Dahabiya Nile Cruise - guide to sailing on Egypt’s Nile River!
Swimming during our Dahabiya Nile Cruise
A Dahabiya Nile cruise is the best way to experience the magic of Egypt's Nile River! Learn what a Dahabiya is, why sail down the Nile on a Dahabiya instead of a larger cruise ship, explore some great options for luxury Dahabiya Nile cruises, and get answers to all your questions about this type of sailing ship.
What is a Dahabiya
A dahabiya with its front sail unfurled.
A Dahabiya is a traditional Egyptian sailing boat that is used for Nile River cruises, visiting all of the important historic sites in Upper Egypt (a term which means southern Egypt, especially between Luxor and Aswan), giving a slower-paced, more authentic travel experience.
Dahabiya boats used to be only for the aristocracy or the highest-class of explorers in the 1800s and early 1900s, but now there are many options for everyday travelers to cruise the Nile on one of these beautiful yachts.
In fact, Dahabiya boats are the only ones I use for my Egypt group tours, and I'll show you why.
Dahabiya boats do not have a motor, and are usually pulled or pushed by a smaller tug boat, or occassionally use sail power to move through the river. Historically, these boats only moved using the wind, but nowadays, with travelers wanting to span the entire distance between Luxor and Aswan in just 4 or 5 days, the tug boats provide a way for Dahabiya boats to stay on-schedule, getting in all the amazing temples and tombs along the river in Upper Egypt.
Why sail on a Dahabiya
Smaller-sized, curated Nile sailing
A Nile cruise Dahabiya, unlike a large Nile cruise ship, is a smaller, yacht-like vessel, usually only accommodating between 10-20 passengers, depending on the boat's size. Juxtapose this with the large Nile Cruise ships that hold one hundred of more guests, and you get the idea of why I prefer using one of these ships instead of the larger modern Egyptian boats that popped up all along the Nile in the late 1900s.
More relaxed itineraries
A Nile dahabiya provides travelers the opportunity to slow down their tour, because larger ships usually cover the entire distance between Luxor and Aswan in one day (with a 3-night Nile Cruise you stay in Luxor and Aswan every night, and do the entire cruising portion in one rushed day) or two days (with a 4-night Nile Cruise, you’ll spend only one night along the river, and all the other nights in Luxor and Aswan), whereas a Dahabiya spends much more time sailing up the Nile, between Luxor and Aswan, usually taking a minimum of 4 or 5 nights to complete the journey.
Fewer crowds
Visting Abu Simbel during a Dahabiya Nile Cruise meant there were almost no crowds at the temples!
Dahabiya cruises are not subject to the breakneck schedules that larger Nile Cruise ships must adhere to, and the boat captains are experts in avoiding tourist sites along the river during their busiest times. For example, when I have traveled on a larger Nile Cruise, we visited Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo temple, and Abu Simbel when there were literally hundreds of other travelers qeueuing up at the sites, whereas on a Dahabiya trip, we often are only among dozens of other travlers at these same places.
Personalized attention and experiences
The wonderful crew and staff on any Dahabiya make the journey so much more enjoyable!
Dahabiya cruises have wonderfully attentive crew and staff, making sure your time onboard is unforgettable. Often there are more staff than guests on each yacht!
Dahabiya Nile sailing usually includes authentic cultural expereinces, like performances by local music troupes, dancing in the traditional Egyptian style, and walks along Egypt's countryside. Most dahabiya cruises will also include an opportunity to swim in the Nile (don't worry, there aren't any crocodiles north of the Aswan High Dam!).
Enjoying a sunset live music performance as our Dahabiya moved us from Luxor to Aswan.
In addition, most dahabiyas are available for private charter, allowing you to call the shots and create an itinerary that is focused on what your group specifically wants to expereince, like visiting the more off-the-beaten-path ancient sites like Esna Temple or Gebel el Silsileh or curating a retreat-like atmosphere, including time each day for meditation or yoga.
Traveling by Dahabiya gives lots of great opportunities to slow down and enjoy Egypt’s countryside.
Better food
Imagine sailing down the Nile, and instead of a giant buffet hall like is common on larger Nile Cruise ships, taking all your meals in a small dining room or even outdoor dining area, family-style, with your own, personal chef cooking each authentic Egyptian meal to perfection, and serving you personally at each meal - that's what it's like dining on a Dahabiya.
All the food on a Dahabiya is made in-house by a personal chef, using fresh produce and local ingredients (with ketchup and mustard as options, of course!)
