Malouka Dahabiya Nile Cruise

Your Malouka Dahabiya Nile Cruise from Esna to Aswan starts with a warm welcome from your tour manager when you arrive at Luxor Airport or the train station. You will meet your Egyptologist guide and head to Esna, a historic merchant town known for its traditional streets and the Temple of Khnum.

The temple sits below street level and gives a good sense of ancient Egyptian religious life. Take a walk through the surrounding streets, where local shops sell textiles and other traditional goods then board your Dahabiya. Settle into your cabin and enjoy lunch and dinner on board as the Nile journey begins.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

In the morning you’ll sail toward El Kab, an ancient settlement on the east bank of the Nile. Walk through a traditional fishing village first, then explore the historic necropolis with its rock-cut tombs and the remains of the Temple of Nekhbet.

Later the boat continues to Edfu. A horse-drawn carriage takes you through the lively town to the impressive Temple of Horus. It’s one of the best-preserved temples along the Nile and really stands out. After the visit, return to the Dahabiya and enjoy the quiet as the boat sails toward a nearby island for the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Today is about taking it easy on the river. There’s an optional morning walk if you want to stretch your legs before breakfast, then leisurely sailing through the landscapes of Upper Egypt.

You’ll stop at an island where you can walk along the riverbank or swim in the Nile when conditions allow. Later in the day there may be a chance to explore a nearby desert valley, with boulders that still carry ancient hieroglyphic and prehistoric inscriptions. By evening the Dahabiya settles near the illuminated Temple of Gebel Silsileh, making for a memorable setting for the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Gebel Silsileh shows a different side of ancient Egypt. The Nile narrows between sandstone hills here, and the whole place feels more secluded than many of the bigger sites in the region. You’ll visit the small Temple of Horemheb and walk through the historic quarries where sandstone was cut for temples and monuments across Egypt.

There’s also time at a picturesque local café if you’d like tea or shisha. After that, head back to the boat and sail to a scenic riverbank for lunch, with another chance to swim or just relax by the Nile.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Kom Ombo is the main stop today, with its temple sitting right beside a beautiful bend in the Nile. Built in the Ptolemaic period on top of an older religious site, it’s unusual because it’s dedicated to two gods at once: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus.

You’ll explore the remaining halls and carvings, then visit the Crocodile Museum, where preserved and mummified crocodiles show how important the animal was in ancient Egyptian religion. Back on board, enjoy the last full evening of your relaxing luxury Dahabiya cruise between Esna and Aswan, with the quiet scenery of the river all around.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Your 6 day Malouka Dahabiya Nile Cruise ends in Aswan. Have breakfast on board, then disembark and transfer to Aswan Airport, the train station, or whichever departure point has been arranged for you.

By the time you leave, you’ll have seen a quieter side of Upper Egypt — ancient temples and rock-cut tombs, sandstone quarries, village walks, and those peaceful moments along the Nile.

Meals: Breakfast