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Combined Cairo + Dahabiya Nile 10 Days: Pyramids, Grand Museum & Intimate Cruise
The combined cairo dahabiya is our signature 10-day trip for travelers who want to experience Egypt otherwise - far from the big crowded liners. On the program: three nights in Cairo to explore the giza pyramids nile cruise, the great egyptian museum (GEM) inaugurated in 2024, Memphis and Saqqara, followed by five days of dahabiya nile cruise in a traditional sailboat with only 12-16 passengers.
Unlike cruises of 150 to 300 passengers, a dahabiya is a motorless sailboat that docks on private islands and coves inaccessible to large boats. Our dahabiya 5 stars travels the best stretch of the Nile - Esna, Edfou, Silsileh, Kom Ombo - with exclusive stops where the Nile regains its pharaonic silence. It's the experience intimate Nile cruise par excellence.
This Egypt trip 10 days combines the essentials (Giza plateau, Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Philae temple) with theitinerary dahabiya luxor aswan the most genuine - the one borrowed by 19th century writers like Gustave Flaubert. From $2,320you benefit from a English-speaking Egyptologist guide dedicated, full board and 24-hour WhatsApp support. We also include the visit to the great egyptian museum, open at the end of 2024, whose 100,000 pieces (including the complete treasure of Tutankhamun) will redefine the circuits of Egypt in 2026. This is the offer dahabiya nile egypt the most complete in English-speaking France, designed as a real alternative luxury nile cruise to large premium operators.
Our Signature formula ($2,810) includes Abu Simbel - excursion that TUI and Rive Gauche charge as an option (+110 to +$120). The Prestige package ($3,590) adds a panoramic suite overlooking the Dahabiya and a helicopter flight over the pyramids. The cairo luxor aswan tour dahabiya is completed by the private dahabiya optional for family groups (complete privatization of the sailboat from 6 passengers).
Prices 2026 - 3 Combined Formulas Cairo + Dahabiya
Essential
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Cairo 4★ (3 nights)
- Dahabiya standard cabin (5 nights)
- GEM + Pyramids included
- Domestic flights Cairo-Luxor
- Full board dahabiya
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide
Signature
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Cairo 5★ (3 nights, pyramids view)
- Dahabiya superior cabin
- Abu Simbel INCLUDED
- GEM + Memphis + Saqqara
- Sound & Light dinner show
- Private transfers
Prestige
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Cairo 5★ Luxury (Four Seasons / Marriott Mena House)
- Dahabiya panoramic suite
- Abu Simbel + Giza helicopter
- Michelin Star Dinner (Cairo)
- Private Dahabiya possible (+ quote)
- Personal concierge 24 hours
Why Choose our Combined Cairo + Dahabiya in 2026
Dahabiya 12-16 passengers
Traditional sailboat on a human scale - private stopovers inaccessible to large liners of 150+ pax.
Pyramids + GEM included
Giza Plateau + great egyptian museum (open 2024), 100,000 pieces including the complete treasure of Tutankhamun.
Abu Simbel included (Signature)
TUI and Rive Gauche charge +110 to +$120 - at SEV, Abou Simbel is included in the Signature formula.
Dedicated Egyptologist guide
English-speaking, Egyptological university graduate, accompanies the same group throughout the stay.
Unique private stopovers
Silsileh, Kom Ombo islands, sandstone coves - the dahabiya docks where large boats cannot go.
WhatsApp 24h concierge
Direct English-speaking support before, during and after your stay - no outsourced call center.
What is a Dahabiya? Why it is the height of the Nile
A dahabiya traditional sailboat is a lateen sail boat, without a main engine (or equipped with a discreet auxiliary engine), derived directly from pharaonic boats. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was THE means of transport for European aristocrats who wanted to discover Egypt - Flaubert, Agatha Christie, Pierre Loti.
3 fundamental differences vs. a classic liner
- Capacity : 8 to 16 passengers (vs. 150-300 for a large liner). The crew sometimes exceeds the number of passengers - ultra-personalized service.
