Climb aboard the Lumiere Dahabeya and travel the Nile the slow, old-fashioned way, drifting between Luxor and Aswan beneath tall lateen sails set against an endless sky. With just a handful of cabins tucked below deck, this handcrafted wooden sailboat leaves the crowds to the big liners and instead slips quietly past reed-lined banks, mud-brick hamlets and sandy islets that most itineraries never see. Tie up at sleepy moorings, step ashore at the softer treasures of Edfu and Kom Ombo, and settle onto a shaded deck as the last light pours copper across the water. Refined, unhurried and deeply personal, this is river travel at its most romantic. Book your Lumiere Dahabeya voyage today with Daily Pyramids Tours.
Discover a quieter, more soulful side of the Nile aboard the Lumiere Dahabeya, a beautifully appointed traditional sailboat that meanders between Aswan and Luxor at its own gentle rhythm. Because only a small number of cabins are open on each voyage, service feels almost private, deck life is unhurried, and every bend of the river feels close enough to touch. Sail past farming villages and reed beds, step ashore at timeless temples, and enjoy freshly cooked meals on deck while Egypt’s ageless scenery slides quietly by.
Day 1: Arrival in Luxor & East Bank Temples
Your driver and representative will meet you the moment you step out at Luxor Airport, taking care of the luggage and transferring you smoothly to the elegant Lumière 5* Nile cruise. Once check-in is complete, sit down to a leisurely lunch on board as the river settles into view for the first time.
By afternoon, you set out with your Egyptologist to explore Karnak Temple, one of the vastest and most awe-inspiring sacred complexes ever built, wandering between colossal columns carved with layer upon layer of hieroglyphs. From there, you continue on to Luxor Temple, a graceful riverside monument threaded with centuries of history.
Back on board, welcome cocktails and dinner set the tone for the days ahead, followed by a touch of evening entertainment to ease you into cruise life. You spend the night moored in Luxor.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Lunch – Dinner
Day 2: West Bank Tour & Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride
An early start today, if you choose the optional hot air balloon ride over Luxor’s West Bank, rewarding you with soft sunrise light spilling over the Nile and the ancient temples below. The balloon experience includes coffee, tea, water, juices, and breakfast boxes provided by the boat.
Return for a proper breakfast on board before crossing to the West Bank in earnest. Your guide leads you through the extraordinary Temple of Hatshepsut, the storied Valley of the Kings including the tombs of Nefertari and Seti I, and the enormous, weather-worn Colossi of Memnon standing guard on the plain.
Back aboard, the Dahabiya casts off in the direction of Esna while lunch is served on deck. Afternoon tea appears as the river slips gently past, dinner follows at sunset, and the boat settles for the night close to Esna.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 3: Esna & Edfu Temples
After breakfast on the sundeck, step ashore to explore the Temple of Esna, a wonderfully atmospheric hall whose columns and vivid carvings often surprise first-time visitors. You then rejoin the Dahabiya and sail on toward Edfu with the Nile unrolling in every direction.
Lunch and afternoon tea are served on board, giving you long stretches to simply watch the river and its farming villages drift past. Dinner comes in the evening, followed by a quiet night at anchor near Edfu, with tomorrow’s highlight waiting just beyond the palm trees.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 4: Edfu & Kom Ombo Temples
Once breakfast is finished, climb aboard a traditional horse carriage for the short, characterful ride to the Temple of Edfu, dedicated to Horus and famed as one of Egypt’s best-preserved sanctuaries. Back on the Dahabiya, you continue north to Kom Ombo, with lunch served on board and tea appearing in the afternoon.
At Kom Ombo you visit the striking twin temple honouring both Sobek and Horus, remarkable for its symmetrical layout and beautifully cut reliefs. Sailing then resumes toward Aswan, dinner is served as evening falls, and the boat moors comfortably in Aswan for the night.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 5: Aswan Highlights & Farewell Dinner
Following breakfast, you head out to the island temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and set among granite outcrops in the Nile. Back on board, lunch is served before an afternoon tour of the Aswan Natural Reserve and a visit to a traditional Nubian House, where warm hospitality and colourful interiors give you a real taste of local life.
