Lazuli dahabiyas: what a Lazuli Nile cruise really is

A Lazuli Nile cruise is a few nights on one of a family of small wooden sailing boats called dahabiyas, not a cabin on a motor ship. Verdict in one line: a French-leaning dahabiya fleet whose typical programme includes Luxor's main sights and Philae, but you have to buy it through an agent and ask for every detail, because almost nothing is published.

Lazuli was founded in 2001 by Wally Aziz, an Egyptian entrepreneur and former Egyptologist guide. Its boats have names of their own, and agencies sell them under those names, so "Lazuli" on a booking usually means one boat in a fleet of about eight to ten. The figures vary by source: one agency counts nine, another eight, and a French travel magazine ten.

The Lazuli boats

Sellers name these boats, and the details below come from their pages, not from an operator fleet list:

• Amarna: the newest, with seven cabins.
• Roi Farouk: four cabins and one suite.
• L'Orient: four cabins and two suites that share a balcony. It is not Djed's dahabiya "The Orient", a different company's boat.
• Luxor: has a suite with a private balcony.
• Lotus: twin cabins and a hot tub on the sundeck.
• Gordon Pacha and Altesse: also listed by agencies.

Boats carry 5–10 cabins and 10–20 guests, and you can book a cabin or charter the whole boat. Because the agencies' lists don't match, ask your agent which boat you are on, how many cabins it has, and whether your cabin has a balcony before you pay.

The Lazuli itinerary

Lazuli boats sail from Esna or Luxor to Aswan in four to seven nights. This is the typical five-night programme as one of its Paris sellers publishes it:

The useful difference from many dahabiya programmes is day one and day five: Luxor's big sights and Philae are inside the trip, so you need less time on land before and after. Check that your departure follows this pattern, because start points and lengths vary. A tug or motorboat assists when the wind drops.

For the sites themselves, see our guides to Luxor, Edfu and Kom Ombo and Aswan.

Lazuli Nile cruise price

No operator price list exists online. The figure on record is from about €2,500 per person, reported by the French magazine Yonder, which did not say for how many nights or which season. Ask an agent to quote for your dates, and ask for:

• the boat, cabin type and number of nights;
• whether entry fees, guide, transfers and drinks are included;
• the deposit and cancellation terms.

For comparison, Nour El Nil prices five nights per room (€6,600 for a Luxury Room on Agatha in late October), and Djed sells per person per night from €330. Our dahabiya guide explains the different ways these boats are priced.

No platform sells Lazuli. The most-reviewed dahabiya listing on GetYourGuide (Aswan to Luxor, 4 days, from $1,100 per person for three nights Aswan to Luxor, 4.8 from 58 reviews) does not name its boat. It is a sensible way to try a dahabiya at a known price, but ask the operator for the boat's name before you pay.

⛵ Aswan

GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan

Aswan to Luxor: 4-Day Luxury Dahabiya Nile Cruise Adventure

4.8 (58)

from $1,100Check dates

⛵ Luxor

GetYourGuide5 nightsFrom Luxor

Luxor to Aswan: 6-Day Dahabiya Nile Cruise with Ancient Tour

4.1 (9)

from $1,400Check dates

⛵ Aswan

GetYourGuide2 nightsFrom Aswan

From Aswan: 2-Nights boutique Dahabiya Nile Cruise to Luxor

5.0 (3)

from $900Check dates

Prices checked on 19 October 2026

How to book Lazuli

Lazuli is sold through agencies: Lazuli Travel Bureau in Paris (an agency of the same name, whose formal link to the fleet is not stated), and specialist agencies such as Jacada, Cazloyd and Flee Winter. The French market is strong, and guides who speak French are part of the appeal for many guests. Ask for an English-speaking guide if you need one.

Because there is no operator site to check, the agent's written confirmation is your only record. Get the boat name, dates, cabin and inclusions on it before you pay.

Alternatives to Lazuli

• Nour El Nil: nine dahabiyas, Esna to Aswan in five nights, with live per-room prices on its own site.
• Djed's four dahabiyas, priced openly per person per night on its website.
• Our best dahabiya cruises shortlist compares all the main fleets.
• If you want a pool and more space, look at the luxury ships such as the Oberoi Zahra.

Lazuli: questions