SEKEM & Dahabeya +Aswan

Following the future-bound and inspiring experience at the SEKEM sustainable development project, and the hustle and excitement of Cairo and its sites, enjoy a more relaxing and peaceful journey, sailing up the Nile from Esna to Aswan on an exclusive Dahabeya houseboat.

Indeed, as its name suggests, “golden one" or “the Guilded“, the Dahabeya is a peaceful and luxury experience that instantly transports you to a different era. Thomas Cook (1808-1892) first imitated very rich Egyptian families and “invented” Dahabeya cruises for rich Europeans in the 19^th century.

Your journey up the Nile carries you on a fully equipped boat, with full board catering, sun deck area, and cabins with own bathrooms and amenities. Real Dahabeyas – like ours – have no engine, only an electric generator, which occasionally works silently to keep on-board stock cool.

This vacation, combining SEKEM and Dahabeya Delight along the legendary Nile river is sure to be one of fulfillment, interest, serenity and enchantment.

A new option is to add some enjoyable days in Aswan after the Dahabeya tour ends there. Aswan has a very delightful atmosphere, a healthy climate especially for people with breathing problems, partly caused by the fast running river Nile with its many cataracts. The once famous Begum, the wife of Aga Khan, often spent their days in Aswan to recover from breathing problems. 

In Aswan young Captain Hamo with his boat "Ursi" will take you out on the Nile through the cataracts, stopping at bathing spots in the river and to many sights that can be reached by boat, e.g. the Botanical Garden. You'll stay in one of many guest-friendly Nubian Guesthouses, especially on Elephantine Island with no car traffic at all.

On from 2 travelers Hamo will take you a whole day on his boat, pick you up and deliver you at the chosen guesthouse.

SEKEM & Dahabeya Delight DAILY Itinerary

DAY 1 – Sunday: Flight to Cairo. Transfer from airport to the SEKEM sustainable development project. Welcome and move in to your room. Meal according to your arrival time.

DAY 2 – Monday: Getting accustomed to the outstretched farm by a guided tour. Relax amidst this man-made paradise, kept alive and thriving by the traditional art of irrigating desert land. Enjoy walking in the shade of more than 1,000 date palms, Australian Pine trees (casuarina equisetifolia) neem- and orange-trees, caressed by the breeze. After lunch you will be taken to visit the SEKEM run HU (Heliopolis University) possibly enjoying an art-performance, if given. Dinner in SEKEM.

DAY 3 – Tuesday: Excursion to the famous and oldest of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the Word, the Giza Pyramids. Visit the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Continuing to the Step Pyramid of Sakkara and visit Mastabas with very well preserved wall paintings. Lunch in a shady restaurant (food and beverages at your own cost - by the way much cheaper than at home, about 50-60 USD for the whole week). Back to SEKEM for a relaxing evening dinner.

DAY 4 – Wednesday: A relaxed Cairo sightseeing day. Guided tour through the world-famous Egyptian Museum, which is home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities and some of the world's most unique treasures, such as the golden masks of Tutankhamun, Grave Mask of king Amenemope, Mummy mask of Psusennes I, and Figurine of Khufu, mummies, hieroglyphics, among other.

Lunch at a nice restaurant (food and beverages at your own cost). After lunch you will have the opportunity to stroll along Cairo’s most famous Basar Khan-el-Khalili, with all the diverse and colourful offers. Accompanied by your guide to be sure the exhibition is not done alone, but the bargaining we leave to you! Dinner awaits for you back at the SEKEM farm.

Interesting to note: eating and drinking in Egypt is more than likely much cheaper than your home country. Cost for food/drinks would likely be around 50 euro / 40 GBP / 60 USD for an entire week.

DAY 5 – Thursday: Comprehensive guided tour through some production lines of the SEKEM Farm, e.g. the workshops of Naturetex, where hundreds of people are sewing. You will participate at the weekly assembly of the school, where children of many classes show each other and the many ever present visitors what they’re actually learning. Enjoy a nice lunch. At about 4 p.m. you are invited to share in the weekend circle, together with about 800 SEKEM locals/employees, saying farewell to the Abouleish Family.

DAY 6 – Friday: Excursion to the Oasis Faiyum, the great garden of Egypt. Lake Karun has been fed by a canal from the Nile for about 3,000 years! You will have lunch at the lakeside residence of Egypt’s last king Faruk (food and beverages at your own cost). Due to frequent refurbishing, the Residence lunch might be in some other nice place in the vicinity. There are many date palm trees and widespread vegetable farms in the valley of Faiyum. You will have a cup of tea in the house of a local farmer cooperating with SEKEM. Simple ball pens and/or bonbons are little gifts much welcomed. Dinner at the SEKEM Farm.

