How is the Dahabiya experience different from the standard Nile cruise and felucca (small sailing boat)?

  • The wooden sailing boats known in Arabic as dahabiya are the most beautiful on the Nile, and an authentic and romantic way to travel along the great river with a small group of guests, avoiding the crowds.
  • The dahabiya is operated mainly by sail, but the boats travel with a tugboat in case there is insufficient wind. Sailing in a dahabiya from Esna (1 hour drive south of Luxor) to Aswan or in the reverse direction will enable you to experience many places less often seen by tourists. You will visit villages along the river and get close to real life in Egypt, and can also enjoy kayaking and swimming in the Nile.
  • Large Nile cruise boats only stop at a few places to see the historic sites, and the number of passengers means you are seeing the monuments in a large group. The onboard entertainment is touristic and not really representative of Egyptian culture.
  • Felucca are much smaller sail boats that do not have the comfortable suites and cabins or the facilities of a dahabiya. Although they can stop at many places along the river, they are for visitors who would like a basic way to sail, in comparison our dahabiya are luxurious and offer all the comforts of a high quality hotel, including ensuite bathrooms with hot showers, delicious meals prepared by our chefs, jacuzzi, and spacious deck areas to relax in.
  • A dahabiya was the choice of European, British and American travelers in the 1800s who wanted to explore in a leisurely way before steamships and short Nile tours became popular. They were common in Egypt in the days of the monarchy (1920s – 1940s) when aristocrats and sophisticated travelers loved to cruise the Nile in style. They rented the boats for weeks at a time and made their way from temple to temple, also visiting rock cut tombs and quarries along the way.
  • For today’s travelers who want to experience culture, history, relaxation and entertainment as they enjoy exploring the Nile Valley, there is no better way than a Dahabiya Nile Sailing cruise on our boats.