8 Day Egypt Dahabiya Nile Cruise & Hurghada Red Sea Holiday
Duration
8 days
Max Group Size
12
Departure Type
Guaranteed
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Physical level
relax
Operated In
English
Age Requirement
6 - 80 Ages
About this tour
Embark on an intimate 8-day private journey combining the Red Sea coast of Hurghada with a 4-night boutique sailing expedition aboard the traditional wind-powered Mazaj SEBA Dahabiya from Luxor to Aswan. Designed for travelers seeking cultural depth and quiet river navigation, this program pairs private Egyptologist-guided exploration of Upper Egypt's monumental temples with secluded Nile island moorings.
Begin in Hurghada on Day 1 with a private climate-controlled transfer across the Eastern Desert to Luxor, checking into a 5-star Nile-view hotel (1 night, Half Board) and visiting the Karnak Temple Complex and the illuminated Luxor Temple at sunset. On Day 2, tour the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon before boarding the Mazaj SEBA Dahabiya (4 nights, Full Board). Over Days 3 to 5, cross the Esna Lock to moor beside El Hegz Island, visit ancient El Kab, ride a horse-drawn carriage to Edfu's Temple of Horus, walk through the ancient sandstone quarries of Gebel El-Silsila, and visit the twin Temple of Kom Ombo before mooring at Aswan.
On Day 6, disembark after breakfast to visit the Aswan High Dam and the island Temple of Philae by motorboat (with an optional early-morning excursion to Abu Simbel), then check in to a 5-star Aswan hotel (1 night, with morning breakfast). On Day 7, return via the desert highway to Hurghada for a final night at a 5-star beachfront resort (1 night, with morning breakfast) with time to swim and snorkel over nearshore coral reefs before your Day 8 departure transfer.
Route
- 1HurghadaAfricaEgyptStart
- 2LuxorAfricaEgypt
- 3EsnaAfricaEgypt
- 4EdfuAfricaEgypt
- 5Kom OmboAfricaEgypt
- 6AswanAfricaEgyptEnd
What makes this tour special
Itinerary
Morning Desert Crossing: Meet your private driver and tour escort at your Hurghada hotel or Hurghada International Airport at 08:30 for a comfortable 4-hour climate-controlled drive across the Eastern Desert to Luxor.
Afternoon Check-in: Check in to your 5-star Nile-view hotel in Luxor and unwind by the river (lunch on own).
Late Afternoon & Sunset Guided Tour: Join your private Egyptologist guide to explore the monumental Karnak Temple Complex and its 134-column Great Hypostyle Hall, followed by a sunset visit to the illuminated Luxor Temple and Avenue of Sphinxes (3.5 hours total; entrance tickets included), before dinner at your hotel.
Overnight: 5-Star Nile-View Hotel in Luxor | Meals Included: Dinner
Morning West Bank Excursion: After breakfast, cross the Nile with your Egyptologist guide to visit three royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the terraced Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon (4 hours; entrance tickets included).
Midday Embarkation & Lunch: Transfer at 13:00 to the private Luxor dock to board the boutique Mazaj SEBA Dahabiya and enjoy a freshly prepared welcome lunch on deck.
Afternoon Sailing & Dinner: Begin sailing gently southward toward the Esna approach and dine under the stars moored along a quiet river bank.
Overnight: Aboard Mazaj SEBA Dahabiya (Moored North of Esna) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning Esna Visit & Lock Crossing: After breakfast onboard, take a short guided walk ashore in Esna with your Egyptologist to visit the sunken Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum (1.5 hours; entrance ticket included), then return onboard as the Dahabiya passes through the Esna Lock.
Afternoon Sailing under Canvas: Enjoy freshly prepared lunch on the sun deck while sailing southward past lush date-palm groves and traditional Upper Egyptian river villages.
Evening Island Dinner: Moor beside tranquil El Hegz Island for a guided sunset stroll and an atmospheric candlelit dinner ashore or on the upper deck.
Overnight: Aboard Mazaj SEBA Dahabiya (El Hegz Island) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning Edfu Excursion: After breakfast, ride a traditional horse-drawn carriage from the riverfront to the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus in Edfu—Egypt's best-preserved ancient sanctuary—for a 2-hour guided tour (entrance ticket and carriage included).
Afternoon Sailing: Reboard the Mazaj SEBA Dahabiya for lunch and a relaxing afternoon of wind-powered sailing past fertile Nile islands and golden desert dunes.
