Nour El Nil | Nile Egypt Dahabiya Cruise

Overview

Cozy Comfort with Classic Charm

Malouka offers a warm, nostalgic charm, with compact cabins that reflect the coziness of classic dahabiya design. Life aboard is unhurried and gentle, with mornings spent drifting past palm groves and afternoons enjoying tea in the shade of the sail. Though less spacious than our newer boats, Malouka rewards travelers with a deeply personal atmosphere — a chance to feel at home on the water, savoring the Nile in a way that is peaceful, grounded, and unforgettable.

Panoramic Suite

1 King Bed

21.00 m²

Malouka’s Panoramic Suite surrounds you with sweeping river views through its signature floor-to-ceiling windows. Though modest in size, the space has a warm, classic feel that makes mornings on the Nile especially serene.

Luxury Room

2 Twin Bed

or 1 King Bed

13.40 m²

Luxury Rooms on Malouka are cozy and welcoming, with a design that feels timeless and familiar. Slightly compact, they invite guests to embrace the simple pleasures of sailing without excess.

Day 1: Esna

Esna, located some 33 miles south of Luxor, is where you will board your dahabiya and meet the crew. A thriving merchant town, Esna is best known for the small ancient Temple of Khnum, which sits 9 meters below street level. Your trip will begin with a brief walk to the temple and a stroll through streets filled with beautiful textiles and other exotic goods.

Day 2: El Kab & Edfu

El Kab, on the East bank of the Nile, was once the capital of Upper Egypt and is still home to the temple of Nekhbet, as well as a row of fascinating decorated tombs carved into the slope of the mountains. Upon docking, you will embark on a beautiful walk through a small fishermen village to visit the necropolis.

In the afternoon, the boat will arrive at Edfu, home to the Greco-Roman temple dedicated to the god Horus. This is among the best preserved of all Egyptian temples. Horse and carriage will take you to the temple through the busy city streets. After returning to the boat, you will set sail for a beautiful island.

Day 3: Sail & Swim

This is a day devoted to the river: immediately after an optional morning walk and breakfast, you will set sail. In the afternoon, you will stop at an island for a stroll or to swim in the Nile. As dusk begins, there may be an opportunity to walk into the desert along a valley lined with boulders covered in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and stone-age inscriptions. These images mark the beginning of the shortest trail through the desert to Libya (28 days in ancient times). At night, the boat will tie up the foot of floodlit temple of Gebel Silsileh.

Day 4: Gebel Silsileh

Day 4: Gebel Silsileh

Here, the Nile, flowing between two mountains ranges, is at its narrowest. You will often be the only visitors at this fascinating site, as large Nile cruisers are not allowed to stop here. After visiting the small temple of Horemheb and walking through the sandstone quarries, where ancient Egyptians cut stone for many of their most famous temples, you will sail for the remainder of the day. We then sail to a picturesque riverbank where you will stop for lunch and swimming.

Day 5: Kom Ombo

Day 5: Kom Ombo

After a night on the water and beneath the stars, the morning trip will take you to the town and temple of Kom Ombo. The temple was built during the Ptolemaic period on the site of an older temple and at one of the most beautiful locations, on a bend on the river. The temple was dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile-headed god. After enjoying the temple, you will visit the new Crocodile Museum, which contains many mummified crocodiles, attesting to the importance the creature played in this region in ancient times.

Day 6: Aswan

Day 6: Aswan

Awake to the beautiful sight of the desert closing in on the river at Aswan Bridge. Here your cruise comes to an end. You will leave us relaxed and refreshed in the morning.

Please note: The government requires all dahabiyas to overnight in a dock beside the Aswan bridge. Unfortunately this location is less idyllic than our other stops, but it is a legal requirement.

Day 1: Esna

LUXOR / ASWAN

5 Nights
6 Days
250 KM

"Unrestricted by the tight schedules and requirements that burdened the larger boats, we stopped to visit small villages and visited some of the most impressive ancient sites on Earth."
NZ Life & Style | 2015

"A huge thank you for 6 perfect days. The stunning scenery, attractively decorated boat, attentive staff, and mouth watering food made for a truly heavenly and unforgettable ‘once in a life time’ experience!"
Katie W. | Testimonial