About this trip
Thirteen days through Egypt combining Cairo's ancient sites with a slow sail down the Nile aboard a dahabiya, a traditional houseboat. The pace is unhurried, giving you time to take in both the famous monuments and the villages and daily life along the riverbanks.
You'll cover Luxor's tombs and temples, Aswan's markets, and Abu Simbel, but the boat itself sets this trip apart. Sailing rather than cruising by engine means slower days and a closer view of the Nile as it's lived alongside, not just visited.
It suits families and groups travelling together over Christmas and New Year, and the itinerary can be adjusted to suit the group.
What you'll do
- Sail the Nile aboard a traditional dahabiya houseboat
- Explore the Valley of the Kings and its tombs
- Visit the temple complexes of Karnak and Edfu
- Browse the markets of Aswan
- See the temples at Abu Simbel
- Stop at villages along the Nile away from the main tourist route
- Easy-paced trip with fully guided days throughout
- Custom itinerary, suited to families and groups travelling together
Worth it if you want stellar guides, genuine cultural access, and Nile serenity. Think twice if you dislike early starts, heat without AC, or constant tipping expectations.
- Guides like Ibrahim, Sara, and Mansour are genuinely knowledgeable, attentive, and feel like local friends by tour end.
- Dahabiya boat offers authentic river experience with quality food and comfort, plus visits to local homes rarely seen by tourists.
- Dahabiya has no air conditioning; it was uncomfortably hot some days and lacks hairdryers, shampoo, or basic toiletries.
- Expect 4am pick-ups for Abu Simbel and other early starts; breakfast boxes provided but plan accordingly after long flights.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and fill fill in from our own tracking as it builds.
Departing in Jul is cheapest — from £2,515, about 25% below the priciest month (Oct).
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Cairo · 20 Jul – 21 Jul
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