Come evening, a farewell dinner is laid out on board to mark the close of an unforgettable Nile journey.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 6: Departure from Aswan
Enjoy one last breakfast on board, take in the river one final time, and then check out of your Dahabiya. Our representative will transfer you to Aswan Airport in good time for your onward flight, closing the curtain on a memorable six-day Nile adventure.
Meals: Breakfast
At Daily Pyramids Tours, all prices are quoted in US Dollars (USD) unless otherwise specified. However, we gladly accept payments in other major currencies such as Euros (EUR), British Pounds (GBP), and more, based on the official daily exchange rate on the payment date.
Our prices reflect current market conditions, seasonal fluctuations, and service availability, so they may change without prior notice. Once a deposit or full payment is received, your booking price is locked in and guaranteed.
What’s Included in Our Packages:
Please check your specific booking confirmation and itinerary for exact inclusions and exclusions.
Holiday Supplement:
A 25% surcharge applies to all Nile Cruises and tour packages booked during Christmas, New Year, and Easter holidays due to peak demand.
To ensure a smooth booking process with Daily Pyramids Tours, our payment terms vary depending on the service type:
After payment, you will receive written confirmation, a tailored itinerary, and travel documents via email. Receipts for all payments will be provided.
We understand plans can change. Our cancellation terms are:
Refunds, when applicable, are processed within 14 business days of receiving your written cancellation notice. Some cruises or hotels may have stricter cancellation policies, which will be clearly communicated in your itinerary.
At Daily Pyramids Tours, we welcome families and offer the following children’s pricing:
Discounts apply only when children share accommodation with two full-paying adults. Note that certain Nile Cruises and luxury hotels may have different policies or restrictions for young children, which will be detailed in your itinerary if relevant.
Some special experiences are optional and not included in standard packages. You may book these in advance or arrange on-site (subject to availability). Examples include:
Optional tours are payable in USD or local currency (EGP). We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak seasons.
While our packages are comprehensive, travelers should budget for:
We advise carrying small amounts of local currency (EGP) for convenience, especially for tipping and shopping at local markets.
Tipping (“baksheesh”) is a customary way to show appreciation for good service in Egypt. Though not mandatory, it is widely appreciated:
Tipping is generally not included in your package price. We recommend carrying small USD or EGP bills for tipping convenience.
A Dahabiya Nile Cruise is a beautifully built wooden sailboat that has been carrying travellers along the river for centuries, designed for slow, considered journeys rather than fast, crowded itineraries. Where the large floating hotels move hundreds of guests at once, a Dahabiya usually welcomes only 10–20 people on board, creating a small, boutique atmosphere with attentive service, quiet sailing time and easy access to tiny islands and off-the-map villages that bigger vessels simply cannot reach. It is the closest you can come today to travelling the Nile the way the earliest explorers did, but with proper cabins, freshly cooked meals and a warm, personal crew looking after you throughout.
Most Dahabiya voyages run between 4 and 7 nights, with the exact length shaped by the route you choose.
Slow travel is very much the point. A Dahabiya is never in a hurry: it lingers at little-visited temples, pauses beside empty stretches of riverbank and quiet farmland, and gives you the space to feel the Nile rather than simply see it.
Yes, a Dahabiya cruise works wonderfully for families, particularly those who want somewhere calmer, safer and more personal than a busy floating hotel.
That said, families with very young children (under 4 years old) may find the open deck and quiet environment challenging to manage, so it depends on comfort level and supervision.
The sweet spot for a Dahabiya Nile Cruise runs from October to April.
Across these months the weather is kind: warm days for sightseeing, cool evenings on deck, and comfortable conditions for temple visits, village walks and long stretches of quiet sailing.
The summer months (May–September) run hot, but plenty of travellers still enjoy a Dahabiya in this window thanks to well-shaded decks, steady river breezes and air-conditioned cabins below.
Cabins on a Dahabiya are compact yet full of character, styled to feel like private rooms in a floating boutique hotel.
They are not the vast staterooms you would find on a big Nile cruiser, but they feel warm, characterful and perfectly matched to the slow, intimate spirit of Dahabiya travel.