DAY 7 – Saturday: After a relaxed breakfast you will drive downtown to visit the Coptic church St. Sergius, where the Holy Family is said to have been resting after their journey from Palestine. Lunch (food and beverages at your own cost). You’ll then visit the most famous of Cairo’s mosques, the Mohammad Ali or Alabaster Mosque. It is an impressive building with wonderful carpets under a huge dome, as well as great panning views of the megalopolis/mega-city that is Cairo. Hereafter, a short visit to Cairo’s oldest mosque Ibn Tulun from 9th Century. Dinner back at the SEKEM farm.

DAY 8 – Sunday: Around noon you will fly to Luxor and stay overnight in the Hotel Gezira Garden.

DAY 9 – Monday: After breakfast a vehicle will take you to board the Dahabeya at Esna, about 30 miles south of Luxor. Once aboard you’ll start sailing for the next 6 days (through Saturday) about 130 miles up the Nile towards Aswan.

DAY 9-13 - Monday-Friday: Sailing on a Dahabeya offers a simple, yet luxury pleasure, such as the sound of silent cruising, and of raw nature, the desert wind, and the Nile’s stream. The idyllic views no least spectacular, from the riverbanks, villages, diverse people, to the evening star lights.

Relaxation brings on new meaning, uniquely combined with the power and energy of this most ancient journey. Enjoy the time and place pass by whilst reading your book, playing backgammon, or just lazing around and enjoying a local coffee or wine. Perhaps you would like to get livelier and join in with the crew's traditional music and dancing.

The Dahabeya is driven by the almost always blowing borealis. Since days without wind might occur, a tug boat will help. It then tows about 100 meters away from the Dahabeya so not to disturb with the steam and noise.

These ancient sites in Upper Egypt will be visited: El Kab, the Temple of Edfu, the ancient quarries of El Silsila, the Temple KomOmbo, Philae-Temple in Aswan. All entries are to be paid then and there, transfers to El Kab, Edfu, El Silsila and KomOmbo are included, not the one to Philae. The crew will assist with the necessary arrangements.

More about the Dahabeya

“The Guilded“ or “The Golden“ gives us an impression about how some Egyptian families liked to exhibit their wealth by having guilded (or using real gold) parts of the superstructure of their big sailing ships, that lavishly reflected the sun while passing by on the Nile. In contrast to the more than 200 hundred steamships cruising the Nile, the authorities restricted Dahabeyas to about 50. This ensures their peace and serenity. No wonder their rates are much higher than the ones on Diesel-engine driven steamships. Dahabeyas sail and moor at small isles in the Nile or at an interesting riverbank, where steamships cannot, and are not allowed to moor.

The said mentioned Dahabeyas belong to Alaa Hassan (Luxor) and Jane Irving (Yorkshire).

The Dahabeya sailing houseboat offers 10/16 beds in 4/6 DBL-Cabins and larger Suites at the stern. All cabins have a separate bathroom with WC, shower and basin, as well as a cosy bedroom with single beds that can be pushed to a DBL bed. The suites are larger and have a view from the stern of the boat across the Nile. The Dahabeya has a beautiful saloon with comfortable seating, dining/common room, and a wide sun deck. The deck can be protected from wind and sun by encircling curtains. Ample seating-accommodation can be arranged as you please. Cabins, and the boat in general is decorated with authentic oriental furniture.

Al meals are freshly prepared by the cook on-board, with produce bought daily at village markets along the Nile riverbanks. Meals are delicious, fusing all the local colours and aromas. Cold non-alcoholic beverages are included, e.g. freshly made lemon-juice, and tea and coffee (or bring your own also). No better way to experience the destination than in its food, in the fresh morning watching the sunrise and silky Nile, in the shade during the hot days, or in the evening under the stars. The crew will provide alcool, if wanted.

DAY 13 - Friday: Transfer from the Dahabeya sailing boat to Aswan International Airport for flight home via Cairo or to (see below)

New Option Aswan for DAY 11, 12 or more  - Transfer from the mooring point of the Dahabeya by Captain Hamo and his boat "Ursi" to the Guesthouse, for your stay in a quiet and friendly Nubian Guesthouse incl. breakfast, cruising before and/or after checking for one or more days in the privately used boat by Captain Hamo. Possible daytrip to Abu Simbel.

