river-cruise

Incredible Egypt & 7-Night Luxury Nile River Cruise

From $6,995 per person

14 days

1 countries

Ship: Nebu Ra

SST Exclusive Voyages

SST Exclusive Voyages

14 days · 13 nights·Ship: Nebu Ra·1 country
From
$6,995
per person
The boat behind the journey

What is a dahabiya?

The traditional Egyptian sailing boat behind an intimate, small ship Nile cruise: sixteen guests from Luxor to Aswan, not a floating hotel.

A dahabiya is the traditional Egyptian Nile sailing boat: a wooden hull, a shallow draft, and the tall lateen sail that has worked this river for centuries. The Nebu Ra carries sixteen guests in eight accommodations, against the 80 or more on a standard river ship.


If you searched for a luxury Nile cruise or a private Nile cruise, you have probably seen 80-100 passenger floating hotels at the top of the results. A Nile dahabiya is something different: an Egyptian boat with one Egyptologist guide who stays with your group the whole way, anchoring at quiet villages the big ships pass by.

That is the case for a dahabiya over a large ship: the same Nile, far fewer people, and visits and unique sites a floating hotel cannot give you. For the full story on the boat and how it compares to a regular Nile cruise, read our guide What is a Dahabiya?

About 16 guests, not 80+

Approximately 16 guest dahabiya, against 80 or more on a standard Nile river ship.

Private English-Speaking Egyptologist

Your own Egyptologist guide stays with for the entire trip, never shared across a larger crowd.

A small group, real access

A small group Nile cruise reaches El Kab, Gebel El Silsila, Besaw Island and other similar quiet stops the big ships cannot access.

A genuine Egyptian boat

Built in the heritage of Egyptian boats with modern amenities. A boutique Nile cruise booked and operated by Small Ship Travel, not a motor ship dressed for any river.

See 2027 & 2028 dates
Journey summary · at a glance

14 days, 13 nights.

Journey summary

  • Day 1 - Depart U.S.
  • Day 2 - Cairo
  • Day 3 - Saqqara
  • Day 4 - Cairo
  • Day 5 - Luxor
  • Day 6 - Dendera
  • Day 7 - West Bank, Luxor
  • Day 8 - Esna
  • Day 9 - Gebel el-Silsila
  • Day 10 - Balooli Island
  • Day 11 - Abu Simbel
  • Day 12 - Aswan
  • Day 13 - Giza
  • Day 14 - Cairo

Itinerary highlights

Cairo & the Old Kingdom

  • Where monumental architecture begins — Saqqara's Step Pyramid of Djoser, the first building in cut stone anywhere on earth
  • Sneferu's two experiments at Dahshur — the Bent Pyramid, whose angle visibly changes partway up, and the Red Pyramid, the first true pyramid completed
  • The Giza plateau — Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure and the Great Sphinx, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world
  • Islamic and Coptic Cairo — the Citadel of Saladin above the city, and the workshops of Khan El Khalili, a working bazaar since the fourteenth century

Seven Nights Onboard the Nebu Ra

  • Sixteen guests, sixteen crew — a three-deck dahabeya launched in 2026, eight accommodations, and a rooftop sanctuary of bamboo and woven palm
  • A rare sail north to Dendera — the Temple of Hathor, whose astronomical ceiling has been cleaned back to its original blues and ochres
  • The Theban west bank — the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon
  • The newly revealed ceilings of Esna — the finest restoration work being done in Egypt, and the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the most complete in the country
  • Gebel el-Silsila — the sandstone quarry that built Karnak, with rock-cut shrines at the waterline and no road in
  • A private island mooring at Balooli — barbecue on the sand, a swim in the Nile, and a day with nothing scheduled in it

Aswan, Abu Simbel & the Grand Egyptian Museum

  • Abu Simbel above Lake Nasser — four colossal Ramesses II cut from the mountainside and lifted to higher ground in the 1960s
  • The island Temple of Philae, reached by private launch, and a felucca under sail through the granite islands at sunset
  • The Grand Egyptian Museum — the complete treasure of Tutankhamun, five thousand objects together for the first time since 1922

Every Fare Includes

  • Round-trip international airfare to and from Cairo, with all domestic flights and private transfers
  • All meals throughout, ashore and onboard, with two glasses of local beer or wine at lunch and dinner
  • All gratuities for your Egyptologist guides, drivers and the crew of the Nebu Ra
  • One private Egyptologist for the entire journey, ashore and onboard
Day by day

Your journey, ashore & afloat.

Fourteen days. Open any day for the full narrative and that day's highlights.

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Optional
Inclusions and Exclusions

Everything is already in the fare.

