Nile traditional cruise of Egypt
Optional Single Supplement: from £695.
Please note some itineraries are reversed.
Description of Nile traditional cruise of Egypt
Follow the River Nile from Esna to Aswan aboard a comfortable and spacious dahabiya houseboat, pausing at iconic locations including majestic Kom Ombo, the temples of Philae and Edfu, and the bustling camel market at Daraw, on this memorable small group trip.
The tour gets underway in the ancient city of Luxor, once home to pharaohs and todayone of the most renowned destinations of the Nile. You’ll hike through the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, escaping the crowds to enjoy impressive panoramas over the river’s west bank, and sites including the Colossi of Memnon.
Boarding your vessel at the famed locks of Esna, you’ll slip gracefully into the current for several days of relaxed sightseeing along the Nile. Life on both riverbanks continues much as it has done for millennia, with villagers tending their crops in peaceful farming communities, and felucca sailboats darting around. There will be opportunities to step ashore and meet the locals, between visits to well-known locations such as Edfu, and lesser-visited places such as the quarries of El Silsila-Farez.
The southernmost point of your voyage, Aswan, is a fascinating blend of Arab and African cultures, the gateway to Nubia, and a constant hive of activity. Here you’ll make one final stop, at the handsome island temple of Philae, and take lunch with views of the Aswan Dam, before your group disperses.
There are different ways to travel the Nile of course, but very few can compare to the romance and elegance of a dahabiya houseboat. You’ll be accompanied by local guides throughout, on an environmentally friendly cruise that seeks to show you parts of the Nile that others do not.
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Optional Single Supplement: from £695.
Please note some itineraries are reversed.
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Reviews
4 Reviews of Nile traditional cruise of Egypt
Reviewed on 24 Feb 2026 by Lynne Harrison
The cruise down the Nile was an amazing way to visit the sites and also to visit two Egyptian villages and meet the villagers in their homes. Read full reviewReviewed on 23 Jan 2025 by Roger Lasko
The most memorable has to be the temples at Abu Simbel. The most enjoyable was the four days drifting up the Nile in our dahabiya. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
The Nile has been an important travel route for centuries, and many of the archaeological and cultural sites visited on this itinerary continue to attract visitors from around the world. Responsible visitor management can help support the long-term preservation of these sites and the surrounding environment.This itinerary includes travel by dahabia, a traditional small sailing vessel carrying a maximum of 18 passengers. Wastewater and sanitary disposal are managed through designated harbour facilities in accordance with local operating procedures, rather than being discharged during navigation.
The small vessel size allows access to locations that are not typically visited by larger cruise ships and provides a lower passenger-to-space ratio than many larger river vessels.
The tour is operated with a maximum group size of 12 travellers. Smaller group sizes can help facilitate site management, guide supervision and visitor movement at the archaeological and cultural sites included in the itinerary, including locations that receive fewer visitors than some of Egypt's major tourist attractions.
People
LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL SUPPLIERSIn addition to its cultural and historical focus, the Dahabia itinerary includes visits to villages and communities located along the Nile. These visits provide opportunities for travellers to learn about daily life, local traditions and regional heritage beyond the main tourism centres of Luxor and Aswan.
The programme incorporates services provided by Egyptian-owned businesses and suppliers. These include accommodation providers, transport operators, guides and other tourism service providers involved in the delivery of the itinerary.
Many of the businesses and service providers used throughout the programme are independently owned and operated within Egypt.
Travellers have opportunities to purchase goods and services from local businesses during the journey, including in communities visited along the Nile. Any purchases made are at the discretion of the traveller.
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT AND SERVICES
The itinerary is delivered using locally based guides, crew, accommodation providers and support staff.
Food served during the trip is sourced through local suppliers where available and practical for the operation of the programme.
By working with Egyptian tourism providers and service partners, the itinerary incorporates local knowledge, expertise and cultural perspectives throughout the travel experience.
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