• Dahabiya Nile Sailing •

Dahabiya Sailing on the Nile

Highlights of Egypt and Dahabiya sailing in the Nile in 9 days

9 days - 8 nights: Cairo - Abu Simbel - Aswan - sailing the Nile on board Dahabiya - Luxor

Day by Day Itinerary

Short Description: This tour covers the highlights of Egypt in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, as well as some sites rarely visited by tourists. The highlight of this tour is sailing the Nile in comfort on board a traditional sailing boat called the Dahabiya, as the Ancient Egyptians did thousands of years ago.

*The preferred day to start this tour is Friday, but we can organize other departure dates for 3+ cabins.

*All our guides have a background in Egyptology, history, archeology and guiding. They are all officially licensed guides.

bent pyramid,Dahshur

Day 1

Visit Saqqara. Include the Step pyramid, Titi pyramid, the Nobles tombs.

Visit Dahshur. Include the bent pyramid and the Red pyramid.

Lunch at Saqqara- a good place to try Egyptian food. Normally they serve a mixed grill, kofta, and lots of small dishes filled with appetisers.

Visit Giza. view the Great Pyramid, The Sphinx, Khara pyramid, Menkawra pyramid and, the nobles tombs.

Camel ride in the desert around the Giza Pyramids to the Sphinx for around 40 minutes.Night stay in Cairo . 

The tour duration 8-9 hours. 

Day 2

Visit the Egyptian museum. Including King Tut Ankh Amon collection. Or the Grand Egyptian Museum when open. 

Walking tour in Downtown Cairo.  

Lunch at Abo Tarek, famous for Koshri as the most common fast food in Egypt, is a mix of  rice, pasta, little, check bees, fried onion, and tomato sauce.

Visit Coptic/Old Cairo. Include the hanging church and Abu Serga Church.

The tour duration 7-8 hours.

Night stay in a Cairo

Egyptian Museum in Cairo
View of the Philae Temple in Aswan from a serene felucca ride on the Nile River

Day 3

Transfer to Cairo Airport and fly to Aswan . 1.5  hour flight. 

Visit the High Dam.  

Visit Philae temple.

Visit the unfinished obelisk. 

Lunch and check in the hotel. 

Afternoon/Sunset: Felucca ride on the Nile River to view the following: The Nobles tombs – Agha Khan Mausoleum – the Plantation Island and the Old Cataract hotel. 

Day 4

Early morning travel to Abu Simbel temple (4 hours drive each way) 

Visit the temple of Ramses and Nefertari. 

Drive back to Aswan. 

The tour duration 9-10 hours 

Noon: check into the Dahabiya. Lunch and sailing. Dinner and overnight on board in Daraw

Abu Simbel,Aswan

Day 5

Breakfast on board. In the town of Daraw you learn how to shop like a local at the market, visit a barn to meet camels and learn about the camel trade, and visit a Nubian village.  Visit Kom Ombo temple. Lunch on board. Sailing to El Selsela ancient sandstone quarry and shrines.  Dinner and overnight on board near Bisaw.

Day 6

Breakfast in a local home or on board. Explore Bisaw Island, walk through farms and meet the villagers. Join the men in their boats to share the experience of Nile fishing. Sail to Edfu, horse carriages to visit the Temple of Horus. Lunch on board. Dinner and night stay on board in El Hegz.

a fisherman at Bisaw Island aswan

Day 7

Breakfast on board. Sail to Esna. Check out the dahabiya after breakfast. We visit the Temple, restored caravanserai and market. Esna is part of the Luxor governorate, we drive about an hour from Esna to Luxor.

Check in the hotel in Luxor. 

Afternoon: 

Visit Karnak Temple .Visit Luxor temple 

Tour Duration: 3-4 hours

Day 8

Visit the Valley of the Kings. Your tour guide will lead you to the most important tombs among the opened tombs in the valley – You are allowed to visit 3 tombs amongst more than 10 tombs that are currently open. 

Snacks

Visit Hatshepsut temple. Visit the Ancient Workmen Village (Deir El Medina)

Visit a local farmer’s house for a late Lunch or dinner. 

Transfer to Luxor Airport, assist and help for your flight to Cairo
Arrive in Cairo, meet and assist
Transfer to your Hotel
Night Stay in Cairo

Valley Of The Kings luxor
Citadel

Day 9

Visit the Citadel. Including  Mohamed Ali mosque.

Lunch at El Azhar park. A beautiful park in the center of Cairo, on the top of a hill overlooking the city.

Walking tour in El Muizz St, of Medieval Cairo. The most preserved area with medieval Islamic architecture such as Mosques, Houses, markets, and other Medieval architecture. It’s a perfect place to experience the local culture of Egypt today.

Visit Khan El Khalili market.

