On the Nile in Royal Style Feluccas or Dahabiyas are the traditional sailing vessel of much of the Mediterranean world, and the traditional Nile felucca, or Dahabia, was the mainstay of travel in ancient Egypt.

With shallow drafts, sails, and oars, feluccas could navigate not only the great river, but the maze of canals threading through its banks, with or without wind, reaching every part of the kingdom.

Dahabbiyas / Feluccas long ago transcended their role as humble transports. They held the ancient empire together, carrying troops, decrees, and the very mystery of the pharaoh.

The Sun-Deck on board one of the four Dahabiyas

Compare with Zarafa ( giraffe) Deluxe Felucca Photo Gallery
A special Category for the Royal Dahabiyas : Dongola and Zarafa

Private docking areas:
Your Dahabia will moor on privately owned areas of the riverbank at Luxor and Aswan, you will avoid the over crowded docking area of the regular large size cruises.
In your felucca docking are you will be welcomed with the sight of flowers and gardens that are frequented by exotic birds. These gardens provide our ships with flowers and organically grown vegetables and herbs.

Along the way, we moor on un-inhabited Nile islands, whose virgin landscapes have hardly changed throughout millennia. Wandering the gardens and Nile islands is an idyllic pastime, and the perfect compliment to your visits to Egypt 's matchless monuments.

The Dahabbiyas are beautifully crafted wooden ships, outfitted in colonial style with oriental and Egyptian touches. The interiors boast period furnishing, and each cabin has its own distinct style and interior .

The Cabins:
Each boat has six delightfully appointed private cabins measuring 5.75 meters x 2.50 meters . The cabins (maximum occupancy two persons) have private bathrooms of 1.25 meters x 2.50 meters with a wc, wash basin, shower and hairdryer. Some cabins offer two single beds and others have a double. Each Dahabia comfortably accommodates twelve passengers sharing in doubles . Yet of course in a lot of cases we have smaller parties that prefer to charter the boat for four, five or six guests only .

The cabins are named them in keeping with the ship's theme. For example, on the Zahra ('flower') you will find the 'white lotus' cabin; on the Nesma ('breeze') you have 'the zephyr', each with tasteful, individualized embellishments.

Sample Cabin on board one of the air conditioned Feluccas or Dahabia
This one is "Zahra"

The cabins are located towards the front of the boat on the starboard and port sides, separated by a central corridor. The communal lounge covers the width of the boat, and is a lovely setting for enjoying meals.

Engines will only be used if wind is insufficient to sail, but generators are available to provide electricity.

From the bow, two staircases lead to the partially shaded top deck. Here, guests can sunbathe or just enjoy the ride and spectacular views from comfortable rattan deck chairs, or in oriental seating areas of colorful cushions and carpets. Meals will also be served on the top deck, a great place for cocktails and stargazing

Compare with Zarafa ( giraffe) Deluxe Felucca Photo Gallery
A special Category for the Royal Dahabiyas : Dongola and Zarafa

Food on board:
Our onboard chef is expert at preparing wholesome, appetizing Egyptian and international cuisines, while barbeques and picnics will be organized on the riverbanks and islands in the Nile. Your meals (starting with lunch at embarkation and ending with breakfast at disembarkation) are all inclusive, along with tea, coffee and soft drinks as well as a daily high tea. Passengers are, however, invited to bring their own alcoholic beverages - none are available onboard due to licensing restrictions - but we'll supply the ice and the mixers at no additional charge.

Start Weekly on Saturday:
The program starts every Saturday in either Luxor or Aswan, and the journey lasts seven nights.

The trip includes visits to sites in ancient Thebes (the Valley's of the Kings and Queens), the Luxor and Karnak temples, as well as Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. Entrance fees for the monuments are all inclusive.

In addition to these historical sites, guests will visit less frequented monuments and enjoy field excursions to villages and open countryside. In short, we promise our guests a unique, tranquil journey on sailboats fit for a king or a Pharaoh !

El Bey Dahabia - Air Conditioned- With Six Cabins

Add Jordan and a Dahabiya Deluxe Sailing boat in Egypt

Deluxe Yachts : Felucca and Dahabia on the Nile such as Dongola , Zarafa ( Giraffe)
And other Deluxe Feluccas

Click here for the Dongola Photo Gallery and more images

Or The Zarafa ( Giraffe) Deluxe Felucca

Royal feluccas and Dahabbiyas bore a larger-than-life image of the pharaoh, seated on a throne, to be seen and venerated by inhabitants even along the most remote canal. In turn, imbued with the same "ka," or spirit, as the living pharaoh himself, it would keep watch over his subjects and their activities.

So integral was the Nile Dahabbiya and felucca to the ancient Egyptian way of life that it assumed legendary attributes. Even today, you can see the oldest known Nile felucca, the regal pharaonic Dahabia of Cheops, the ruler immortalized by the Great Pyramid at Giza. Known as the Solar Boat, it was believed to sail through the skies carrying its royal passenger along sunbeams in his single cabin, the royal suite of its day.

In later times, pashas, emirs, and sultans found that feluccas were indispensable. When Napoleon invaded Egypt, the Mamluks rulers observed the Battle of the Pyramids from their dahabeahs, and in the wake of defeat, set them afire, still laden with treasures, in the middle of the river. Always one to adapt to local practice, Napoleon even had his own dahabeah, the Italy, which was used by his officers to explore Upper Egypt.

In the nineteenth century, the well-equipped Nile Dahabbiya and felucca was essential to the upper-crust adventurer. Lord Kitcheners used several feluccas for his famous trip from Cairo to Khartoum.

It took from two to three months to ascend the Nile under wind power, and another month-and-a-half to float back downstream, stopping at the great temples along the way. King Farouk, Churchill, Montgomery, Mark Twain and others settled in for the journey, and a certain Lady Edwards even had a piano installed on her sailing vessel.

Sample of the Interior on board one of the Four Air Conditioned Dahabias
This one is El-Hanem

Eventually, steamers displaced dahabeahs, opening up an Egyptian adventure to greater numbers on Thomas Cook's tours, and trains nearly finished them off. But never completely. Even today, despite the inroads of rail, steam power, and highways, the graceful Nile felucca retains its place.

A skilled river captain is on board at all times . A guide is at your disposal to plan your itinerary and escort you through the sites you choose to visit. The crew has completely separate quarters, to ensure your privacy.

Click here for the Itineraries on board these deluxe yachts on the Nile