Nour El Nil Dahabiya Nile Cruise

Nour El Nil is a traditional Dahabiya that operates leisurely six-day voyages along the Nile between Esna and Aswan. The vessel offers a relaxed small-group atmosphere ideal for travelers who prefer a quieter, more intimate cruise experience. Accommodation options include Panoramic Suites, seven luxury rooms and one standard room, all fitted with large panoramic windows. Onboard facilities include dining areas, bars, a reading lounge, a sun deck, WiFi, a small pool, and a gift shop. Safety and comfort features include an anti-fire treatment and sprinkling system, air conditioning, private bathrooms with showers and hair dryers, TV and minibar in cabins, a doctor on call, and an accompanying motorboat for calmer wind conditions.

Highlights

• Esna and the Temple of Khnum
• El Kab necropolis and the temple of Nekhbet
• Edfu: the well-preserved Temple of Horus
• Island stop for swimming and a riverside walk
• Gebel Silsileh: sandstone quarries and a small temple
• Kom Ombo temple and the Crocodile Museum
• Leisurely Dahabiya sailing between Luxor and Aswan

Itinerary

Day Day 01 — Monday — Esna (Embarkation)

On arrival at Luxor airport or the Luxor train station you will be met and assisted, then transferred to embarkation in Esna. Your Egyptologist will lead a visit to the compact Temple of Khnum, tucked below street level, followed by time to explore Esna’s market streets. Overnight aboard the Dahabiya in Esna.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day Day 02 — Tuesday — El Kab & Edfu

Early departures sail toward El Kab on the east bank, where you will see the temple of Nekhbet and a line of rock-cut tombs. A short walk through a local fishing village leads to the necropolis. In the afternoon the boat reaches Edfu for a guided visit to the exceptionally well-preserved Temple of Horus; a horse-and-carriage transfer is used to reach the site. Overnight onboard after setting sail for a nearby island.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day Day 03 — Wednesday — Sail & Swim

Today is focused on the river. After an optional morning walk and breakfast, the Dahabiya continues downstream. In the afternoon there is a stop at an island where you can stroll the banks or swim in the Nile. As dusk approaches there may be an opportunity for a short desert walk past boulders bearing ancient inscriptions. Overnight moored near the floodlit temple at Gebel Silsileh.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day Day 04 — Thursday — Gebel Silsileh

Gebel Silsileh is a narrow stretch of the Nile framed by sandstone cliffs. You will explore a small temple associated with Horemheb and walk among the quarries where stone was once cut for major monuments. There will be time to relax at a riverside café with tea and shisha before sailing to a scenic bank for lunch and swimming.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day Day 05 — Friday — Kom Ombo

After a night on the river, the morning visit is to Kom Ombo. The double Ptolemaic temple sits on a graceful bend of the Nile and was dedicated in part to Sobek, the crocodile-headed god. The excursion includes a visit to the Crocodile Museum, which displays mummified crocodiles and related finds.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day Day 06 — Saturday — Aswan (Disembarkation)

Enjoy breakfast aboard the Dahabiya before disembarking in Aswan. You will be transferred to Aswan airport or the train station for your onward departure.

Meals: Breakfast

Included

• Meet-and-assist service on arrival and departure
• On-trip assistance throughout your stay and excursions
• All transfers by modern air-conditioned deluxe vehicle
• Accommodation aboard the Dahabiya on a full-board basis
• All Nile cruise excursions listed in the itinerary
• Entrance fees to sights between Luxor and Aswan as noted
• Egyptologist guide during excursions
• All service charges and taxes
• Complimentary pickup & drop-off in Luxor or Aswan (East Bank locations)

Not included

• Any extras not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
• Tipping