Detailed days

30 km (19 miles) from Cairo, Saqqara is an archaeological site that continues to reveal its treasures through new discoveries. The site covers 7 kilometres (4.4 miles) on the west bank of the Nile. Saqqara, best known for its step pyramids, was the necropolis of the Egyptian capital, Memphis. Buried here were people as well as many sacred animals. Construction here continued from 3,050 BC with 1st Dynasty funerary structures to 6th century AD Coptic monasteries. The highlights of the site are the step pyramid (pyramid of Djoser), pyramid of Unas, and the Nobles tombs. Other sites may be visited depending on time and availability, such as the Serapeum and Imhotep Museum.

10 km (6 miles) south of Saqqara, we visit Dahshur, which shows the change from the step pyramid method of construction to the true pyramid shape. Two of the pyramids here are among the oldest, largest, and best preserved in Egypt. These were commissioned by 4th Dynasty King Snefru (2649–2609 BC). Highlights of the site include the bent pyramid, the red pyramid, which is second in size only to the great Giza Pyramid, and other pyramids. Lunch at Saqqara is a good place to try Egyptian food.

The Giza pyramids are the only survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; more than 4,000 years after their construction, they still leave visitors in a state of fascinated awe. The Great Pyramid of Khufu (2609–2584 BC) is the largest pyramid in Egypt and the world and the oldest of the Giza pyramids, standing 138 metres (453 feet) high. We also see the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and the pyramids of the Queens. Entering the Great Pyramid is an option and a memorable experience; however, this is not recommended if you experience claustrophobia or are not in good health. The interiors of the pyramids are not decorated but are noteworthy for the advanced engineering involved in their construction. Other attractions include the tombs of the nobles, where we visit the tomb of the priest Kar, and the Sphinx and its temple. The Sphinx was carved from one piece of limestone and is 60 metres (197 feet) long and 20 metres (66 feet) wide.
A camel ride in the desert around the Giza pyramids leads to the Sphinx, about 40 minutes away. 
Overnight in Cairo

Visit the Egyptian Museum, including the King Tutankhamun collection and the Animal Mummies Room. OR visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, when it opens.  The museum contains a vast collection of artefacts and gives you an understanding of the richness of the art and culture once situated at many of the sites you will visit elsewhere in Egypt.

We have a lunch at Abo Tarek restaurant, which is famous for koshari, the most common fast food in Egypt, a mix of rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas, fried onions, and tomato sauce.

We end the day exploring Coptic. Old Cairo is the oldest area of Cairo and includes mosques, churches, synagogues, and a Roman fortress, with great diversity within one area. Highlights include the Hanging Church, the Abu Serga Church, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue.

Overnight stay in Cairo.

Optional activities:  ( please notify us before hand of optional tours you would like )

  • Elephantine Archeological site. 
  • The Nubian Village.   
  • The Nubian Museum. 
  • Camel ride to Saint Simon Monastery. 
  • Visit Plantation Island. 
  • Motor boat ride through the Nile Cataract.  
  • Philae temple sound and light show. 
  • Les temples d'Abou Simbel. Cette excursion peut nécessiter une journée supplémentaire à Assouan.

Optional activities:  ( please notify us before hand of optional tours you would like )

  • Hot air Balloon ride. At sun rise, about 50 minutes flight with transfers duration is 2 hours. 
  • Walk the Alley of the Sphinx (Karnak to Luxor temple)
  • Tut Ankh Amon tomb. 
  • Ramses 6th tomb 
  • Set 1st tomb
  • Horse carriage ride between Karnak and Luxor temples. 
  • Felucca ride in the Nile River. 
  • Luxor Museum. 
  • Karnak temple sound and light show. 
  • Nefertari tomb (Temporarily closed)
OPTIONAL TOURS AND ACTIVITIES
West Bank: West bank of Luxor is home to countless tombs, temples and the village of the workmen who built and applied their artistry to the tombs and temples. As we start exploring the West Bank our first visit is to the Colossi of Memnon. These two imposing sandstone statues that indicate the site of the mortuary temple of 18th dynasty pharaoh Amenhotep III (1386 – 1353 BC).

Valley of the Kings which is part of the necropolis of ancient Thebes. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more than a thousand years the kings, queens and nobles of the New Kingdom (1500 – 1070 BC) chose to be buried here.

Temple of Hatshepsut. During her reign the female pharaoh Hatshepsut (1473 – 1458 BC) built a mortuary temple at Deir el Bahari, situated directly across the Nile from Karnak Temple which was the main sanctuary of the god Amun. Many find it one of the most beautiful of all the temples constructed in Egypt.

Ancient Workmen Village. Deir el-Medina is the Arabic name for the village where the craftsmen and artisans who worked on the tombs and other monuments of the West bank lived, including those in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.

Hot Air Balloon ride. Hot Air Balloon ride over Luxor West Bank for the sun rise. (about 50 min flying).

