Embark on an unforgettable adventure with our Egypt Private Tour, a personalized 8-day journey that will introduce you to both the cultural treasures of Cairo and the peaceful charm of Dahabeya.
Sailing aboard a dahabeya means enjoying a peaceful cruise on the peaceful waters of the Nile.
Enjoy exceptional navigation on the Nile, in comfort and elegance! Rather than traveling aboard a large cruise ship or a traditional felucca, opt for a unique experience by boarding a grandiose and luxurious dahabeya.
Live a unique experience exploring the Nile River in an exclusive and refined way aboard the twin dahabiyas, Nuun and Nuut.
Discover unique itineraries visiting the Nile River in an exclusive and luxurious way by taking one of the twin dahabiyas, Nuun and Nuut.
Take a pleasant combined tour, cruise on the Nile and Cairo to visit the attractions in Cairo such as the Pyramids of Cheops, Khafre and Mykerinos as well as the Egyptian Museum.
A Nile cruise Egypt trip comes down to three choices: the length (3, 4 or 7 nights, sometimes longer), the type of boat (a large 5-star ship carrying 44 to 132 passengers, or a dahabiya under sail with 12 to 24 guests), and the direction of travel (Luxor to Aswan, the classic route, or Aswan to Luxor, which sees fewer crowds at the temples during peak hours). The five formats below are the ones our team in Cairo actually operates in 2026, each with the season that suits it and the budget we see per person in a double cabin, before your international flight.
| Format and boat class | Length | Direction | Best season | Budget per person, double cabin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large 5-star ship | 3 nights | Aswan to Luxor | October to April | $1,020 to $1,310 |
| Large 5-star ship | 4 nights | Luxor to Aswan | October, November, March, April | $1,250 to $2,030 |
| Large 5-star ship | 7 nights | Luxor to Aswan, return possible | November to March, peak season | $1,460 to $2,430 |
| Dahabiya, Iris, Akhenaton or Per-ba | 3, 4 or 7 nights | Aswan to Luxor or Luxor to Aswan | October to April | $1,390 to $4,500 |
| Lake Nasser ship | 3 or 4 nights | Aswan to Abu Simbel | October to April | Custom quote |
On this basis, the departures we build most often are our 8-day Nile and Cairo cruise for a first trip to Egypt, the 7-night program on a large 5-star ship when comfort and a swimming pool matter most, the Nile in a dahabiya, eight cabins only for travelers who want to sail away from the big decks, and the 12-day Cairo, Nile and Hurghada combination if you want to end the trip on the Red Sea.
This is the most requested format for a Nile cruise. Ships of 22 to 66 cabins, a swimming pool on the top deck, an a la carte restaurant, a bar, a spa, evening entertainment. Cabins with a private balcony, Nile views, Junior suites of 28 to 35 square meters. Full board, sometimes all-inclusive drinks.
Best for: a first trip to Egypt, family trips with teenagers, travelers who want comfort and entertainment, an organized group cruise. Capacity: 44 to 132 passengers depending on the ship.
The Nile cruise on a dahabiya is the most authentic way to see the river. A traditional wooden sailboat, engine-assisted for narrow stretches, with far fewer guests than a standard ship. It sails mostly by day and moors along quiet banks, away from the large public docks. SEV sails three 5-star dahabiyas built for this trip, Iris, Akhenaton and Per-ba, each with cabin availability confirmed with your quote.
Best for: honeymoons, see our Nile cruise honeymoon guide, couples, travelers who prefer a small group and a slower pace, photographers. Capacity: a small group aboard; cabin availability is confirmed with your quote. More per square meter than a classic 5-star ship, but a genuinely different experience.
The cruise on Lake Nasser (Aswan to Abu Simbel) is the high-end alternative. Only 3 or 4 nights, with direct access to the temples saved from the rising waters: Kalabsha, Wadi es-Seboua, Amada, Maharraqa and, of course, the double temple of Abu Simbel.
Best for: a second trip to Egypt after a classic Nile cruise, travelers seeking exclusivity on a river with very few boats and an almost private atmosphere, anyone with a deep interest in ancient Egypt. Can be combined with a classic Nile cruise for a full 12 to 14 day trip.
