A dahabiya and a Nile cruise ship both sail between Luxor and Aswan, but they are very different trips. Price, route, stops and who each one suits, side by side.
A dahabiya is a small, traditional Nile sailing boat. A standard cruise ship is a large floating hotel. Both sail the Nile between Luxor and Aswan. The dahabiya costs more, from $1,500 for 3 nights on our trips against $450 for a 3-night cruise ship, and stops at quiet places the big ships pass by. The cruise ship covers more of the famous temples.
Key Takeaways
- Price: our dahabiya trips start at $1,500 for 3 nights and $1,900 for 4 nights. Our 3-night cruise ship starts at $450 per person.
- Our dahabiyas sail with no engine on board. The trip is about the river itself, not just the temples along it.
- The stops are different. A dahabiya moors at Gebel el-Silsila's ancient quarries, the rock tombs of El Kab, small islands and riverside villages.
- Luxor's big sites are not on our dahabiya itineraries. They run between Aswan and Esna, so Karnak and the Valley of the Kings need separate days. The 3-night cruise ship includes them.
- Both are full board, with an Egyptologist guide and entrance fees for the sites in the itinerary.
Side by side
| Dahabiya, 3 nights | Dahabiya, 4 nights | Cruise ship, 3 nights | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | $1,500 per person | $1,900 per person | $450 per person |
| Route | Aswan to Esna, then a transfer to Luxor | Esna to Aswan, with pickup in Luxor | Aswan to Luxor |
| Main temples | Kom Ombo, Edfu | Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo | Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Kings |
| Quieter stops | Gebel el-Silsila, El Kab, an island walk | El Kab, Wadi el-Shat, Gebel el-Silsila, Daraw, a Nubian village near Aswan | A Nubian village by boat |
| Evenings | Dinner around a campfire on a Nile island one night | Dinner on board or on the riverbank, with a campfire one night | Dinner and evening entertainment on board |
| The boat | Small sailing boat, no engine | Small sailing boat, no engine | Large ship with a sun-deck pool |
| See the trip | Dahabiya Nile Cruise, 4 days | Dahabiya Nile Cruise, 5 days | 3-Night Nile Cruise |
What you gain on a dahabiya
Places the big ships do not stop at. Gebel el-Silsila was one of ancient Egypt's great sandstone quarries, and it still has rock-cut chapels of Seti I, Ramesses II, Merenptah and Horemheb. El Kab, the ancient city of Nekheb, has tombs cut into the cliffs. The 4-night trip also stops at Daraw, a village known for its camel market.
A slower day. Much of the time is spent on deck watching the riverbank go by, with short walks through villages and fields. On one evening of each trip, dinner is served around a campfire on a Nile island.
A small group, or just your own. Our dahabiya trips run as small-group or private trips on a small boat, which feels far more personal than a large hotel ship.
What you give up
Price. Three nights on a dahabiya cost more than three times as much as three nights on our cruise ship.
The famous sites. Our dahabiya itineraries do not include Philae, Abu Simbel, Karnak, Luxor Temple or the Valley of the Kings. You will need extra days in Aswan and Luxor for those. The 3-night cruise ship covers all of them except Abu Simbel.
Big-ship facilities. The cruise ship has a sun-deck pool and evening entertainment. A dahabiya is about quiet.
Which one should you choose?
| Choose a dahabiya if | Choose a cruise ship if |
|---|---|
| You have seen the main temples before, or have separate days for Luxor and Aswan | This is your first trip and you want the main temples covered |
| You want quiet, space and time on the river | You want a pool, entertainment and a lower price |
| You would rather travel in a small group or on a private boat | You have a week or less in Egypt |
You can also combine the two: a few days in Luxor for Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, then a dahabiya south to Aswan. If you are still deciding whether to take a boat at all, read is a Nile cruise worth it. To compare every option, see our Nile river cruises page.
Where to start
Tell us which sites you have already seen and how many days you have. We will tell you whether a dahabiya, a cruise ship or a mix of the two fits best.