- Sailing : no engine rumble, no vibrations. We hear the Nile, the calls of fishermen, the muezzins in the villages.
- Private stopovers : Béchesh island, Silsileh, sandstone coves between Esna and Edfou - impossible to access for boats with deep draft. You sleep there at anchor, under the stars.
Why this formula rather than the big liner?
For the same duration of cairo nile cruise 10 days, the dahabiya costs around 30% more - but you gain an experience incomparable in authenticity. If your priority is price, we recommend our large liner 5★ (from $440). If your priority is exclusivity, the dahabiya is the obvious choice.
Detailed Program: 10 Exceptional Days
Day 1-3 - Cairo: Pyramids & Grand Egyptian Museum
Reception at the airport, installation in a 4★ or 5★ hotel depending on the package. Full day Giza plateau (Cheops, Chephren, Mykerinos + Sphinx). Day Memphis (former capital) + Saqqara (Djoser step pyramid). Visit of great egyptian museum (GEM) with the complete collection of Tutankhamun. Free evening in Khan el-Khalili.
Day 4 - Cairo-Luxor Flight & Boarding Dahabiya
Morning flight to Luxor. Visit to the temples of Karnak and Luxor. Boarding the dahabiya 5 stars at the end of the afternoon. Welcome cocktail, dinner on board facing the Nile.
Day 5 - West Bank Luxor: Valley of the Kings
Excursion Valley of the Kings (royal tombs of Ramesses VI, Tutankhamun option), temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari, colossi of Memnon. Back on board, navigation begins towards Esna. Lunch on board.
Day 6 - Esna → Silsileh: Private Stopovers Dahabiya
Passage of the Esna lock. Peaceful navigation towards Silsileh, ancient site of pharaonic quarries. Swimming stopover on a private island - experience only possible in Dahabiya. Dinner under the stars.
Day 7 - Edfu: Temple of Horus
Visit the Edfu temple, the best preserved in Egypt. Navigation to Kom Ombo in the afternoon. Captain's tea on the upper deck.
Day 8 - Kom Ombo → Aswan
Kom Ombo double temple (Sobek-Haroëris), dedicated to the crocodile and the falcon. Final navigation to Aswan. Arrival at the end of the day, farewell dinner on board.
Day 9 - Aswan: Philae, High Dam & Abu Simbel option
Landing. Temple of Philae (dedicated to Isis), Aswan high dam, unfinished obelisk. Abu Simbel option in Signature and Prestige formula (5-hour return excursion, 2 colossal temples of Ramses II and Nefertari).
Day 10 - Domestic Flight Aswan-Cairo & Departure
Domestic flight Aswan-Cairo (arranged and included by SEV). Airport transfer to Cairo. From Cairo airport, you take your own flight home. End of our services.
Honest Comparison: SEV vs. Competitors (Cairo + Dahabiya Combined)
| Criterion | SEV Combined | TUI Dahabiya+Cairo | Left Bank | World Travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance price | $2,320 | $3,580 | $2,530 | $4,370+ |
| Duration | 10d/9n | 12d/11n | 12d/11n | 10d/9n |
| Pax max dahabiya | 12-16 | 24 | 16 | 6-12 (private) |
| Grand Museum (GEM) included | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Abu Simbel included | ✅ upon signature | +$120 | +$110 | ✅ |
| Dedicated Egyptologist guide | ✅ French speaking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| WhatsApp 24h support | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | partial |
Note: All domestic flights within Egypt (Cairo-Luxor, Aswan-Cairo) are arranged and included by SEV. You book your own flight to Egypt to maximize your flexibility of airline choice (Air France, EgyptAir, low-cost).
FAQ: Combined Cairo + Dahabiya Nile 10 Days
What differentiates a dahabiya from a classic cruise ship?
A dahabiya is a traditional sailboat with 8 to 16 passengers, compared to 150 to 300 on a large liner. Sailing (no main engine), private stopovers on islands inaccessible to large boats, crew often more numerous than passengers. This is the formula intimate Nile cruise par excellence.
