Storia The Dahabeya Nile Cruise
A 5-star dahabeya with Nile-view cabins, a shaded sun deck, lounge bar and full-board dining in a quieter small-ship setting.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
Per cabin · Cabins are sold individually — book just your own cabin, sharing the boat with a handful of other guests.
The short answer
Storia The Dahabeya is a one-day Nile cruise covering Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan, arranged through Discovery Tours Egypt.
·In summary
Storia The Dahabeya sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, with shore visits including Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Philae. The excursion programme is led by an English-speaking Egyptologist; the vessel is owned and operated by a third-party cruise line.
Snapshot
Good to know
- Accommodation
- 5-Star Dahabeya
- Destinations
- Esna · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- Includes
- Full-board meals from embarkation lunch to disembarkation breakfast · Scheduled shore excursions to Karnak and Luxor Temple · Scheduled visit to the Valley of the Kings · Scheduled visits to Edfu and Kom Ombo · Scheduled visit to Philae · English-speaking Egyptologist for shore excursions · Use of the sun deck, lounge bar and public lounges · Harbour and port charges
- Best for
- Travellers seeking a quieter Nile cruise · Couples · Small groups · Guests interested in guided temple visits
- Guide languages
- Arabic · English · French · German · Italian · Spanish
- Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator and books and arranges the cruise.
- The listed shore excursions include the services of an English-speaking Egyptologist.
- The supplied programme names the scheduled shore-excursion sites and identifies drinks and gratuities as exclusions.
What lingers
- 01Visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on guided shore excursions.
- 02Explore the Valley of the Kings with an English-speaking Egyptologist.
- 03See the Temple of Horus at Edfu and Kom Ombo Temple.
- 04Visit Philae, an island temple complex in the Nile near Aswan.
- 05Relax on the sun deck or in the lounge bar between excursions.
- 06Travel by dahabeya, a sail-powered Nile boat rather than a large motorised cruiser.
02Overview
A first look
Storia is a traditional sailing dahabiya on the quiet stretch of the Nile between Esna and Aswan, carrying a handful of cabins, dining on deck, and moorings at islands and villages the big ships pass by. Cabin rates and departures for this vessel are confirmed on request — let us know your dates and we will check availability and pricing directly with the operator.
Background
The facts
Storia The Dahabeya is a Nile cruise vessel in the traditional dahabeya style. Discovery Tours Egypt books and arranges the cruise; a third-party cruise line owns and operates the vessel. Its facilities include cabins with Nile-view windows or small balconies where available, a sun deck, lounge bar and dining saloon.
The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. The shore-excursion programme includes Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on Luxor’s east bank, the Valley of the Kings on the west bank, Edfu’s Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo and Philae near Aswan. No sailing duration or site-to-site distances are specified in the supplied programme.
These sites span Pharaonic and Greco-Roman periods. Karnak and Luxor temples formed part of ancient Thebes; the Valley of the Kings was a royal burial ground, chiefly used during Egypt’s New Kingdom. The temples at Edfu and Philae belong to later phases of ancient Egyptian religious architecture. Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The cruise includes full-board meals from embarkation lunch through disembarkation breakfast. Drinks (including water) and gratuities are excluded. Standard entrance fees are included unless stated otherwise, while premium optional tickets are not. Opening hours and seasonal sailing schedules are not provided, so confirm them for the intended departure.
Named in this entry
Storia The Dahabeya·Nile·Luxor·Aswan·Karnak Temple·Luxor Temple·The Valley of the Kings·Edfu·Temple of Horus·Kom Ombo·Philae·Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Storia The Dahabeya suits couples, mature travellers and history-focused adults who value quieter sailing and guided visits to Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Philae. It is a good match for travellers who prefer a smaller vessel to a large motorised Nile cruiser and are comfortable with regular walking at archaeological sites.
Maybe not, if
- Choose a larger motorised cruiser if you want extensive onboard entertainment or a faster-paced sailing experience. The shore visits are not suited to travellers who need step-free access or find uneven stone and stairs difficult.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Smaller passenger capacity offers a quieter onboard setting.
