Step aboard the Mazaj Sia and rediscover the Nile as travellers knew it a hundred years ago — under canvas, at the pace of the current. This graceful dahabiya swaps engines for sails, carrying just a handful of guests along the tranquil ribbon of river between Luxor and Aswan. With so few on board, moorings feel like private hideaways and every hour unfolds without hurry. Mornings open onto reed-fringed hamlets, drifting felucca sails and desert cliffs washed in ochre light; afternoons bring shore visits to temples such as Edfu and Kom Ombo, refreshingly free of coach crowds. Add sun-warmed decks, home-cooked feasts and evenings pricked with stars, and you have an Egypt escape that lingers. Cast off with Daily Pyramids Tours.
The Mazaj Sia Dahabiya offers a quieter, more romantic way to travel the Nile — an unhurried sailing voyage between Luxor and Aswan aboard a boutique wooden vessel built for stillness rather than speed. With only a small number of cabins, the atmosphere feels closer to a private yacht than a cruise ship: attentive crew, uncrowded decks and the freedom to moor at hidden coves the larger boats sail straight past. Days drift by with palm-lined shores slipping into view, temple visits woven between long lazy hours on deck, and beautifully plated meals — a mix of Egyptian favourites and international fare — served as the river reflects the changing sky.
Day 1 – Embarkation in Luxor & East Bank Visit
Your voyage opens in Luxor, where the crew greet you at the gangway and show you to your cabin. Once your bags are stowed, take a seat for a lunch of fresh, locally sourced dishes served on deck. In the afternoon you head across to Luxor’s East Bank, beginning at the immense Karnak Temple with its towering Hypostyle Hall and mirror-still sacred lake. From there you continue to Luxor Temple, framed at its entrance by the ancient Sphinx Avenue.
Back on board, dinner is served as evening settles, and your first night is spent quietly moored on the West Bank.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Lunch – Dinner
Day 2 – West Bank Monuments & Sailing to Esna
Breakfast is followed by a morning devoted to the great monuments of the West Bank. You step into the Valley of the Kings, where painted burial chambers still glow with colour beneath the desert rock. Next comes the tiered majesty of the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El-Deir El-Bahari, and finally the giant seated figures of the Colossi of Memnon standing guard over the plain.
Back aboard, lunch is served as the dahabiya begins its slow sail towards Esna. Take tea on the Sun Deck as the shoreline slides gently by, then enjoy dinner while sailing. The night is spent tied up at Esna.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 3 – Edfu Temple & Al Ramady Island
The dahabiya presses on towards Edfu this morning, the river opening out in wide, sun-lit reaches as lunch is served on board. On arrival, step ashore to explore the Temple of Edfu — one of Egypt’s most complete ancient temples, raised in honour of the falcon-headed Horus.
Afterwards you return to the boat as she sails on to peaceful Al Ramady Island. Dinner is set out in the hush of the countryside, and the night is spent at anchor beside the island’s reedy shore.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 4 – Gebel El Silsila, Kom Ombo & Sheikh Fadl Island
An early start sees the dahabiya slipping upriver towards the dramatic sandstone quarries of Gebel El Silsila. Breakfast is served under sail before you go ashore to explore this remarkable site, from which stone was cut for many of ancient Egypt’s greatest temples. From here the journey continues to Kom Ombo, where the unusual double temple of Sobek and Horus stands high above the river.
Lunch is enjoyed on board as you sail on to El Sheikh Fadl Island. Afternoon tea is followed later by dinner set out on the island’s tranquil shore. After the meal, the dahabiya continues its passage towards Aswan, where you spend the night aboard.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 5 – Aswan Sightseeing & Free Time
You arrive early in Aswan, where breakfast prepares you for a morning of two contrasting landmarks: the graceful, columned Philae Temple raised to the goddess Isis, and the mighty High Dam, a modern feat of Egyptian engineering. Back on board for lunch, the rest of the day is yours — perfect for wandering the vivid, spice-scented lanes of Aswan Market, picking up souvenirs or simply soaking up local life. The night is spent aboard in Aswan.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 6 – Disembarkation in Aswan
A final breakfast on deck brings your slow-sailed adventure to a gentle close. After farewells to the crew, you disembark in Aswan with a head full of temples, palm-lined shores and starlit river nights.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 1: Embarkation in Luxor & East Bank Temples
Upon arrival in Luxor, you will embark on your elegant dahabiya and settle into your cabin while taking in the serene Nile views. Enjoy a freshly prepared lunch on board before beginning your exploration of Luxor’s East Bank. Start with the magnificent Karnak Temple, a sprawling complex of colossal columns, sacred obelisks, and beautifully preserved hieroglyphs that tell stories of pharaohs past.
