Merit Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Book a Merit Dahabiya Nile cruise and enjoy a level of luxury, hospitality, and personal service which is simply non-existent on regular Nile River cruises. With only 8 luxurious cabins and 1 suite, this elegantly appointed 5-Star river yacht allows you to enjoy the Nile in spectacular style as you sail from one magnificent ancient monument to the next.
Whether you choose a 5-day cruise from Luxor to Aswan, or whether you choose an 8-day cruise that begins in Luxor and ends in Luxor, Dahabiya Nile cruises through Ancient Egypt is an experience you will cherish forever.
INQUIRE ITINERARY PRICESINQUIRE
Itinerary 1: 5 DAY FROM LUXOR TO ASWAN
DAY 1 – Luxor East Bank Tour and Merit Dahabiya Cruise Embarkation
When you arrive in Luxor for you 5-Day Merit Dahabiya cruise, we will have one of our tour representatives waiting at the airport or the railway station to meet you, and then you will be taken to board the majestic 5-Star Merit Dahabiya for your cruise to Aswan. Shortly after boarding, you will be served a good lunch, and then one of our Egyptologist tour guides will accompany you to the East Bank to see two fabulous ancient sites: Luxor Temple and the vast Karnak Temple complex.
Following your tour, you will return to your river yacht, and you will have the rest of the day to yourself. The first night of you Dahabiya cruise will be spent on the water at Luxor.
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
DAY 2 – Luxor West Bank Tour and Sail to Esna
Enjoy breakfast aboard the ship, and then our Egyptologist tour guide will take you on a tour to see 3 more incredible ancient sites: Valley of the Kings; the rock-cut Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon, all of which are located on the West Bank. After exploring these three incredible monuments, you will return to the Merit Dahabiya, and it will then start sailing silently towards Esna.
Enjoy a wonderful leisurely day on the water, and spend this night of your cruise aboard the ship while it is tied up alongside a small island in the Nile near Esna.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 3 – Sail to Edfu Temple and Overnight at Ramady Island
Enjoy a good breakfast on the water while the Merit Dahabiya is busy passing through the Esna Lock on its way to Edfu where you will be disembarking for an excursion to see Egypt’s best-preserved ancient temple, the Temple of Horus which was buried beneath the sand for more than 2,000 years. After spending some time at Horus Temple, you will once again board the boat, and then it will sail to Ramady Island where you spend this night of your cruise on the water
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 4 – Sail to el Sheikh Fadl Island and on to Aswan
With no sightseeing excursions scheduled for this day, it is going to be a wonderfully relaxing day. Enjoy breakfast, lunch and lots of relaxation time on the river while the Merit Dahabiya is sailing silently towards el Sheikh Fadl Island. When you reach the island in the afternoon, the boat will tie up, and weather permitting, you will enjoy your afternoon tea and your dinner on the island.
After dinner in the evening, you will board the boat again, and it will then sail on to Aswan where you will spend the night on the water.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
DAY 5 – Aswan Tour, Cruise Disembarkation and Departure
Begin your day with another leisurely breakfast, and then our tour will take you for one last tour, this time to see the incredible Aswan High Dam and also the magnificent ancient Temple of Philae. After your tour, you will head back to the Merit Dahabiya to collect your belongings, and then it will be time for you to disembark from your cruise.
As usual, one of our tour representatives will of course escort you to the airport or to the railway station for your departure from Aswan. Your Merit Dahabiya Nile cruise will now have come to an end, so we will bid you farewell, and wish you a safe and pleasant onward journey.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Itinerary 2: 8 DAY FROM LUXOR – ASWAN – LUXOR
DAY 1 – Merit Dahabiya Embarkation and Luxor East Bank Tour
When you arrive in Luxor for your Merit Dahabiya Nile cruise, one of our tour managers will meet and assist you at the airport, or at the train station you are going to be arriving by rail, and then you will be taken to board the stately 5-Star Merit Dahabiya for your 8-day cruise on the Nile.
Enjoy a good lunch aboard the boat shortly after boarding, and then once you have finished eating, one of our Egyptologist tour guides will escort you on a tour to see two very famous ancient sites: Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temple complex. After your tour, you will return to the boat and you will have the rest of the day to yourself. The first night of your cruise will be spent on the water at Luxor.
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
DAY 2 – Luxor West Bank Tour and Sail to Esna
After breakfast today, our tour will once again escort you on a tour, this time on the West Bank to see another three indescribable ancient attractions. Today you will visit Valley of the Kings, the royal necropolis where Ramesses VI and Tutankhamen were laid to rest in their tome. From here you will go to see the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a vast rock-cut complex, and finally you will be taken to see the Colossi of Memnon while making your way back to the Merit Dahabiya.
