A dahabiya charter is the hire of a whole dahabiya (also spelled dahabeya), a traditional Nile sailing boat with real cabins, for your own group. Nobody else is aboard, and the vessel’s own crew runs the cruise. That makes it a private river house for 8 to 32 people. Here are the six kinds of group that book it most, and the boat that fits each. For the facts about charters in one place, see our private dahabiya charter page.

1. Families And Multi-Generational Groups.

A whole boat means grandparents, parents and children share one slow trip with nobody else’s schedule to work around. Nawara suits families of up to 24, and Hathor takes up to 32 for a larger family and its friends.

Best boats

Nawara (up to 24) · Hathor (up to 32)

Group size

Roughly 8 to 32 guests

Good to know

On Nawara, extra beds and a baby crib are available on request.

• The pace is slow. Mornings are a temple or a village walk, afternoons are the pool or a swim at an island.
• Nawara’s restaurant serves à la carte or family-style, with outdoor dining on deck.
• Nawara has a heated pool with sunbeds, and a chef’s kitchen experience where guests help cook lunch.
• Tell us ages and any mobility needs when you enquire, so we can match the boat.

Planning for older relatives? Read Egypt for seniors: what a luxury private programme looks like. Adding the pyramids and the Red Sea? See the luxury family vacation guide.

2. Friends’ Trips.

A dahabiya has 8 to 12 cabins, so a group of friends fills it and has the whole river house to themselves. Nile Majestic, Hathor and Nile Divine all put a bar and a social deck at the centre of the boat.

Best boats

Nile Majestic (up to 20) · Hathor (up to 32) · Nile Divine (up to 16)

Group size

Roughly 8 to 32 guests

Good to know

Entertainment varies by vessel. Ask us what is available for your dates.

• Nile Majestic has a pool sundeck with a bar and bamboo Arabian seating with bean bags.
• Nile Divine has a travertine pool, a bar and shaded sunbeds on its lower deck, and a pergola with a scenic dining table above.
• Hathor has indoor and outdoor bars, a circular sun-deck bar and a sun deck with shaded seating.
• Evenings on Nawara include a folkloric show and a galabeya party with a Nubian show. Nile Divine offers belly dancer, folklore and Nubian shows on request.

3. Anniversaries, Birthdays And Honeymoon Groups.

For a milestone with your closest people, pick a boat with suites worth the occasion. Nawara and Hathor have jacuzzi suites, while Nile Divine and Nile Majestic have suites with private balconies.

Best boats

Hathor · Nawara · Nile Divine

Group size

Couples travelling together, or a celebration of up to 32

Good to know

A single couple can also take a suite on a shared sailing, subject to availability. Ask us.

• Nawara’s two Jacuzzi Suites are 45.6 m², with a private dining area and a marble bathroom whose jacuzzi sits beneath a panoramic Nile window.
• Hathor’s Elegant Suites (46 m²) and Royal Suites (56 m²) both have a jacuzzi. The Royal Suites have two bathrooms.
• Nile Divine’s suites have a private balcony and an ensuite bathtub. Its upper deck has a pergola, a scenic dining table and four royal king-size beds.
• Nile Majestic has four suites with private balconies, two of them Royal Suites of 24 m².
• Tell us the occasion when you enquire. We will say what can be arranged on the boat you choose.

4. Wellness And Yoga Groups.

For yoga, fitness and recovery, charter Nawara (up to 24 guests) for its open-air yoga deck and gym, or Nile Divine (up to 16) for its spa. A quiet, slow river does the rest.

Best boats

Nawara (up to 24) · Nile Divine (up to 16)

Group size

Roughly 8 to 24 guests

Good to know

Spa treatments on Nile Divine are available at additional cost.

• Nawara has an open-air yoga deck with mats, a mini gym and a heated pool, all looking onto the Nile.
• Nile Divine has a spa with a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and a massage room lined with Himalayan salt walls, plus a travertine pool.
• Nile Divine’s kitchen works farm to table, with produce from Luxor and Aswan.
• Hathor has a mini gym and open-air relaxation areas on a sun deck with shaded seating.
• Tell us what your group needs and we will say how the boat can support it.

Want a longer programme at sea? See our wellness retreat on the Red Sea superyacht.

5. Art, Photography And Culture Groups.

Nile Divine, known as The Floating Gallery, is the natural choice for up to 16 guests who care about art, design and light. Every room holds original artwork by Alaa Abu El Hamd, a Luxor artist.

Best boat

Nile Divine (up to 16)

Group size

Roughly 8 to 16 guests

Good to know

Larger culture groups can look at Nawara (up to 24) or Hathor (up to 32).

• The owner designed the boat herself and hand-drew the furniture, using alabaster and travertine sourced in Egypt. Sculptures by local artists sit throughout.
• A five-metre oak table seats the group, and its eight chairs carry the eight Pharaonic symbols found in the cabins.
• The route passes Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. A shallow hull also moors at islands and village banks.
• Photographers get low sun on the water at both ends of the day, from a sundeck that is yours alone.

6. Corporate And Incentive Teams.

A chartered dahabiya is a private venue that moves. Nile Majestic (up to 20), Nawara (up to 24) and Hathor (up to 32) give a team a whole boat with no other guests, in a setting few companies use.

Best boats

Nile Majestic (up to 20) · Nawara (up to 24) · Hathor (up to 32)

Group size

Roughly 8 to 32 guests

Good to know

Wi-Fi is available on board, but coverage on the river can vary. Ask us what a team charter can include.

• Privacy: the whole vessel, crew and decks are yours, so conversations stay within the group.
• Space to mix: Nile Majestic has a 34-seat restaurant and a pool sundeck. Hathor has an indoor lounge and dining area. Nawara has an indoor lounge with river views.
• Shared experiences: temples, village walks, an island swim and an evening show give a team something to talk about.
• Need a conference room and a larger group? Our own Red Sea superyacht is built for corporate and MICE charters.

The Four Boats Compared.

Boreas represents four dahabiyas on the Nile. The table shows which group each one suits best.

Choosing By Group Size.

Group size narrows the choice fast. A full charter works best when your group fills most of the boat.

Not sure whether a dahabiya or a ship is right? Read the most unique way to see the Nile and our guide to dahabiya Nile cruises. Want to add the sea? See a Nile cruise or a sea voyage.

How To Plan A Charter.

There is one step to start: tell us who is travelling and when. Everything else is confirmed in your quote. When to go matters too, so see the best time to sail a dahabiya and the day-by-day itinerary.

1. Send your group and datesGroup size, preferred dates and the occasion. Use the form, WhatsApp or email.
2. We reply within 24 hoursA Boreas charter specialist answers and asks anything we still need.
3. We recommend a boatWe say which dahabiya suits your group, including when the answer is a ship.
4. You receive your quoteRates, inclusions, minimum nights, itinerary, availability and payment terms, confirmed for your group.