Things to Consider
- Uneven stone and steps at several archaeological sites.
- Hot, exposed conditions at temples from May to September.
- Drinks (including water) cost extra.
- Gratuities for crew and guides are not included.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most large Nile cruisers are motorised; Storia The Dahabeya is presented as a quieter, smaller-scale sailing experience. Unlike a shore-based sightseeing itinerary, its scheduled excursions link Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae along the river route.
The route
Esna and Aswan
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
The route
Where this ship sails
The stretch of river this vessel works, and what the sailing is like end to end.
On board
Detailed itinerary
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Full board meals, from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day
- Scheduled guided shore excursions in the vessel’s programme to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu’s Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo and Philae
- An English-speaking Egyptologist for shore excursions
- Use of onboard facilities, including the sun deck, lounge bar and public lounges
- Harbour and port charges
Not included
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Gratuities for the crew, Egyptologist and guides
- Private or optional excursions not listed in the vessel’s programme
- Entrance fees for premium optional sites not included in the standard shore excursions, such as pyramid interiors where applicable
- International and domestic flights to the embarkation and disembarkation ports
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Ask which cabin category is available if a Nile-view window or small balcony matters to you.
- 02
Check the current sailing schedule before booking flights, as departures are weekly in each direction.
- 03
Carry small notes for gratuities, which are not included in the cruise price.
- 04
Ask whether any requested premium site ticket is separate from the standard excursion entrance fees.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Cabin features vary, so request a Nile-view window or small balcony when enquiring; availability is not guaranteed. Private or optional excursions are not part of the scheduled programme and can be discussed separately. The vessel sails weekly between Luxor and Aswan in both directions, so ask about dates and embarkation port when planning.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Where it fits
Storia The Dahabeya links Luxor and Aswan, so it can sit between time in either city and onward travel by road or domestic flight. Its shore programme covers major Nile Valley sites, including Karnak Temple, Edfu and Philae.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This Nile dahabeya programme involves moderate physical activity. Boarding and leaving the vessel may require using a short gangplank, and landing sites can have uneven paths, sand or cobbled surfaces. Shore visits include worn stone and steps at places such as the Valley of the Kings and Kom Ombo; some steps have no handrails. Wheelchair access cannot be confirmed across all quays and sites, so please contact us before booking to discuss your needs and the vessel assigned to your sailing. Crew may be able to help with short transfers, but lifting assistance is not guaranteed. Strollers can be awkward on gangplanks and uneven paths.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The dahabeya is sail-powered, using its lateen sail while travelling on the Nile. We arrange shore visits with English-speaking Egyptologists and work with local suppliers for services on the route. Onboard meals are full board, and fresh produce may be sourced from markets in Luxor and Aswan, depending on availability. Transfers to or from the ports may use air-conditioned road vehicles; the vehicle type and supplier depend on the arrangements for your booking. Please take litter with you, do not remove stones or artefacts, and ask permission before photographing people.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and any required visa
- Comfortable walking shoes with a good grip
- High-factor sunscreen
- Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Small torch for dimly lit quays
- Personal medication and prescription details
What to wear
- Breathable, lightweight clothes for the heat during the day
- Long sleeves and trousers for sun protection
- Clothing covering shoulders and knees at temples and mosques
- A warm layer for breezy mornings and evenings
- Non-slip shoes for gangplanks and quays
Children & families
Children aged 0–5.99 years travel free; children aged 6–11.99 years pay 50%; those aged 12 and over pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with a parent, with a maximum of one child per cabin. Two or more children require their own cabin. Strollers may be difficult to manage on gangplanks and uneven landing sites. There are no childcare facilities, and parents are responsible for children on board and during shore visits.