Enjoy your lunch aboard the boat, and then it will begin sailing silently towards Esna. Afternoon tea will be served on the boat’s sundeck later in the day, and just as you approach Esna, the Merit will alter course somewhat, and it will tie up for the night alongside a small river island so that you can enjoy undisturbed peace and tranquility.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 3 – Sail to Edfu Temple and Overnight alongside Ramady Island
Today you will be served your breakfast while the Merit Dahabiya is busy passing through the Esna Lock. Once it is through, it will then sail to Edfu where our tour guide will be taking you to see Temple of Horus. After being abandoned by the Romans, the temple ended becoming buried beneath the desert sand, and it remained buried until was rediscovered more than 2,000 years later. Because it was protected in this manner for so long, it is now the best-preserved ancient structure in Egypt.
After your tour, your luxurious Merit river yacht will then sail to Ramady Island. Lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner will be served at the usual times, and tonight you will be sleeping on the water alongside the island.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 4 – Sail to Aswan and el Sheikh Fadl Island
The Merit Dahabiya will set out a bit earlier than usual today, and you will be served your breakfast on the water while sailing towards Aswan. As you approach Aswan, the boat will alter course, and it will sail to el Sheikh Fadl Island, and then tie up alongside the island. Afternoon tea and dinner will both be served on the island today, and then shortly after dinner, you will board the boat again, and it will sail into. Tonight will be spent on the water at Aswan
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
DAY 5 – Aswan Tour and Leisure Time
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast, and then our tour guide will escort you on a tour to see two extremely impressive attractions: the Aswan High Dam and the breathtaking ancient Temple of Philae. This magnificent monument had to be moved in entirety in order to save it from Lake Nasser when the Aswan High Dam was built.
After your tour, you will return to the Merit Dahabiya in time for your lunch and you will have free time to explore the extensive Aswan Bazaar. Alternatively, you can simply spend the afternoon relaxing aboard the boat. Tonight will be spent on the water at Aswan.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 6 – Optional Abu Simbel Tour then Sail to Kom Ombo
Today there will be an optional excursion to Abu Simbel Temple, otherwise, you will have this morning free to enjoy as you wish. After lunch, the Merit Dahabiya will then depart from Aswan, and it will sail to Kom Ombo, where our tour guide will take you to see the ancient Kom Ombo Temple complex. This particular site is very unique in that it was dedicated to two different gods: Haeroris, also known as Horus the Elder, and Sobek the crocodile god of fertility and creator of the world.
After your tour, you will return to the boat, and it will then sail to Ramady Island and tie up for the night.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 7 – Sail to Luxor via Esna
Breakfast will be served shortly after leaving Ramady Island, and you will have the morning all to yourself while the Merit Dahabiya is sailing to Esna. Enjoy lunch while the boat is passing through Esna Lock, and then enjoy the rest of the afternoon as you wish while sailing on towards Luxor.
Afternoon Tea and dinner will once again be served aboard the boat, and you will spend the last night of you Dahabiya Nile cruise on the water at Luxor.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 8 – Merit Dahabiya Cruise Disembarkation and Departure
Enjoy one last leisurely breakfast aboard this stately river yacht, and then it will be time gather your belongings and disembark from your cruise. After disembarking, one of our tour representatives will escort you to the airport or to the railway station for your departure from Luxor.
Your 8-Day Luxor to Luxor Merit Dahabiya cruise is now over, so at this point we will bid you farewell, and wish you a very safe and pleasant onward journey.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Included
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SHIP FEATURES
- 8 fully furnished deluxe cabins (2 with large beds and 6 with twin beds)
- All cabins have large, panoramic windows
- Dining facilities, Bars and Reading Lounge
- Spacious sun-deck with open-air Jacuzzi
- Same day laundry service and express pressing service
- Sprinkler system; anti-fire treatment, and full Fire Safety standards throughout the vessel
- Doctor on call 24 hours
- Fire and emergency trained staff
- Marine satellite (Nile Sat Channels)
- Internet access (Chargeable).
- Music system with daily programs
- Boutique and gift shop
- Large panoramic windows with sound proofing
- Individually controlled air-conditioning in all cabins
- Large electronic personal safe in each cabin
- Telephone with voice mail message
- In-cabin coffee and tea tray service
- LCD TV with individual receiver in all cabins
- Hairdryer and Bathrobe
- Private bathroom with walk-in shower in all cabins
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