Our team in Cairo boards these ships every season. Here are the 7 large 5-star liners that stand out in 2026 for a Luxor to Aswan Nile cruise, ranked from the most accessible to the most refined.
56 standard cabins of about 22 square meters plus 4 Royal Suites of about 42 square meters, a swimming pool, 2 restaurants, a Six Senses spa. Well rated international and Egyptian cuisine. 4 or 7 night Luxor to Aswan itineraries, particularly suited to families and first trips to Egypt.
52 cabins, 50 doubles plus 2 suites, spread across three decks, renovated in 2017. Gourmet restaurant, an infinity pool facing the Nile, a Sothys spa, a modern fitness room. 7 or 11 night itineraries.
33 suites designed like a private yacht, 27 Beethoven Deluxe suites at about 40 square meters, 4 Mozart suites at about 35 square meters, 2 Chopin suites at about 52 square meters, each with a private terrace, up to 66 guests. A swimming pool on the top deck, a gym, a panoramic lounge. A favorite with honeymooners and couples, see our honeymoon guide. 7-night Luxor to Aswan itinerary with exclusive mooring stops.
22 cabins and suites only, up to 44 guests. Each cabin is treated like a 5-star hotel room, with a dressing area, a private balcony, a panoramic Nile view. French-style service, one butler for every few cabins. A Michelin-recognized restaurant, an Oberoi spa. 6 or 7 night itineraries with private mooring.
27 cabins and suites, up to 54 guests. Contemporary, minimalist design. A library, a music room, a pool lined with teak. Chef-led cuisine with a tasting menu. Oberoi Philae’s sister ship, but with a more modern look.
30 suites, each with a private balcony, made up of 1 Royal suite, 1 Executive suite, 2 family suites and 26 Presidential suites, up to 60 guests. A more accessible sibling to the Star Goddess with the same Sonesta service standard. A strong option for families of 4 to 6, with triple cabins available, entertainment and a children’s program. 7-night itineraries.
66 cabins, up to 132 guests, a boutique-hotel feel next to the bigger liners. A single restaurant with a set menu, an intimate pool. Well suited to couples in their forties and beyond.
All these ships accept requests for a specific cabin type, twin beds, an upper deck, a private balcony. To get the cabin you actually want, book 8 to 16 weeks ahead, especially for October through April.
A dahabiya is a traditional Egyptian wooden sailboat, brought back over the past two decades to offer an alternative to the large liners. It carries far fewer guests than a standard Nile cruise ship, sails mostly by day rather than overnight, and moors along quiet banks away from the docks lined with big cruisers. We sail three 5-star dahabiyas, all serving the same core route between Luxor and Aswan, see our full Nile dahabiya cruise guide and our dahabiya versus Nile cruise comparison if you are still weighing the two formats.
White sails, a mahogany hull, a deck open to the river. The Iris sails under wind power where conditions allow, without engine noise, and offers four cabin categories: Double Deluxe, Junior on the main deck, Junior with a veranda on the upper deck, and a Royal suite with a veranda. Onboard, expect a pool on the upper deck, a bar and lounge areas inside and out, a dining room plus shaded outdoor dining, a sun deck with loungers, and bathrooms with a tub and a Nile view.
One sail, one deck, the Akhenaton keeps the dahabiya experience to the essentials while holding a full 5-star standard. Two cabin categories, Double Deluxe and Double with a veranda, a blue mosaic pool on deck, a panoramic dining room with picture windows over the Nile, air-conditioned cabins throughout.
Two cabin categories on the Per-ba, Double Deluxe and Junior with a veranda. The veranda category gives you a private outdoor space facing the river, a detail that changes the rhythm of the days on board. A main salon, a bright, sunlit lounge, a restaurant and bar, and a promenade deck.
All three dahabiyas run the same two routes: Aswan to Luxor over 3 nights, departing every Friday, or Luxor to Aswan over 4 or 7 nights, departing every Monday. Both cover the same 8 sites, Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, with entrance fees, a private guide and a private air-conditioned vehicle included for every visit.