Note: possible programme changes due to local necessities

Every Sunday throughout the year - +option Aswan

Duration: 13 Days / 12 nights - +option Aswan - Min number: 2 participants (Dahabeya) and Aswan

Prices: 2,425 euro pp in DBL-Room (SEKEM or SEKEM&Luxor) / DBL-Cabin (Dahabeya) - 2,995 euro SGL in DBL-Cabin; option Aswan see below

Booking Aspects

What's Included: All transfers in Egypt, but no flights. 8 days at SEKEM or 4 Days SEKEM & 4 days Luxor as described in itineraries SEKEM Delight or SEKEM&Luxor, 8 Days SEKEM + 1 day in Luxor or 4 days SEKEM & 4 Days Luxor, 5 days Dahabeya Esna-Aswan, Full Board incl. lemon juice, coffee, tea. Sights as described in the itineraries of these tours. If necessary 1 night incl. breakfast in a Nubian Guesthouse in Aswan and/or 1 night near CAI Airport, if difficult flight connecting times seem to be at hand. 

What's not Included: Flights. SEKEM Reisen can help book flights from/to all Intl./National Airports you wish to depart/return to. We will book the flights with renowned airlines, in close coordination with you, preferring direct flights at decent times or flights with the least stops possible. The service charge for the bookings will be 10 % pp.

Transfer and entry-fee to Philae.

Accommodation Options

SEKEM provides accommodation for visitors, with fully equipped rooms. The 33 rooms available at the farm are all Double Rooms, with 2 having adjacent doors, ideal for families, or helpers. All rooms have a bathroom with shower and WC, as well as mosquito nets. Rooms are either on the ground level or first floor, looking out to the lawns and gardens in front and behind the building.

In Luxor you'll stay in Hotel Gezira Garden in DBL or SGL Rooms. It's possible to asl for an apartment, which houses 4 with 2 bathrooms and a door in between the 2 bed-rooms, which cost an extra 90 Euro pP for 2 and an extra 50 Euro pP for 4 persons.

The Dahabeya sailing houseboat offers 10/16 beds in 4/6 DBL-Cabins and larger Suites at the stern. All cabins have a separate bathroom with WC, shower and basin, as well as a cosy bedroom with single beds that can be pushed to a DBL bed. The suites are larger and have a view from the stern of the boat across the Nile. The suites will cost an extra of 100 Euro pP for 2 and 150 Euro extra for single use.

The Dahabeya has a beautiful saloon with comfortable seating, dining/common room, and a wide sun deck. The deck can be protected from wind and sun by encircling curtains. Ample seating-accommodation can be arranged as you please. Cabins, and the boat in general are decorated with authentic oriental furniture.

New option Staying for one or more days in a Nubian Guesthouse after the Dahabeya tour has ended.

Travel Tips

Before travelling to any country its also always a good idea to do a little research and learn more about the destination; its climate, culture, and general environment. We've prepared an introduction to general practical information about travelling to Egypt

Travel insurance is always advisable. To arrange it speak with SEKEM Reisen for more information, or book itself yourself directly using the below link.

• Book travel insurance directly online
• Read more information on our partner travel insurance company

Booking Info

SEKEM & Dahabeya   -   Tour prices

2,425 euro pp in DBL-Room (SEKEM delight or SEKEM & Luxor), DBL-Cabin (Dahabeya)

2,995 euro pp SGL in DBL-Cabin

Suite: 2 persons + 90 euro pp extra, 1 Person + 150 euro pp extra

Peak season prices (PS) - 22rd DEC 2024 thru 7th JAN 2025 and 12th thru 27th April 2025

2,725 euro pp in DBL (SEKEM // SEKEM & Luxor), DBL-Cabin (Dahabeya)

3,385 euro pp in SGL in DBL-Cabin

Suite: 2 persons + 90 euro pp extra, 1 Person + 150 euro pp extra

NEW OPTION Aswan - normal season

Price for 1 day incl. all transfers in Aswan and boat cruise (7-8 h), overnight with breakfast in Nubian guesthouse total 170 € pp.

Any surplus day 150 € pp - minimum 2 travelers - all entries and other food are to be paid by the traveler.

NEW OPTION Aswan - peak season (22nd DEC 2024 thru 6th JAN 2025 - 10th APR thru 6th MAY 2025)

Price for 1 day incl. all transfers and boat cruise (7-8 h), overnight with breakfast in Nubian guesthouse, total 210 € pp.

Any surplus day 190 € pp - minimum 2 travelers - all entries and other food are to be paid by the traveler.

All tour prices valid/guaranteed until 31st AUG 2025

I make a voluntary CO2 compensation payment for 1 ton of CO2 from my flight emissions for the round trip from Germany/Switzerland/Austriato Cairo for the SEKEM project “Greening the Desert”, an overview can be found here:

https://sekem.com/en/offset-your-co2-footprint-with-sekem/