Queen Nefeer Dahabiya Nile Cruise
An intimate 5-star dahabiya with lateen sails, chef-prepared full-board dining, and access to quieter Nile shore sites.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
- New
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Esna · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
02Overview
A first look
Queen Nefeer is a traditional sailing dahabiya on the quiet stretch of the Nile between Esna and Aswan — a handful of cabins, meals on deck, and moorings at islands, quarries, and villages the big cruisers pass by. Cabins book individually, or take the whole boat as a private charter.
The route
ESNA and ASWAN
Choose your direction
- ESNA → ASWAN4 nightsupstream, against the current
- ASWAN → ESNA3 nightsdownstream, with the current
The route
Where this ship sails
The stretch of river this vessel works, and what the sailing is like end to end.
At sea
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from ESNA and disembarkation in ASWAN.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Cabin pricing
Pricing & seasonal rates
Per person, per cabin, in GBP. Each rate below covers the full sailing, the guided sightseeing programme along the route, and your arrival and departure transfers between the vessel and the local airport or railway station.
4 nights / 5 days · Esna to Aswan
| Cabin | High seasonOctober – April | Peak season18 Dec – 6 Jan, 21 Mar – 4 Apr |
|---|---|---|
| Single cabin | £1,505 | £1,793 |
| Double cabin | £1,025 | £1,194 |
3 nights / 4 days · Aswan to Esna
| Cabin | High seasonOctober – April | Peak season18 Dec – 6 Jan, 21 Mar – 4 Apr |
|---|---|---|
| Single cabin | £1,200 | £1,416 |
| Double cabin | £840 | £967 |
Cabin allocation
- Nile vessels do not have interconnecting cabins.
- Book early and we will ask the vessel to place your party together — usually adjacent, or directly opposite.
- Cabin numbers are confirmed by the vessel at check-in.
Indicative rates only – pricing and cabins fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
Accessibility
Who can join this
The Queen Nefeer dahabiya route involves walking on uneven ancient stone, loose gravel, compacted sand and short gangplanks when boarding and disembarking. Many temple sites visited have steps, narrow doorways and uneven floors, for example at El Kab and Gebel Silsila; expect stair climbs and low lighting in some tombs. The vessel itself has narrow corridors and cabins that may have one or two steps between deck levels. Transfers use standard minibuses with one or two steps to board. Wheelchair users require a foldable lightweight chair and an able companion to assist at shore landings and site entrances, as there are no guaranteed ramps or lifts at the small quays and most tombs. If you use a mobility aid, tell us at booking so we can advise on feasibility and arrange the least-steps transfer where possible. Our Egyptologists and crew will assist when safe to do so, but we cannot promise full accessibility at all archaeological sites or fixed ramps at historic quays.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and a photocopy stored separately
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, SPF30+ sunscreen
- Lightweight layers for hot afternoons and cooler evenings
- Small daypack for site visits and water bottle
- Motion-sickness medication if you are sensitive
- Flashlight or headlamp for low-light tomb interiors
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for daytime
- Long sleeves and long trousers or skirts for temple visits
- Shoulders covered when visiting mosques or conservative villages
- Sturdy closed shoes for uneven temple floors and quays
- A light sweater or fleece for early-morning and evening breezes
Children & families
Children aged 0 to 5.99 years travel free; children 6 to 11.99 years pay 50% of the adult fare; children 12 years and older pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents, with a maximum of one child per cabin. Two or more children require a separate cabin. Strollers are practical for streets and hotel lobbies but not for temple approaches or narrow quays; most shore landings require parents to carry infants and pushchairs up short gangplanks. Please tell us the ages of any children at booking so we can confirm cabin bedding and safety arrangements.
Location
On the map
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
This dahabiya itinerary uses wind-assisted sailing and quiet diesel for short manoeuvres, which reduces fuel consumption compared with continuous-engine Nile cruisers. We book small, locally owned dahabiyas that carry 8 to 12 cabins, and we prioritise crews and chefs hired from the nearby river communities in Luxor and Aswan. Shore excursions visit smaller sites such as El Kab, Gebel Silsila and Hagar Salsala quarry, where entrance fees support site conservation and local guides; we ask guests to follow site rules and avoid touching fragile surfaces. Onboard waste is segregated where practical, and single-use plastics are minimised; fresh food is prepared by the onboard chef using regional produce purchased in the towns visited. If you have specific sustainability preferences, tell us at booking so we can pass them to the supplier and suggest low-impact options ashore.
Licensed local Egyptologists
ETAA-credentialed, on payroll
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols
Carbon-aware itineraries
Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical
If plans change
Cancellation
- More than 30 days
- Full refund less a £50 admin fee
- 15–30 days
- 50% refund
- Within 14 days
- No refund – date changes considered case by case
Product ID: CRU-NIL-283190
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