Dahabiyas book up well in advance, 8 to 12 weeks at minimum, sometimes 6 months for the festive season around Christmas and New Year, see our Nile cruise for Christmas and New Year guide. It remains one of the most requested formats for a honeymoon on the Nile.
The classic route for a 7-night Nile cruise is Luxor to Aswan (or the reverse). Here is the day-by-day schedule you will find on about 90 percent of programs.
Day 1, Embarkation in Luxor. Your flight to Egypt is booked independently, our team meets you on arrival for a private transfer to the ship, about 15 minutes. Cabin check-in, lunch on board. Afternoon visit to Karnak temple, 60 hectares, the largest religious complex ever built. Dinner and overnight on board, sailing begins.
Day 2, Luxor West Bank. Morning visit to the Valley of the Kings, tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramesses VI and Merenptah among them, the funerary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon. Back on board for lunch. Afternoon sailing toward Esna, or an optional visit to Luxor Temple at extra cost.
Day 3, Esna and Edfu. The Esna lock is crossed early in the day. Arrival in Edfu late morning for the Temple of Edfu, the best preserved in Egypt, dedicated to the god Horus. Sailing to Kom Ombo in the afternoon. Some ships run an optional galabeya evening.
Day 4, Kom Ombo and Aswan. Morning visit to the double Temple of Kom Ombo, shared by Sobek and Horus the Elder. Sailing to Aswan, arriving late afternoon. A traditional felucca ride at sunset around Elephantine Island. Dinner on board.
Day 5, Aswan, Philae and the High Dam. Visit to the Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island, moved out of the rising waters in the 1970s, the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. Free afternoon, or an optional visit to a Nubian village.
Day 6, Optional Abu Simbel. An early domestic flight to Abu Simbel and back, about 45 minutes each way plus roughly 2 hours on site, all arranged and included by SEV. Visit to the two temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari, moved out of the waters of Lake Nasser. Back in Aswan by early afternoon. Free evening on board.
Day 7, Free Time in Aswan. An open day. Optional visits to the Kitchener botanical garden or the Monastery of St Simeon, or a felucca crossing to the far bank. Farewell dinner on board.
Day 8, Disembarkation. Breakfast on board, transfer to Aswan airport. Many travelers continue on to the Red Sea from here on a domestic flight to Hurghada, about 1 hour 10 minutes, see our Nile cruise and Hurghada combo guide, or fly home by way of Cairo.
This route is standard on about 90 percent of ships. Premium ships, Oberoi Philae or Sonesta Star Goddess among them, can add private stops such as Daraw or El-Kab, a pre-dynastic necropolis. Our dahabiyas follow a similar pattern but over the shorter Aswan to Luxor route, without Luxor itself, which is best visited on land before boarding.
For a longer Nile cruise, 11 nights, the itinerary usually becomes Luxor, Aswan and Lake Nasser, or adds Dendera and Abydos at the start of the trip, major sites that a standard 7-night program does not reach. This is the option we recommend for travelers with a deep interest in ancient Egypt, or anyone who has already done the classic 7-night cruise. Expect a price roughly 60 percent above the standard 7-night rate.
A Nile cruise is possible 10 months of the year, but how comfortable the temple visits feel, mostly in full sun with little shade, depends a great deal on the climate.
October, November, March, April, the best window. Days around 77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, nights around 64 to 72 degrees. Conditions are close to ideal for visiting Karnak or the Valley of the Kings in the middle of the day without real discomfort. A Nile cruise in November in particular delivers some of the most reliable weather of the year, warm and dry with cool evenings on the top deck, see our guide to Nile cruises in October and November. This is peak season, so book your cabin 8 to 16 weeks ahead: a Nile cruise November 2026 departure in a Junior suite or a dahabiya veranda cabin is already moving fast at the time of writing.