Continue to the Luxor Temple, an architectural gem aligned with the Avenue of Sphinxes, where ancient processions once took place. After a full afternoon of discovery, return to your dahabiya for dinner and relax on deck, soaking in the peaceful river ambiance.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Lunch – Dinner
Day 2: West Bank Monuments & Sail to Esna
After a hearty breakfast on board, head to the West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings, where elaborately decorated tombs reveal the secrets of pharaohs and their journeys to the afterlife. Visit the magnificent Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El-Deir El-Bahari, a terraced masterpiece carved into the cliffs, and marvel at the iconic Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues that have stood for millennia.
Return to the dahabiya for lunch and enjoy the beginning of your Nile sail toward Esna. Relax with afternoon tea on the Sun Deck, observing the riverbanks and villages passing by. Dinner is served during sailing, and the boat stays overnight in Esna.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 3: Edfu Temple & Al Ramady Island
Sail leisurely toward Edfu after breakfast, with the gentle Nile landscapes unfolding around you. Lunch is served on board as you approach this historic city. Visit the Temple of Edfu, one of Egypt’s best-preserved temples, dedicated to Horus, with its remarkable inscriptions and towering pylons.
After the visit, continue sailing toward the tranquil Al Ramady Island. Enjoy dinner on board while anchored beside the island, surrounded by serene river scenery, and spend a restful night under the stars.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 4: Gebel El Silsila, Kom Ombo & Sheikh Fadl Island
The day begins with an early morning sail toward Gebel El Silsila, a historic sandstone quarry that supplied stone for Egypt’s temples for centuries. Breakfast is served on board as you arrive at this fascinating site. Continue to Kom Ombo to explore the unique twin temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god.
Sail onward to El Sheikh Fadl Island for lunch on board during the journey. Enjoy afternoon tea on the island before dinner, taking in the quiet Nile surroundings. After dinner, the dahabiya resumes sailing toward Aswan for an overnight on board.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 5: Aswan – Philae Temple & High Dam
Arrive in Aswan early at around 6:00 AM and enjoy breakfast on board. Visit the majestic Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, nestled on its island with stunning Nile views. Continue to the impressive High Dam, a symbol of modern Egypt’s engineering prowess.
Return to the dahabiya for lunch and spend the afternoon exploring Aswan Market at your own pace, discovering spices, perfumes, and local handicrafts. Overnight stay is in Aswan, allowing you to soak in the serene river city ambiance.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 6: Optional Abu Simbel & Al Ramady Island
After breakfast on board, there is an option for an early morning excursion to Abu Simbel Temple, one of Egypt’s most iconic monuments carved into the mountains by Ramses II. Return to the dahabiya for lunch, then enjoy a relaxing sail back toward Al Ramady Island, a peaceful spot to unwind. Dinner is served on board, and the night is spent anchored near the island.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 7: Sail to Esna & Return to Luxor
Begin an early morning sail toward Esna, enjoying breakfast on board as the river flows gently past. Navigate through the famous Esna Lock while enjoying lunch on board. Continue sailing north toward Luxor, arriving in the late afternoon. Dinner is served on the dahabiya as you spend your final night moored on the West Bank, reflecting on your unforgettable Nile journey.
Overnight at Dahabiya
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 8: Disembarkation in Luxor
After breakfast, check out and disembark in Luxor, concluding your enriching and scenic dahabiya cruise along the Nile.
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 is a hand-built wooden sailing boat crafted for a slower, more soulful kind of Nile journey. Where the big floating hotels carry hundreds, a Dahabiya welcomes just 10–20 guests, so the mood on board feels closer to a private yacht — relaxed, personal and quietly luxurious. Powered mostly by the wind, these elegant vessels can slip into narrow river channels and moor at tiny islands and off-the-radar villages that larger ships never see. Think polished wooden decks, lantern-lit dinners, gourmet cooking and a rhythm of travel that echoes the age of nineteenth-century explorers, brought comfortably up to date.
Most Dahabiya voyages run somewhere between 4 and 7 nights, depending on the direction of sail and the itinerary.
The unhurried pace is part of the pleasure. Dahabiyas rarely rush; instead they linger at quiet temples, uncrowded riverbanks and slices of rural Egypt that larger cruisers pass straight by, leaving you with a deeper, more immersive impression of the Nile.
Absolutely — a Dahabiya cruise can be a wonderful choice for families who want a calmer, more personal experience of Egypt.
That said, the open decks and quiet, adult-friendly atmosphere may be less comfortable for families with very young children (under 4 years old), so it depends on how easily you feel able to supervise little ones on the water.
The sweet spot for a Dahabiya Nile Cruise runs from October to April.
During these months the weather is comfortable for sailing, temple visits, walks through riverside villages and long afternoons on deck.
Summer (May–September) turns hot, but plenty of travellers still enjoy a Dahabiya in the warmer months thanks to shaded decks, cooling breezes on the water and air-conditioned cabins.
Cabins aboard a Dahabiya are compact but characterful, designed to feel like a stylish river-side retreat rather than a standard cruise cabin.
They are not as vast as staterooms on a big Nile cruiser, but that is rather the point: cabins feel personal, cosy and perfectly in keeping with the slow, sail-powered spirit of the boat.