Evening Mooring: Moor beside a secluded island near the cliffs of Gebel El-Silsila for sunset tea and dinner onboard.
Overnight: Aboard Mazaj SEBA Dahabiya (Gebel El-Silsila Island) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning Walk at Gebel El-Silsila: Go ashore after breakfast with your Egyptologist guide to inspect the pharaonic sandstone quarries and the rock-cut Speos of King Horemheb (1.5 hours; entrance ticket included).
Afternoon Kom Ombo Tour: Sail south to Kom Ombo for a 1.5-hour guided tour of the symmetrical dual Temple of Sobek and Haroeris and the Crocodile Mummy Museum (entrance ticket included).
Evening Farewell Dinner: Continue to the northern bank of Aswan near Herdiab Island and celebrate your final night onboard with a Nubian farewell dinner.
Overnight: Aboard Mazaj SEBA Dahabiya (Aswan North Mooring) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning Disembarkation & Sightseeing: Disembark after breakfast at 08:30 and join your Egyptologist guide to visit the Aswan High Dam and take a private motorboat to the Temple of Isis on Philae Island (3 hours; entrance tickets and boat included; an optional early-morning excursion to Abu Simbel can also be arranged prior to afternoon sightseeing).
Afternoon Hotel Check-in: Check in to your 5-star hotel in Aswan with the afternoon at leisure overlooking the First Cataract (lunch and dinner on own).
Overnight: 5-Star Hotel in Aswan | Meals Included: Breakfast
Morning Overland Transfer: After breakfast at your Aswan hotel, depart at 08:00 in a private climate-controlled vehicle for the scenic 7-hour highway journey along the Nile Valley and across the Eastern Desert back to Hurghada, with comfortable refreshment stops en route.
Late Afternoon Beachfront Check-in: Arrive at your 5-star beachfront resort in Hurghada and enjoy a swim or nearshore snorkeling over the resort's coral reef before evening leisure (lunch and dinner on own).
Overnight: 5-Star Beachfront Resort in Hurghada | Meals Included: Breakfast
Morning at the Beach: Savor breakfast at your Hurghada beachfront resort and enjoy a final morning swimming or relaxing along the Red Sea shore.
Departure Transfer: Meet your private driver at the scheduled time for your transfer to Hurghada International Airport or your onward Hurghada hotel drop-off by 17:30.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Trip includes
Included
1 night at a 5-star Nile-view hotel in Luxor (Night 1, with dinner and Day 2 breakfast)
4 nights aboard the boutique Mazaj SEBA Dahabiya from Luxor to Aswan (Nights 2–5, Full Board)
1 night at a 5-star hotel in Aswan (Night 6, with Day 7 breakfast)
1 night at a 5-star beachfront resort in Hurghada (Night 7, with Day 8 breakfast)
Licensed private English-speaking Egyptologist guide for all temple and monument visits in Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Gebel El-Silsila, Kom Ombo, and Aswan (Days 1–6)
Private driver and tour representative for Hurghada transfers and overland desert crossings (Days 1, 7 & 8)
Guiding Method
Fully guided
English7 breakfasts (Days 2–8), 4 lunches aboard the Dahabiya (Days 2–5), and 5 dinners (Day 1 hotel dinner in Luxor + Days 2–5 dinners aboard the Dahabiya)
Complimentary bottled mineral water, tea, and coffee aboard the Dahabiya and during road transfers
All private climate-controlled vehicle transfers between Hurghada, Luxor, and Aswan, plus airport and dock transfers
Horse-drawn carriage in Edfu and private motorboat to Philae Island in Aswan
Entrance tickets to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings (3 tombs), Hatshepsut Temple, Esna Temple, Edfu Temple, Gebel El-Silsila, Kom Ombo Temple, Aswan High Dam, and Philae Temple
All Esna Lock tolls, mooring fees, local VAT, and service charges
Excluded
International flights to and from Hurghada are not included (all domestic travel on this itinerary is operated by private climate-controlled vehicle and Nile Dahabiya).
Personal travel and medical insurance is not included.
Egypt entry visa fees
Lunches on Days 1, 6, and 7, and dinners on Days 6 and 7
Optional excursions (such as Abu Simbel on Day 6 or Luxor sunrise hot air balloon)
Personal expenses and gratuities for the crew, guide, and driver
Availability
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