What is luxury, if not handcrafted. Come, experience a new level of personalization and customization done exclusively for you on the Dahabeya.
Indulge in a level of detailing that covers a spectrum as wide as the itinerary itself to detailed cuisines prepared to suit your palate, as we cruise between the cities of Luxor and Aswan
The Karnak Temple dates back from around 2055 BC to around 100 AD. It is a city of temples built over 2,000 years, and dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. Being the largest building for religious purposes ever to be constructed, the Karnak Temple was known as the “most select of places” by ancient Egyptians. Karnak is believed to have been an ancient observatory as well as a place of worship where the god Amun would interact directly with the people of earth. At the heart of Karnak, the Nineteenth Dynasty Pharaoh Seti I erected his Great Hypostyle Hall, a colossal forest of 134 giant sandstone columns supporting a high clerestory roof and enclosed by massive walls that after 3300 years, remain substantially intact today
Known as "The Harem of the South", The Luxor Temple was connected to The Karnak Temple by a 3km (2-mile) long processional Avenue of Sphinxes (4th century BC), part of which is still visible, while the rest of which is currently undergoing excavation. Eventually, it will be renovated in its entirety all the way to the Karnak. Unlike the other temples in Thebes, the Luxor Temple is not dedicated to a cult god or a deified version of the pharoah in death. Instead, the Luxor Temple is dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship; it may have been where many of the pharoahs of Egypt were crowned in reality or conceptually
The Nile wasn't about kings. It was about Queens too. And what better testament to this, than Queen Hatshepsuts temple. A masterpiece of ancient architecture, the temple has three massive terraces that rise above the desert floor, into the cliffs. The whole structure points towards the monumental Eighth Pylon, Hatshepsut's most recognizable addition to the Temple of Karnak and the site from which the procession of the Beautiful Festival of the Valley departs. The temple's twin functions are identified by its axes: on its main east-west axis, it served to receive the barque of Amun-Re at the climax of the festival, while on its north-south axis it represented the life cycle of the pharaoh from coronation to rebirth.
The Valley of The Kings, located near Luxor on the Nile's West Bank, hosts the most famed collection of elaborate tombs of the New Kingdom Pharoahs, rulers who decided to build their final resting place closer to their dynastic roots. Royal burial grounds for the most famous of Pharoahs, including Tutankhamen and Rameses II, tomb here. As they have been constructed between 1539 and 1075 BC, they are testament to a life, a time and a culture of one of the world's earliest civilizations. This place yet remains an explorer's paradise, with many, many tombs and secrets awaiting to be explored and shared with the world.
The world's largest Embankment Dam, built to harness the Nile in Aswan in the 1960s, serves the irrigation needs of both Egypt and Sudan. It also controls flooding, generates energy, and helps in improving navigation across the Nile. Your journey across this dam is an experience in itself. You enter a lock from one side, and your dahabeya is parked there while the water slowly rises until the water level matches the level on the other side of the dam. The gate on the other side of the lock then opens for you to cross over. This experience is unique in and by itself and is one of the highlights of moving across the Aswan Dam.
The Aswan Botanical Garden is home to thousands of birds and many exotic plants imported from many parts of the world like Far East India and Africa. The Aswan Botanical Garden offers a beautiful and unique escape from the city. A true gem of Egyptian treasures, strolling through the garden will take you into a dream state of scenery. The entirety of the island is landscaped with rare and exotic plants that were planted there by order of Lord Horatio Kitchener, who has gifted the island in gratitude for his service as consul general of the Egyptian Army under British control.
The quintessential way to sightsee in Aswan is by taking to the river on a felucca - a traditional lateen-sail boat. A typical short tour of around two hours sails in a loop around the islands of the central Aswan area, with great views of the rippling desert dunes of the west river bank, the lush palm-tree-sprinkled islands, and the city on the east bank.
A veritable open-air museum of temples, monuments, landscapes - the balloon ride is a veritable treat in visually experiencing the majesty and splendour of an era that still holds people enthralled with its stories Watching the balloons take off from Luxor during the golden hour before sunrise, is a treat, and something you must wake up to. And if you wish to try this one-of-a-kind experience watching as the sun rises over monuments of Luxor, just ask us to add it to your itinerary, we'll give you an adventure you won't ever forget
Health & Safety
