King Suite
2 guests · King bed
A generous suite wrapped in wide windows where the river drifts past from your pillow — warm hand-carved joinery and crisp linens throughout.
- ◆ Wide Nile window
- ◆ En-suite bath
- ◆ Climate control
- ◆ Nespresso & minibar
Luxury Nile Sailing · Esna — Aswan
Azhar
أزهار
Sail the Nile as royalty once did
A handcrafted lateen-sail dahabiya for just sixteen guests — unhurried, intimate, and moored each night where the great cruisers never go.
What is a Dahabiya
The most beautiful way to sail the Nile
A dahabiya is a traditional twin-masted sailing boat — the vessel of pashas and explorers in the nineteenth century, and still the most graceful way to travel the river. The Azhar carries just sixteen guests across eight suites, a world away from the crowded decks of the great floating hotels.
Her shallow draft lets her moor on deserted islands and reach temples the big ships sail straight past. When the wind is fair the engines fall silent and she moves on canvas alone — the way the Nile has been travelled for a thousand years.
Unhurried. Intimate. Yours.
Azharأزهار
The Vessel
Handcrafted, from keel to canopy
Built in the traditional manner from warm hardwoods and dressed with mashrabiya screens, the Azhar pairs the romance of a bygone age with the comfort of a private yacht.
55 m
Length
8
Suites
16
Guests
2 Lateen
Sails
14
Crew
3
Decks
Sun deck, jacuzzi & salt room
A shaded terrace, a jacuzzi and sun loungers, plus a salt & massage room — a spa afloat.
Restaurant & main bar
Fresh Egyptian and international cuisine served in an elegant restaurant, with a main bar and reading salon.
A crew of fourteen
A captain, chef, waiters and deckhands who know every bend of the river — and your name.
The Layout
Deck Plan
Three decks over 55 metres — eight suites and a reading salon below, the restaurant, jacuzzi and salt room on the sun deck, and open-air lounging on the roof. Choose a level, then tap any room to jump straight to it.
Roof- ◆Shaded seating area
- ◆Sun loungers
- ◆Solar-panel deck
- ◆Panoramic river views
◂ SternRoofBow ▸
Schematic layout, not to scale — tap any room to explore its section.
Where You Rest
The Suites
Eight suites — Papyrus, Lotus, Camelia, Lily, Rose, Jasmin, Violet and Dalia — each with its own en-suite bath and a wide window onto the river. King, twin and step-free accessible configurations. Wake to the Nile drifting past your bed.
Twin Suite
2 guests · Twin beds
The same quiet comfort configured with twin beds — ideal for friends and family travelling together.
- ◆ Wide Nile window
- ◆ En-suite shower room
- ◆ Climate control
- ◆ Nespresso & minibar
Accessible Suite
2 guests · Step-free access
A step-free, wheelchair-friendly suite with a wider doorway and a fully accessible bathroom, so everyone can share the journey in comfort.
- ◆ Step-free, wheelchair access
- ◆ Roll-in shower with grab rails
- ◆ Wider doorway & turning space
- ◆ Emergency call button
- ◆ Nespresso & minibar
Above the River
The Sun Deck
The heart of the Azhar is her sun deck — an elegant restaurant and main bar, a shaded pergola and terrace, a jacuzzi, and a salt & massage room, open on every side to the passing banks. It is where the day begins with coffee and ends with the sun sinking red into the water.
Jacuzzi
warm water above the Nile
Salt & massage room
a spa afloat
Restaurant & main bar
dining with a view
At the Table
Gastronomy
Our chef cooks three meals a day from produce bought fresh at the riverside markets — mezze and grilled Nile perch, slow-cooked tagines, fragrant rice, and fruit picked that morning.
Dine in the elegant salon or under the stars on deck; tell us your preferences and the table is shaped around them. On a private charter, the menu is entirely your own.
The Voyages
Itineraries
Between Esna, Luxor and Aswan the Nile reveals its quietest treasures. Choose your direction — or take the whole vessel and write your own.
Southbound
Esna to Aswan
Esna · Luxor → Aswan
The classic upstream passage — sailing with the prevailing wind past temples the great cruisers never reach, mooring on quiet islands each night.
- 01
Esna & Embarkation
Board the Azhar at Esna, settle into your cabin and sail to a first mooring beneath the palms as dinner is served on deck.
- 02
El Kab & Edfu
Visit the rock tombs of El Kab, then the magnificent, near-perfect Temple of Horus at Edfu — reached by horse-drawn carriage.
- 03
Gebel el-Silsila
Explore the sandstone quarries and shrine of Gebel el-Silsila, a site closed to the large ships, then swim from the boat at sunset.
- 04
Kom Ombo & Daraw
The twin temple of Kom Ombo at dusk and the camel market at Daraw, before a final night at anchor under the stars.
- 05
Aswan
Sail into Aswan past Kitchener's Island and disembark after breakfast, with the Nubian city spread before you.
Day-by-day programmes are representative of the classic Esna–Aswan dahabiya route and are tailored to sailing conditions and your party.
Fixed-Date Sailings
Guaranteed Departures
These dates are confirmed to sail. Reserve your cabin or take the whole vessel — the Azhar carries just sixteen guests, so spaces are limited.