Inclusions
  • 3 nights' accommodation at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza (or similar)
  • 7 nights aboard the Nebu Ra, including all onboard meals
  • 2 nights' accommodation at The St. Regis Cairo (or similar)
  • 35 meals (12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 12 dinners, including welcome and farewell dinners)
  • Two glasses of local beer or wine with lunch and dinner
  • All internal flights (Cairo–Luxor / Aswan–Cairo)
  • Abu Simbel excursion included
  • All private guided sightseeing with a certified Egyptologist
  • All entrance fees to sites listed in the itinerary
  • Private meet-and-assist on arrival and private airport transfers throughout. International arrival and departure transfers included when international flights are purchased through Small Ship Travel.
  • Private felucca sail at sunset in Aswan
  • Private island mooring at Balooli Island with barbecue lunch ashore
  • Bottled water during tours and excursions
  • All gratuities included, including those for the crew and the professional Egyptologist guide
  • Taxes and service charges
Exclusions
  • International flights to/from Cairo (included on select dates — see current offers for details)
  • Transfers associated with your international flights (included when international flights are purchased through Small Ship Travel)
  • Egypt visa fees
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Optional hot air balloon flight over Luxor
  • Personal expenses (beverages, laundry, spa services, souvenirs)
  • Alcoholic beverages beyond those included with lunch and dinner
  • Any services not explicitly stated as included
Dates & Prices

Pick your departure. (per person*)

Showing1 departure · June 2027

Cabin categories

* Per double occupancy. Some pricing may reflect single traveler rate.

** Double asterisk - for reverse direction indication

Pre- & Post-Cruise

Extend your stay.

Add extra days in Cairo or Jordan before or after your cruise.

Jordan Post-Tour Extension with Petra
Post-cruise

Jordan Post-Tour Extension with Petra

5 nights

The Jordan post-tour extension enriches your journey with guided visits to the historic capital of Amman, staying at The Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons Amman and the remarkably preserved Roman ruins of Jerash. Traveling along the scenic King’s Highway, you’ll experience biblical and cultural landmarks before reaching the legendary rose-red city of Petra, where carved temples and tombs emerge from sandstone cliffs. The extension concludes with time to relax and float in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, blending profound history with natural wonder for a memorable finale to your Middle Eastern adventure.

From$3,995
Optional

Optional excursions.

All prices are per person.

Luxor Hot Air Balloon Experience

Luxor Hot Air Balloon Experience

Experience Luxor from an extraordinary perspective with an early-morning hot air balloon flight over Egypt’s most legendary archaeological landscape. This peaceful and visually stunning excursion begins before sunrise with pickup directly from your boat and transfer to the balloon launch site on the West Bank.

After a brief safety orientation, watch as the balloon is prepared and gently lifts into the morning sky. During the approximately 45–60 minute flight, enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the Nile River and Luxor’s most celebrated landmarks, including the Valley of the Kings, the Colossi of Memnon, and the ancient Theban Necropolis.

As the sun rises over the desert and river valley, the changing light reveals the scale and beauty of this historic region in a truly unforgettable way.

Guests are then transferred back to their boat, returning in time to continue the day’s planned activities.

From$125
Your ship

The Nebu Ra.

Sail the world in unparalleled luxury aboard the Nebu Ra, a masterpiece of design and comfort.

Nebu Ra
16Guests
2026Launched

The Nebu Ra is an intimate, luxury river vessel designed to deliver a deeply immersive and unhurried journey along the Nile. With just eight accommodations; six Deluxe Cabins and two expansive Signature Suites, this three-deck boat offers an exclusive, private-yacht atmosphere where guests experience Egypt’s legendary landscapes and ancient civilizations from the comfort of a refined floating sanctuary. The concept behind Nebu Ra blends cultural depth with tranquility, balancing guided visits to iconic temples and archaeological sites with serene sailing time, allowing travelers to witness everyday life unfolding along the riverbanks.

Onboard amenities emphasize comfort, elegance, and open-air relaxation. Guests enjoy indoor and outdoor lounges and dining areas, sunbeds, open-air bars, and a sundeck Jacuzzi designed for panoramic river views. The ship features both indoor and outdoor bars, Wi-Fi, onboard entertainment, wellness services available upon request, and an advanced UV-treated filtered water system throughout. Every shared space is intended to maintain a calm and refined atmosphere, supported by a quiet-hours service protocol.

See more of the Nebu Ra
Accommodation · ashore

Where you stay.

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza

Refined rooms offer terraces, marble bathrooms and free Wi-Fi, as well as minifridges and flat-screen TVs; many have Nile views. Plush suites add living rooms. Room service is offered 24/7.There's a cafe and a shisha area, as well as 4 chic bars and 3 stylish restaurants; 1 offering Chinese cuisine. Other amenities include a gym, and a luxe spa with an indoor pool, a hammam, a sauna and a hot tub. There's also a rooftop garden with 3 outdoor pools and a poolside eatery.

The St. Regis Cairo

The St. Regis Cairo

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*$250 credit applies to a non-cruise portion of your booking and is only available to new clients who have not previously booked with Small Ship Travel.

From$6,995
per person
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