What is The Dahabiya Nile Cruise?
A passenger sailing boat called a Dahabiya Nile Cruise sails down Egypt’s Nile River. A shallow-bottomed, barge-like vessel with two or more sails is what the term usually refers to. Similar crafts are depicted on the walls of Egyptian Pharaohs’ tombs, indicating that the boats have been around for thousands of years in some form or another. Due to similar, gilded state barges used by the Arab rulers of Egypt in the Middle Ages, the name derives from the Arabic word for “gold.”
The Dahabiya was the standard for tourists traveling up and down the Nile until the 1870s. The tour companies, on the other hand, began to introduce the steamboat on the rivers, bringing with them the organizational know-how to turn a three-month trip into a month-long sightseeing tour. Only the wealthiest travelers were entitled to travel with Dahabiyas.
The Life on the Board of the Dahabiya
A day on a traditional Dahabiya is full of delights. You can relax in a deck chair while reading or watching your children play. Every day, there is an opportunity to walk through villages, visit local markets, or explore Nile monuments. Meals are prepared on board and served on the sundeck, in the dining room, or at a scenic location along the Nile’s banks. Nothing beats an evening spent dining by the light of a campfire under a twinkling night sky. You’re a long way from the large cruisers’ fancy-dress parties. There are no flashing discos here, but you might be able to catch a local musician performing under the stars.
Accommodation on the Board of Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Onboard, there is a small number of spacious cabins and one or two suites to choose from. Authentic oriental furniture is used to accent each room. They have a private bathroom and can sleep up to two persons. Our Dahabiya boats include individual controls for air conditioning and heating. The Dahabiya’s heart is the half-shaded sun deck, which features chairs, a divan, sunbeds, and dining tables. This is the ideal spot for enjoying daily life on the riverbanks while watching the scenery glide by.
Wind Power Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Traditional Dahabiyas are powered solely by the wind and are based on the design of original Dahabiya boats from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. There are no engines! Only the breeze through the sail and the water breaking over the bow is audible.
Dahabiya Itinerary
Between Esna and Aswan, the majority of Dahabiya boats cruise up and down the Nile. Offers two different itineraries to choose from. 4 nights upriver from Esna to Aswan and 3 nights downriver from Aswan to Esna Dahabiya Nile cruise dates have been set.
Recommended Dahabiya Boats
Why Dahabiya Nile Cruise
A more personalized Nile Cruise is a cruise along the Nile River. A dahabiya is the most luxurious way to cruise the Nile. These sailing boats are full of character and harken back to the early days of Nile tourism before steamboats began plying the river; they are reminiscent of all the famous 19th-century Nile tourists. The boats usually have a capacity of 10 to 20 passengers.
What do you give up in terms of facilities? Personal service, itinerary flexibility, and a lack of crowds compensate for the lack of a restaurant and swimming pool on board.
Dahabiyas are a great alternative to the big Nile cruisers if you want a more intimate Nile cruise experience while still having the comfort of a cabin.
Rather than docking for the night in the middle of a crowded Nile cruisers’ dock, dahabiyas usually anchor at Nile islands for the night, giving passengers a taste of the Nile at its most serene.
Because there is a much smaller selection of boats and sailings than with Nile cruisers, it’s best to plan ahead and book as far ahead as possible.
Due to the small size of dahabiyas, you can also book a completely private dahabiya cruise if you are traveling in a group. All meals (served communally on a dahabiya) are included in the cruise price, just as they are for Nile cruisers, but the inclusion of guided tours and entry fees to tourist attractions is up to the individual cruise operator. Check and compare schedules and inclusions on a regular basis.
This article was updated and re-written in part by Hesham El Gammal; on March 10th, 2025 + fact-checked.
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