More authentic cabins and suites
The cabins or suites on board a Dahabiya will usually be furnished with more local, authentic decor and furnishings, and many yachts have a few cabins or suites available that have their own private balconies.
Great Dahabiya Nile Cruise options
Here are my favorite dahabiya options for booking the best Egyptian boats on the Nile. If you'd like to enquire about availability, itineraries, or prices for any of these boats, fill out the interest form on my website and I send an estimate along with a sample customized itinerary.
Kemet Dahabiya
My top choice to sail the Nile in luxury, Kemet Dahabiya features eight suites, all crafted with local furnishings and decor, true to the nature of the traditional Egyptian Dahabiya. Kemet also has the best personal chef and meals I have ever experienced along the Nile!
Merit Dahabiya
Merit includes a family of four boats, each with its own unique design and flavor. Merit has a consistent schedule, running 5-night trips sailing the Nile River between Luxor and Aswan, and offers top-notch service for an affordable cost.
Dahabiya Minya and Abundance
These two dahabiya boats are often the most affordable options out there for sailing in Egypt that still offer amazing quality and service. Almost all of their furnishings are handmade in Egypt, the local staff are attentive and friendly, and they offer 3-night itineraries between Aswan and Esna (with the option to include a land-based tour in Luxor), giving travelers the option of a shorter Nile cruise.
Frequently asked questions about Dahabiya Nile Cruises
What is the meaning of Dahabiya?
Dahabiya means "the golden one", and it comes from the root Arabic word, dahab, which means gold. Now, the word dahabiya is used to describe many different types of boats, but one thing is constant - each Nile boat that uses the moniker, "Dahabiya" will not have a motor (just sails), and will be used for sailing Egypt in a more relaxed and authentic style than the giant Nile Cruise ships. Even when they use a tug boat most of the time to stay on schedule, the atmosphere and pacing are much more relaxed and tranquil.
How much does a Dahabiya cruise cost?
Costs vary widely depending on which dahabiya yacht you choose for your Nile Cruise. If you fill out the interest form, I can definitely connect you with the best-fit dahabiya for your Egypt adventure.
How to pronounce dahabiya
Dahabiya is pronounced in four syllables, DAH-HUH-BAY-YUH, with an equal amount of emphasis on each syllable.
Is a Dahabiya worth it?
To me, yes, a dahabiya is 100% worth it! All of the reasons I give above, like better food, fewer passengers, less crowds at the historic sites, amazingly attentive crews, and more authentic cabins and suites make these boats worth every penny for the experience you get.
Should I book a 3-night Dahabiya or a 4/5 night Dahabiya?
Traditionally, a 3-night Dahabiya Nile Cruise will only sail between Esna and Aswan, leaving guests to do Luxor as a land-based tour (staying in hotels and visiting all the sites in Luxor either before or after the Dahabiya Nile cruise). The 3-night boats are usually more affordable. For travelers who want to sail the entire distance between Luxor and Aswan and experience moving through the Esna lock while on their Nile Cruise, doing a 4 or 5-night itinerary is the best option.
How do I book a dahabiya Nile cruise?
You can reach most dahabiya Nile cruises directly using their website, or you can fill in my interest form and I can do the legwork for you, choosing the best dahabiya for your trip's dates, itinerary, and budget.
How much do I tip on a Dahabiya cruise?
I give lots of great recommendations for tipping on this blog post. For a dahabiya boat, the crew are usually tipped all at once, at the end of the cruise. Your cruise manager or host will usually give each traveler (or pair of travelers) an envelope on the second to last day or last day of the cruise. Tipping around $20 USD per person, per day, is a great, generous amount, that will really show gratitude for the amazing service provided. Dahabiya crews rely on gratuities as a large portion of their income, so making sure to show your appreciation to them goes a long way.
Do Dahabiya Nile Cruises serve alcohol?
This depends on the cruise - some will serve alcohol, and some won't. You'll want to check in advance, because each dahabiya is different. Even is a dahabiya does not serve alcohol, they sometimes allow guests to purchase alcohol from a local supplier in Luxor or Aswan and bring it on board — just ask!
Some dahabiya boats will serve alcohol, but not all do - just ask!
Will a dahabiya boat have a pool?
A lot of dahabiya boats will not have pools, or if they do, they will be much smaller pools than on larger Nile Cruise ships. However, most dahabiya Nile cruises will offer opportunities to stop and swim in the Nile River!
After learning more about Dahabiya Nile cruises, what questions do you have? Leave me a comment and let me know! Or, have you already been on a Dahabiya Nile cruise? Write a comment to share which cruise you went on, and what your experience was like!