December, January, February, a good window. Days around 68 to 79 degrees, nights around 50 to 59 degrees. Beautiful winter light for photography. Cool evenings on deck, pack a wrap for dinners on the terrace. The Red Sea runs a bit cool if you plan to combine the cruise with a beach stay, see our guide to sailing in February and March for the shoulder season that follows. Christmas and New Year are the busiest week of the year on the river, ships fill up to 6 months ahead and rates climb 30 to 40 percent, see our Nile cruise for Christmas and New Year guide.
May, September, a fair window. Days around 86 to 95 degrees. Still workable if you avoid visits between noon and 3 p.m. Rates run roughly 15 percent lower, with fewer travelers on the sites.
June, July, August, best avoided. Days of 100 to 109 degrees in Upper Egypt. Visiting temples turns into a real ordeal. Several upscale ships suspend sailings in July and August. Rates drop roughly 30 percent, but it is a different trip, see our honest verdict on summer Nile cruises.
Our recommendation: favor November and March, which combine ideal weather, soft light and rates that are still reasonable ahead of the December peak. Avoid Easter week and the week between Christmas and New Year if you want to steer clear of the highest rates and the fullest boats.
Rates vary a great deal by ship, season and cabin category. Here are the land plus domestic flight ranges we see for 2026, per person in a double cabin, before your international flight.
Movenpick MS Royal Lily, Steigenberger Royale, Sonesta Sun Goddess. Standard cabin, full board, English-speaking guided tours, all domestic flights within Egypt included.
Junior suite with a private balcony, all-inclusive drinks, personalized service, private mooring, an optional Abu Simbel excursion included.
Full board, a private guide and a private vehicle for all 8 included sites, entrance fees covered, 3 to 7 night itineraries between Luxor and Aswan.
What every formula includes: private airport-to-ship transfers, a 7-night full-board cruise, English-speaking guided tours of Karnak, Luxor west bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, local taxes, and all domestic flights within Egypt, arranged and included by SEV. The Egypt visa is included from Formula 2 upward. Your flight to Egypt is booked independently, see our full Nile cruise cost breakdown and our all-inclusive Nile cruise guide for what changes between formulas.
What is not included: tips for guides and crew, plan on $40 to $60 per person for 7 nights, drinks outside the all-inclusive plan on Formula 1, and travel insurance. No hidden fees or concealed commissions, every rate is negotiated directly by our team in Cairo.
You book your own flight to Egypt, the land plus domestic flight price is what SEV quotes. From most US cities, getting to Egypt means at least one connection, commonly through Cairo’s European or Gulf gateways such as London, Frankfurt, Istanbul or Doha. EgyptAir also flies nonstop from New York-JFK to Cairo, about 10 hours 30 minutes, the only true direct option from the US. All domestic flights within Egypt, Cairo to Luxor, Aswan to Cairo, and any Aswan to Abu Simbel excursion flight, are arranged and included by SEV. For routing advice from your home airport, contact our team on WhatsApp.
A tourist visa is required for US travelers, $30 as of the fee increase that took effect in 2026, whichever route you take, see our full Egypt visa guide for US travelers.
Your passport should be valid at least 6 months past your return date. No vaccination is required unless you are arriving from a country with yellow fever.
The local currency is the Egyptian pound, EGP, trading at roughly $1 to 52 EGP as of September 2026. ATMs are available at the airport, in hotels, and in Luxor and Aswan. US dollars are accepted widely for tips, small denominations preferred. As a guideline, plan on $40 to $60 per person for the boat staff over a 7-night cruise, kitchen, cabin and bar crew combined, plus $5 to $10 per day for your guide.
Light linen or cotton clothing for the day, a fleece or sweater for evenings from November through February on the ventilated top deck, a hat, UV-protective sunglasses, SPF 50 sunscreen, and comfortable closed shoes for the temples, the stones and sand can be slippery. For mosque visits if you add Cairo to your trip, cover your shoulders and knees. Smart-casual dress for dinners on board, no shorts or flip-flops. See our full Egypt travel checklist before you leave.
Our team in Cairo negotiates rates directly with ship owners, Sonesta, Movenpick, Oberoi, Steigenberger. No middleman in the US or Europe. Response in English within 24 hours, free adjustments to your dates and preferences.
WhatsApp +20 10 96569859