Travel In Style In A Dahabeya And Enjoy Truly Luxury On The Nile

By Author: Andrew Holtom
Total Articles: 34
Comment this article

Since ancient times, Egyptians would take small sailing boats in the Nile and enjoy going up and down the river to visit various temples or just to watch scenes on the banks of the river. In the mid-nineteenth century the dahabeya made an appearance and was extensively used by the Egyptian royal family, other members of the aristocracy along with acclaimed Europeans. They would traipse up and down the river Nile in these dahabeyas or dahabiyas and spend a day or days exploring the temples of the Pharaohs and other ancient sites. The name ‘dahabeya’ is got from the word ‘dahab’ which means gold in Arabic as the dahabiyas used to be golden in colour.

Your Egypt travel package will normally include a Nile cruise but you can always opt for a dahabiya cruise, if so inclined. A dahabeya is a wonderful way of exploring ancient Egypt as it offers a more flexible itinerary and can be berthed even in places where large cruise ships are unable to moor. The dahabeyas are elegant, wooden boats and can host only a limited number of guests making them ideal for those who prefer personalized service and intimate gatherings. ...
... They are usually equipped with 5-10 cabins, on a double occupancy basis and offer impeccable service and amenities. These boats are normally much more expensive than the large cruise boats or the traditional feluccas but offer total luxury and an unhurried pace. With no engines and an absolute reliance on the wind and the currents, there are no annoying sounds of the engines in the background and no vibrations on the traditional dahabeya although a few modern ones are do taking the help of engines. The only sounds you will hear are of the lapping waters, of birds and of the countryside as you float down the majestic river Nile. You can enjoy the breeze in your hair as you watch Egyptian peasants go about their daily lives and you will also be witness to some of the most spectacular sunsets on the river. On dahabeyas, you are in much closer contact with the waters and are much more involved in the organic life of the river.

The cruise covers all sights between Aswan and Luxor and although the average length of the trip is four days, it can be lengthened if preferred. The Valley of Kings, temples of Edfu, KomOmbo and Philae are included in the trip. On a dahabeya, you can make stops at places not easily accessible and even enjoy a picnic lunch at an isolated spot.

A dahabeya evokes the past grandeur of the Egyptian royalty and the elite of Europe when it was favoured by those who wanted to see the ancient temples, tombs and monuments luxuriously and at an unhurried pace with like-minded travellers. Avoid the large, overcrowded cruise ships with their packaged entertainment and standard sightseeing and opt for a dahabeya with its exclusive comforts and privacy.

About The Author:
This article is written by Andrew Holtom on behalf of Oriental Tours Egypt. This is having topics on Egypt Travel Package, travel to Egypt and many more. For more details visit us.