Prices by sailing
Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double cabin. Each price 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.
| Sailing | October – Aprilcurrent season | May – September |
|---|---|---|
| 3 nights · Aswan → Esnaembarks Fridays | October – April: from £4,114single cabin £6,907 | May – September: from £1,978single cabin £3,128 |
| 4 nights · Esna → Aswanembarks Mondays | October – April: from £5,390single cabin £9,115 | May – September: from £2,542single cabin £4,076 |
Choose your sailing and date in the booking panel for the exact price.
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.
These fares are a guide, as prices and cabins move through the year. Do ask us and we will confirm the fare for the days you have in mind.
Add Cairo before or after your cruise
The ship stays between Luxor and Aswan. The Pyramids, and most flights back to the UK, are in Cairo. These short extensions link the two.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
What you receive back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your holiday you let us know and the kind of holiday you book. See our current cancellation and refund terms
Location
On the map
While you're here
Worth pairing
- Karnak TempleRight here
- Luxor TempleRight here
- The Valley of the KingsRight here
- Temple of Horus at EdfuRight here
- Philae TempleRight here
Why book this with us
Three reasons, stated plainly
01
A dahabeya alternative to larger motorised Nile cruisers
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How long is the Storia The Dahabeya Nile cruise?
The product listing states a duration of one day, but the vessel sails weekly between Luxor and Aswan in both directions. Please check the dates and itinerary shown for your chosen departure before booking, as the listed duration does not explain the full sailing programme. The cruise begins and ends at the ports named in your final arrangement.02Where do I board Storia The Dahabeya, and how do I reach the port?
Storia The Dahabeya embarks and disembarks at Luxor and Aswan. Flights to and from those cities are not included. We can confirm the relevant port and any separately arranged transport once your sailing dates and direction are settled.03What is included in the Storia The Dahabeya cruise?
Full board runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. The vessel programme includes guided visits to Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, with an English-speaking Egyptologist for shore excursions. Port taxes and access to the sun deck and public lounges are also included.04What is not included in the cruise fare?
Flights, gratuities, drinks (including water) and private or optional excursions are excluded. Entry to premium optional sites is also not included where it falls outside the standard shore programme. Check the final itinerary for any site-specific entry arrangements, and refer to the cancellation terms shown on the page for the applicable conditions.05Would Storia The Dahabeya work well for travellers with restricted mobility?
The information provided does not confirm step-free access or mobility assistance aboard Storia The Dahabeya. Boarding a river vessel and visiting ancient sites can involve steps, uneven ground and walking outdoors. Tell us about any mobility needs before booking so we can check the vessel and planned shore visits rather than assume access is suitable.06Can children travel on Storia The Dahabeya?
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; 6–11.99 years pay 50%; 12+ pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents (maximum one child per cabin); two or more children require their own cabin. Pricing is per person sharing, and a single supplement applies when an adult occupies a cabin alone.07What should I wear and bring on the Nile cruise?
Bring sun protection, a hat, comfortable walking shoes and light clothing for the deck and shore visits. Temperatures can be high, while evenings may feel cooler. Choose modest clothing for visits to religious sites, including covered shoulders and knees. A refillable water bottle is useful.08Can I take photographs during the shore excursions?
Photography rules vary between sites, and some tombs or museum areas may restrict cameras or charge an additional fee. Ask your Egyptologist before photographing inside the Valley of the Kings or at any other site. Be considerate when photographing local people, and do not use flash where signs or staff prohibit it.09When is the best time to sail between Luxor and Aswan?
The cooler months from November to March are generally more comfortable for visiting temples and walking outdoors. Summer brings stronger heat, particularly during midday shore visits. The vessel sails weekly in both directions, but dates and availability depend on the selected departure; ask us to check your intended travel period.10Which sites can I visit on the Storia The Dahabeya route?
The scheduled shore programme names Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. The route runs between Luxor and Aswan, with visits dependent on the vessel’s programme for your departure. Entry to optional premium sites, such as certain tombs, may require a separate ticket.
Last updated 11 July 2026Product ID: CRU-NIL-404494
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