see its facsimile. The original is among the deepest and most intricately decorated tombs in the valley and is only available to us with a special entrance pass.

The itinerary continues with the temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu, where carved reliefs record scenes of military campaigns and ritual life. Before returning to the boat, we’ll stop for a photograph near the Colossi of Memnon, two seated statues that once guarded the entrance to a temple now largely vanished.

Lunch is served on board before we begin our slow sail toward Esna. The dahabiya meanders back and forth along the river, with open views of fields, riverbanks, and small villages along the way.

We dock for the night in Esna. Dinner is served on board, under a quiet stretch of sky between temple cities.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Esna Lock, Edfu & Ramadi Island

After breakfast on board, we pass through the Esna lock. From there, we continue sailing south toward El Kab, a site that once marked the edge of the desert route to the Red Sea. Its tombs, cut directly into the cliff face, belonged to local governors who held power during Egypt’s early dynasties.

Lunch is served on board as we continue along the river. In the afternoon, we stop at Edfu to visit the temple of Horus. This is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, with a complete set of ritual spaces and reliefs that show how the annual festivals were conducted. The walls, columns, and pylons are largely intact, giving a clear sense of how a major temple once functioned.

After our visit, we return to the dahabiya and continue sailing toward Ramadi, a small river island where we dock for the night. The boat moors on this quiet island away from all the larger cruise boats, giving us a quieter view of the Nile.

Dinner is served on board as we settle into this next stretch of the journey.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Besaw, Gebal El Silsila, Kom Ombo & Herdyab Island

After breakfast, we sail toward Besaw, a riverside village where we’ll disembark for a short walk. The village visit offers a chance to see how life continues along the Nile, shaped by water levels, planting seasons, and longstanding patterns of settlement.

We continue south to Gebel el-Silsila, a narrow stretch of river flanked by sandstone cliffs. This was once a major quarry site supplying temples up and down the Nile. Shrines, stelae, and unfinished carvings remain visible in the stone, along with chapels built by New Kingdom pharaohs.

Lunch is served on board as we sail to Kom Ombo. The temple here is unusual in its symmetrical layout, with two identical halves dedicated to Horus the Elder and Sobek, the crocodile god. Reliefs here include detailed medical instruments and calendars, carved into the inner walls.

We continue sailing toward Herdyab Island, where we dock for the night. The boat remains anchored offshore in a quiet stretch of the river, away from roads and traffic. Dinner is served on board as the light fades across the eastern cliffs.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Aswan

After breakfast, we sail toward Aswan. The approach into the city is slower here, with granite outcrops rising from the river and small islands breaking the current.

Lunch is served on board as we arrive. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the temple of Philae, rebuilt stone by stone on Agilkia Island after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The temple honours Isis and includes shrines, gateways, and a columned court, all relocated in the 1970s to save them from flooding.

We’ll also visit the High Dam itself, a vast modern structure that reshaped Egypt’s relationship with the Nile. It’s one of the largest embankment dams in the world and marks a major shift in the country’s hydraulic history.

The afternoon ends with High Tea at the Old Cataract Hotel, a 19th-century property overlooking the river. The terrace here gives a clear view across the first cataract and Elephantine Island.

Dinner is served on board, and we dock overnight in Aswan. The boat remains moored close to the old city, where river traffic slows and the sky stays clear well into the evening.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Optional Excursion to Abu Simbel

The day begins in Aswan, with time at leisure for those who stay behind.

Optional Excursion: Abu Simbel

Travellers who choose the optional side trip to Abu Simbel will depart early in the morning for the short flight south. The temples, carved into the rock by Ramesses II, include four seated statues at the entrance and a sanctuary aligned with the sun. The site was moved in the 1960s to avoid being flooded by Lake Nasser.

Those who remain in Aswan will join our host for a guided walk through the souk. The market runs along Sharia al-Souq and features spices, dried hibiscus, and woven goods from both Nubian and Upper Egyptian producers. Transfers to and from the boat are included.

Time permitting, we’ll also visit a glass blowing and essential oil workshop - the purveyors here will give us a short demonstration of the creation of intricate glass vases and a chance to sample a range of fragrances produced from the wildflowers of the country.

We return to the dahabiya for a late lunch on board, then continue sailing north. Dinner is served on board, and we dock overnight in Edfu. The river narrows here, and the boat remains close to shore, with cultivated fields stretching inland from the water.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Sail Back to Luxor

We begin the day with breakfast on board, then raise sail for a full day on the river. This is one of the longest uninterrupted