Taking a Dahabiya Nile cruise is by some way our preferred way of seeing the wondrous sights between Luxor and Aswan. River journeys have been the best way to cross Egypt even since the time of the ancient Egyptians themselves. The terrain is remarkable, the river majestic and the monuments and temples close to the fertile river banks – or even, as with the Temple of Philae, on islands in the middle of the Nile itself!

Dahabiya Nile with AfricanExplorations.com

Typical cruises, however, have somewhat sullied the experience in the last few years. As tourism boomed in Egypt far too many ‘floating hotels’ took to the waters. Cruisers with big engines and sixty and seventy cabins dominated the river, and despite the spectacular sights, something was lost as the boats moored four abreast at every temple.

What a refreshing antidote to that, then, journeys by Dahabiya are! These are authentic sailing boats popularised by Egyptian aristocrats in the early part of the last century. They glide rather than puff, and they do so in great style. Typically with just eight superbly appointed cabins, there are as many staff on board as there are passengers, and the comparatively small size of the boats means they can dock and moor away from the masses.

Dahabiyas such as the Om Kalthoum (named after the celebrated Egyptian singer) offer something different, something you only truly appreciate as you drift down the Nile serenely from the comfort of the shady deck. But it is not merely their authenticity which marks them out.

omkalthoum with AfricanExplorations.com

Attention has been paid to every detail of the Dahabiya experience, and the result is a superb on-board itinerary. Rather than visit the temples at the same time as every other tourist, there is an emphasis on guided tours at the quieter moments. When savouring the atmosphere of the temples and listening to the expertise of your guide this makes all the difference. And there are also stops at places which do not appear on every tourist’s radar – gems like the Nubian Museum in Aswan, and lunches on some of the Nile’s many river islands.

At a time when many visitors make the journey to Egypt, we believe the experience is far more special when you see the country the right way. And there are few more special experiences in North Africa and the Middle East than a week’s sailing in Upper Egypt by Dahabiya as part of a visit to Egypt.

Dahabiya Nile with AfricanExplorations.com