Which dahabiya do you use for this handset?
We work with several 5★ partner dahabiyas depending on the date and availability: Meroe, Nour El Nil, Sonesta Dahabeya. All are dahabiya 5 stars with air-conditioned cabins, private bathrooms and panoramic deck. The exact choice is confirmed at the time of booking.
Can the dahabiya be privatized for a family group?
Yes - the private dahabiya is possible from 6 adult passengers (in Prestige formula, additional price on quote). It's ideal for a birthday, a honeymoon or an extended family group of 8 to 12 people.
Is Abu Simbel included in all packages?
No. Abu Simbel is included in the formula Signature ($2,810) and Prestige ($3,590). In the Essential formula ($2,320), it is an option at +$240/person (less expensive than TUI at +$120but aligned with our price transparency policy).
Is the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) really different from the Cairo Museum?
Yes, totally. The great egyptian museum (GEM) opened at the end of 2024 on the Giza plateau and is gradually replacing the old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square. It houses 100,000 pieces (vs. 120,000 in Tahrir), including the complete treasure of Tutankhamun exhibited for the first time in its entirety. Access included in all our packages.
Is the trip suitable for families with children?
Yes, from 7 years old. The Dahabiya offers a secure environment (wide decks, no hustle and bustle like on a large liner). For families with children <6 ans, nous recommandons notre Smile of the Sphinx circuit which avoids long navigations.
What is the best season for this cruise?
October to April: temperate climate (22-28°C during the day). Avoid July-August (>40°C in the valley). March-April and October-November are the two peaks, book 3-4 months in advance.
Are domestic flights within Egypt included?
Yes. All domestic flights within Egypt - Cairo-Luxor and Aswan-Cairo - are arranged and included by SEV at no extra cost. You book your own flight to Egypt to maximize your flexibility of airline choice.
Can we extend the Dahabiya or add a Red Sea extension?
Yes. Possible extensions: 3 nights Hurghada from +$380, 3 nights Marsa Alam from +$440, or dahabiya extension 2 additional nights from +$280. Contact us via WhatsApp for a tailor-made quote.
How to book and what is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 60 days before departure. Between 60 and 30 days: 30% retained. Less than 30 days: 50% retained. Cancellation insurance recommended (from $50/person).
What Our Travelers Are Saying
“The dahabiya was a revelation. Stopover on a private island, dinner under the stars in the middle of the Nile - it was like being in an Agatha Christie novel. Guide Ahmed knows each hieroglyph by name. Exceptional Cairo thanks to the brand new GEM. »
- Christine L., Aix-en-Provence, March 2026 (Signature formula)“We privatized the dahabiya for our 8 family members (3 generations). Prestige was worth every euro: helicopter over Giza at sunrise, panoramic suite, Abu Simbel on a private day. WhatsApp 24/7 from the impeccable SEV team. »
- Famille Bernard, Lyon, February 2026 (Prestige formula + privatization)“Compared to the TUI and Voyageurs du Monde offers that we looked at, SEV was 40% cheaper with an equivalent service. 16 passengers on the dahabiya, perfect mix of privacy and socialization. The Grand Museum is a visual shock. »
- Pierre & Élise M., Bordeaux, April 2026 (Signature formula)Discover Our Other Trips & Tours
- Nile Cruise 5★ large liner (5 days from $440) - budget version
- Combined Cairo + classic cruise 8 days - economic equivalent
- Glory of the Gods circuit 10 days (from $2,230) - without dahabiya, Abu Simbel included
- Legend of Osiris circuit 9 days (from $2,030) - Abydos & Dendera
- Smile of the Sphinx Tour - family, earthly
- Cairo Guide - 10 things to see beyond the pyramids
- Luxor Guide - East bank vs West bank
- Aswan Guide - Philae, Abu Simbel, High Dam
- Nile Cruise Guide 2026 - complete comparison of formulas
- All our Egypt packages
- Personalized quote 24 hours
Ready to experience Egypt in Dahabiya?
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