4-Day Private Sacred Lotus Luxury Dahabiya Sailing: Aswan to Esna
Duration
4 days
Max Group Size
12
Departure Type
Guaranteed
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Physical level
easy
Operated In
English
Age Requirement
6 - 80 Ages
About this tour
Glide peacefully northward along the Upper Egyptian Nile aboard the traditional two-masted 5-star boutique Sacred Lotus Dahabiya (graceful brass-and-mahogany interiors, spacious suites, and upper-deck jacuzzi, featuring intimate en-suite air-conditioned cabins, shaded oriental sundeck lounges, and a private onboard chef) on this 4-day (3-night) private wind-powered sailing voyage from Aswan to Esna with drop-off in Luxor. Accompanied by a licensed Egyptologist guide and attentive crew, this river journey includes 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners (breakfast on Day 1 and lunch and dinner on Day 4 are not included).
Pickup in Aswan on Day 1 starts at 08:30 to visit the Aswan High Dam and the island Temple of Isis at Philae by private motorboat before boarding the Sacred Lotus Dahabiya at 12:00 for welcome lunch on deck and afternoon sailing to a quiet Nile island for dinner under the stars. On Day 2, visit the symmetrical twin Temple of Kom Ombo (08:30–10:30) and the ancient sandstone quarries and rock-cut Speos of Horemheb at Gebel El-Silsila (15:30–17:30) before mooring beside a secluded river island.
On Day 3, ride a horse-drawn carriage to the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus at Edfu (08:00–10:00) and spend a relaxing afternoon sailing under canvas toward Esna for a Nubian farewell dinner onboard. On Day 4, disembark at Esna at 08:30 after breakfast and drive 1 hour to Luxor to explore the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, and Karnak Temple before flexible Luxor drop-off around 17:30. Practical Note: Expect 1.5–2.5 hours of walking on uneven stone at temple sites; comfortable walking shoes and sun protection are recommended.
Route
- 1AswanAfricaEgyptStart
- 2Philae (Temple of Isis)AfricaEgyptAswan
- 3Kom OmboAfricaEgypt
- 4Gebel el-SilsilaAfricaEgypt
- 5EdfuAfricaEgypt
- 6EsnaAfricaEgypt
- 7LuxorAfricaEgyptEnd
What makes this tour special
Itinerary
08:30–12:00 – Morning Pickup & Aswan Sightseeing (Entrance Included): Meet your private Egyptologist guide at 08:30 at your Aswan hotel, airport, or railway station to visit the Aswan High Dam and cross by private motorboat to the island Temple of Isis at Philae (breakfast on Day 1 is not included).
12:30 – Embarkation on Sacred Lotus Dahabiya & Afternoon Sailing: Board the boutique Sacred Lotus Dahabiya in Aswan for a freshly prepared welcome lunch on the shaded sun deck, then set sail gently northward to moor beside a tranquil Nile island near Herdiab/El Kopania for candlelit dinner onboard.
Overnight: Aboard Sacred Lotus Dahabiya North of Aswan (Night 1 of 3) | Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
08:30–10:30 – Morning Sail & Kom Ombo Temple (Entrance Included): Enjoy breakfast on deck as the Sacred Lotus Dahabiya sails to Kom Ombo. Walk ashore with your Egyptologist to explore the symmetrical Greco-Roman Temple of Sobek and Haroeris and the Crocodile Mummy Museum.
15:30–17:30 – Afternoon at Gebel El-Silsila (Entrance Included): Savor lunch onboard while sailing to the dramatic sandstone gorge of Gebel El-Silsila to inspect the rock-cut Speos of King Horemheb and ancient pharaonic quarries, then moor beside a secluded island for dinner under the stars.
Overnight: Aboard Sacred Lotus Dahabiya at Gebel El-Silsila / Fawaza Island (Night 2 of 3) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
08:00–10:00 – Morning Edfu Temple Excursion (Entrance Included): After breakfast onboard, take a horse-drawn carriage from the riverbank to the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus at Edfu—Egypt's best-preserved ancient sanctuary—for a guided tour with your Egyptologist.
11:00–19:30 – Afternoon Sailing under Canvas & Island Farewell Dinner: Return to the Sacred Lotus Dahabiya for lunch and spend a tranquil afternoon sailing past fertile Nile islands to moor near Esna for a Nubian music evening and farewell dinner onboard.
Overnight: Aboard Sacred Lotus Dahabiya near Esna (Night 3 of 3) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
08:30 – Disembarkation at Esna & Drive to Luxor (Approx. 1 Hour): Enjoy your final breakfast aboard the Sacred Lotus Dahabiya before disembarking at Esna at 08:30 and driving by private air-conditioned vehicle to Luxor.
09:30–17:30 – Luxor West Bank, Karnak Temple & Drop-off (Entrance Included): Join your Egyptologist to visit three royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon, and the monumental Karnak Temple Complex before your drop-off at Luxor Airport, Luxor Station, or your Luxor hotel by 17:30 (lunch and dinner on Day 4 are not included).
Meals Included: Breakfast
Trip includes
Included
- 3 nights aboard the 5-star boutique Sacred Lotus Dahabiya (Nights 1–3, Full Board in an en-suite Nile-view cabin/suite)
- Licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide accompanying all temple and island excursions
- Private representative for pickup and drop-off in Luxor and Aswan
Guiding Method
Fully guided
English- 3 breakfasts (Days 2–4), 3 freshly prepared lunches (Days 1–3), and 3 dinners (Days 1–3) — 9 meals in total served onboard and on secluded Nile islands
- Complimentary mineral water, fresh juices, tea, and Egyptian coffee throughout the voyage
- All private air-conditioned transfers between Luxor, Esna, and Aswan, Philae Island motorboat, and Edfu horse-drawn carriage
- All entrance tickets to all temples, quarries, and archaeological sites listed in the itinerary
- All river mooring fees, Esna Lock tolls, local taxes, and service charges
Excluded
Domestic and international flights are not included (private transfers at both ends of the Dahabiya voyage in Luxor and Aswan are included).
Personal travel and medical insurance is not included.
- International and domestic flights, and Egypt entry visa fees
- Breakfast on Day 1 and lunch and dinner on Day 4
- Alcoholic beverages, optional pre-booked excursions (Abu Simbel at $195 or Luxor hot air balloon at $150), and crew/guide gratuities
Availability
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