Karnak Temple Temple is huge, the site covers more than 100 hectares. Construction at Karnak began in the Middle Kingdom (2000 – 1700 BC) and continued into the Ptolemaic era (305–30 BC). Its size and variety within the site that make it extraordinary.

Luxor Temple located approximately three kilometers south of Karnak Temple. These temples were linked with a processional way bordered with sphinxes, now known as Avenue of the Sphinxes. It is the only temple in the world where ancient Egyptian religions, Greek and Roman cults, Christianity and Islam have been practiced. The temple was substantially built by Amenhotep III (c.1390–1352 BC) and Ramesses II (1279–1213 BC).

Dendera and Abydos if you wish to explore Dandara or Abydos, we can organize your tours on the days before the Dahabiya, which might add another extra day in Luxor.
Philae: giving you a picturesque approach to the site. During the 1960s, the monuments on this island were relocated from the original Philae island nearby so they would not be flooded because of the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Philae includes many structures, mostly dating to the Ptolemaic era (332–30 BC).

Unfinished Obelisk. Obelisks are four-sided, tapered monuments that were called tekhenu by the Ancient Egyptians. It is estimated that the unfinished obelisk would have measured 42 metres and weighed 1200 tons, which would have made it the largest obelisk constructed by the ancient Egyptians.

the High Dam and enjoy views of the Old Aswan Dam and the Nubian Lake (Lake Nasser). Seeing the High Dam and lake adds to your understanding of how the changing flow of the Nile has influenced Egyptian history. The dam was built to control the flooding of the Nile, increase water storage for irrigation, and generate hydroelectricity. However, the large area flooded caused the relocation of more than 100,000 people. Many archaeological sites were submerged.

The Elephantine Island archaeological site This is one of the most unique sites in upper Egypt because here you can see across 4,000 years of Egypt’s history, from 3,000 BC until late mediaeval times (12th to 14th centuries). Remains on the island date from prehistory, including the oldest temple in Egypt.

A Felucca ride on the Nile River is a leisurely boat trip with views of the Nobles’ tombs, the Agha Khan Mausoleum, and Plantation Island. As you sail, you will also see the Old Cataract Hotel.
We can also include a visit to the Other sights: The following attractions need at least an extra day in Aswan.

The Nubian Museum:will give you more insights into the multifaceted history of this area and how monuments and edifices were made.
Temples of Kalabsha: Also known as thMandulis, ite Temple of Mandulis was originally located at Bab al-Kalabsha, about 50 kilometres south of Aswan. The temple was on the UNESCO Nubian Sites list together with other outstanding examples of Nubian architecture, including the ones in El Seboua and Amada. The temple was moved to its current location just across from the High Dam.

will give you more  insights to the multifaceted history of this area, and of how monuments and edifices were made.

9 days - 8 nights: Cairo - Abu Simbel - Aswan - sailing the Nile on board Dahabiya - Luxor updated

Quotation in USD- per person in a group of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Tours*(1) 1744 1415 1366 1298 1239 1192 1164 1143 1187 1168 1152 1139 1128 1119 1110
Including:-
- Airport transfers and assist as mentioned.
 
- Tours.
 
- Transfers.
 
- Tour Guide fees.
 
- Meals (as mentioned)
 
- Dahabiya 3 nights 4 days with all meals included. private double cabin in a shared Dahabiya.
 
- upgrade to suite is available when requested for an extra charge (subject to availability).

For Christmas & Easter Periods: Supplement 90 USD Per Person in Double Room
 
- Boat rides
 
- Bottled water during the trip
 
- Entry Fees General tickets as mentioned (Today Price)

 

Not Including:

- Overland Accommodation (Available upon request and subject to dates and availability)


- Domestic flights. (Available upon request and subject to dates and availability)

 

- Drinks during included meals

 

- Optional tours

 

- Tipping

 

- Any other thing not mentioned in the included section.

 

* Notes:

- Pick up times are estimate times (to be confirmed by our local operator)

 

- Above quotation is based on hotels located in Central areas, to be updated once we have your accommodation details

 

- The dress code is conservative while visiting Mosques, Churches, villages or areas with mainly local communities.


- The order of the tour days might change according to availability when booking.

 

- There's flights available from Aswan to Abu Simbel and return for an extra cost. Ask for the upgrade to flight option instead of traveling overland.

 

- In case of any complication in sailing, some changes in the itinerary might happen.

 

- If there are any unforeseen circumstances and the boat assigned for your tour is unable to sail, Real Egypt is responsible for arranging a similar boat for your tour.

 

- Transfers in Sedan cars for 1 or 2 People. (in case a van requested extra cost is added). Note: using a Sedan car in Cairo requires an extra short walk in 2 attractions, the Citadel and the Museum of Civilization. If big size luggage included Van in all destinations by default.


- The above prices are subject to change; if a high inflation rate happens as a result of government practices, currency rate change or economic problems.

 

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