$525 per person, per night
- 17–24 Oct 2026GuaranteedRoute: Aswan → LuxorDuration: 7 nightsGuests: 6Reserve
- 14–21 Nov 2026GuaranteedRoute: Aswan → LuxorDuration: 7 nightsGuests: 8Reserve
- 28 Nov – 5 Dec 2026GuaranteedRoute: Aswan → LuxorDuration: 7 nightsGuests: 5Reserve
- 12–19 Dec 2026GuaranteedRoute: Aswan → LuxorDuration: 5 nightsGuests: 10Reserve
- 22–29 Jan 2027GuaranteedRoute: Aswan → LuxorDuration: 7 nightsGuests: 9Reserve
- 5–12 Feb 2027GuaranteedRoute: Aswan → LuxorDuration: 7 nightsGuests: 6Reserve
- 5–12 Mar 2027GuaranteedRoute: Aswan → LuxorDuration: 7 nightsGuests: 2Reserve
- 28 May – 4 Jun 2027GuaranteedRoute: Aswan → LuxorDuration: 7 nightsGuests: 6Reserve
All departures sail northbound from Aswan to Luxor. Dates and availability are updated regularly — contact us to confirm your cabin.
The Journey
The Route
The Azhar sails the timeless stretch of the Nile between Esna and Aswan, mooring each night on quiet islands and calling at temples the great cruisers sail straight past.
- 1.EsnaEmbarkation · Luxor nearby
- 2.El KabAncient rock tombs
- 3.EdfuTemple of Horus
- 4.Gebel el-SilsilaSandstone quarries & shrine
- 5.Kom OmboTwin temple at dusk
- 6.DarawCamel market
- 7.AswanJourney's end
Ashore & Afloat
Experiences
01
Temples off the beaten track
El Kab, Edfu, Gebel el-Silsila, Kom Ombo — the shallow-draft dahabiya moors where the great floating hotels cannot, delivering you to sites you will often have entirely to yourself.
02
Sailing under lateen sails
When the wind is fair the engines fall silent and the Azhar moves as she was built to — by canvas alone, the only sound the water against the hull.
03
The living riverbank
Fields, palm groves, egrets and children waving from the shore. Life on the Nile unfolds slowly, close enough to touch, from the rail of your own deck.
Your Hosts
A crew of fourteen
What guests remember most is the people. Aboard the Azhar, a crew of fourteen look after just sixteen of you — attentive when you want them, invisible when you don't.
01
The Captain
A lifelong Nile sailor who reads the wind and the current, mooring the Azhar each night on quiet islands the great ships pass by.
02
The Chef
Cooking three meals a day from produce bought fresh at the riverside markets — mezze, grilled Nile perch, slow-cooked tagines, and fruit picked that morning.
03
Your Egyptologist
An English-speaking guide who travels only with your party, bringing the temples of El Kab, Edfu and Kom Ombo vividly to life.
04
The Crew
Fourteen in all — waiters, deckhands and housekeeping — attentive, discreet, and quick to learn your name and the way you like things.
On a private charter, this crew is yours alone.
In Pictures
Gallery
22 photographs of the Azhar — under sail, on deck, and at rest.
“We were lucky to be on the maiden cruise of the Azhar. The suites were large and well equipped, each with its own water-level balcony. Luxury cruising with a totally flexible, helpful staff — a trip to remember at a standard to dream of.”
“Nine adults and three children — we chartered the boat for four unforgettable nights, filled with peace and togetherness. Practising yoga on the deck, surrounded by nature and the gentle movement of the water, brought a deep sense of calm.”
“An excellent way to tour the Nile. Accommodation, food, staff, guide and itinerary were all first class, with plenty of space on board and time to relax. I'd recommend it to anyone seeking a special experience in Egypt.”
Your Voyage
What's included
✓ Included in your fare
- ◆All accommodation aboard the Azhar
- ◆Full board — three meals daily, plus tea, coffee & drinking water
- ◆English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- ◆All temple entrance fees & sightseeing on the route
- ◆Sailing, mooring & onboard activities
- ◆Daily housekeeping and a crew of fourteen
+ Not included
- ◇International & domestic flights
- ◇Egypt entry visa
- ◇Airport & Nile transfers (arranged on request)
- ◇Drinks beyond tea, coffee & water
- ◇Personal expenses, optional excursions & gratuities
- ◇Travel insurance
Good to Know
Frequently asked
The Azhar sails year-round. October to April brings the most comfortable temperatures; summer sailings are warm but the river breeze and shaded sun deck keep things pleasant, and the light is glorious.
Just sixteen, across eight suites — a fraction of a standard cruiser. The whole vessel can also be taken on a private charter for your family or group.
Most guests fly into Luxor or Aswan. Southbound voyages embark near Esna/Luxor; northbound at Aswan. We arrange airport and Nile transfers on request so your journey is seamless.
Very — the intimate scale and flexible pace suit families beautifully, and a private charter lets you shape every day around your group, from meal times to activities.
Yes. Our chef tailors the menu to your preferences — vegetarian, allergies, or particular tastes. Just let us know in advance and the table is shaped around you.
There is mobile coverage along much of the river, and Wi-Fi where signal allows. That said, the Nile is a rare chance to slow down and disconnect — many guests find that the best part.
Absolutely. Join one of our shared departures (a single supplement applies) or take the whole boat privately.
Light, breathable layers, sun protection and a hat, comfortable shoes for temples, something modest for sacred sites, and swimwear for the plunge pool. Evenings on deck can be cool — bring a light wrap.
Still have a question? Message us on WhatsApp · info@dahabiyat.com
Begin the Journey
Enquire & Reserve
Tell us a little about your party and when you would like to sail, and our team will craft a proposal and hold your dates. Prefer to speak with us directly? Call or message us any time.