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Home / Dahabiya Boats / Zein Nile Chateau
The Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau is a small river boat that changes how Nile sailing is done. It takes you on a trip of classic grace and modern luxury. With only a few rooms, this beautiful ship offers a personalized and private experience that brings to mind the charm of a bygone age while providing modern comforts.
The friendly, welcoming mood of the chateau makes every visitor feel like a king or queen as soon as they step on board. The cabins are more than just a place to rest; they’re peaceful havens. Each one is beautifully furnished and has the latest conveniences, so you can unwind after a day of exploring.
The food served at the Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau is a journey in and of itself. The restaurant serves various tasty meals that combine local tastes with those worldwide. While you eat, you can enjoy views of the Nile‘s ever-changing scenery.
On this beautiful boat, the trip is a trip through history and culture. Every place you visit, from the impressive High Dam to the mysterious Philae Temple, is like a chapter in a book of historical wonders. Find the secret gem of El Sheikh Fadl Island, a peaceful respite from the grandeur of the Kom Ombo Temple. As the boat glides to Gabal El Selsela, the old mines for sandstone tell stories about the past.
The less well-known El Kab Temple shows how the ancient Egyptians lived their daily lives, while the more famous Edfu Temple shows how good the ancient Egyptians were at building. El Hex Island offers the Nile’s untouched beauty from East to West. The Nile is like a natural painting that changes with the light.
The Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau takes you further along the trip to the Esna area, a mix of old and new cultures. The Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon are the real highlights of this trip. The world of the Pharaohs can be seen through these famous places full of myths and secrets.
With its top-notch service and many useful features, the Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau luxury dahabiya Nile cruise takes you on a trip through the center of Egypt. It ensures that your trip is both comfy and interesting. You won’t just be on a trip; you’ll have an experience that will last as long as the river does.
Dahabiya Highlights
Check-in on board the Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau, followed by lunch.
A choice of two of the below:
1. Philae Temple
According to the Ancient Egyptians, the goddess Isis traveled all over Egypt gathering her husband Osiris’s remains after he was cut to pieces by his evil brother. On Philae Island, where she found his heart, the Egyptians built a sacred temple to Isis, goddess of purity, sexuality, nature, and protection. While building the High Dam, Philae Island was submerged by water, so UNESCO helped transport the temple complex to nearby Agilika Island, where you see it today.
2. Unfinished Obelisk
Visit this massive obelisk, abandoned in Aswan’s Northern Quarry, when a crack was found as it was carved from the red granite. Tools left behind to show how builders accomplished such great work.
3. Kalabsha Temple
The Temple of Kalabsha (also Temple of Mandulis) is an Ancient Egyptian temple located initially at Bab al-Kalabsha (Gate of Kalabsha), approximately 50 kilometers south of Aswan. The temple was situated on the west bank of the Nile River in Nubia and was initially built around 30 BC during the early Roman era. Afternoon tea and dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan.
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast on board with the morning and afternoon at leisure.
Lunch will be served on board.
Visit the Spice market, followed by a visit to Nubian Museum. Called “The Land of Gold” by the ancient Egyptians, Nubia extended from Aswan in the north to Sudan in the south and had its own distinct culture and language.
Much of Nubia was covered with water when the Aswan High Dam was built, but efforts were made to save and preserve Nubian culture. This vast collection of Nubian artifacts is housed in a beautiful sandstone building. Afternoon tea and dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast while sailing to Kom Ombo. Morning visit to Kom Ombo Temple In this Ptolemaic temple shared by two gods, Sobek and Horus, the Elder, everything is duplicated symmetrically, with double hallways, doors, and chambers.
Lunch on board while sailing to Selsela.
Afternoon visit to Selsela Tombs Selsela (Jebel Selsela) The ancient Egyptian site of Selsela is about 26 miles south of Edfu and 14 miles north of Kom Ombo and is located in an area where the Nile River narrows.
It was known in ancient times as Khenu (Place of Rowing), and here, the bedrock changes from limestone to sandstone. This is the border of the Egyptian region of Nubia, and in ancient times, Egyptians believed that the Nile originated here. Afternoon tea and dinner on board. Overnight by a nearby island.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast on board while sailing to Edfu. Morning visit to Edfu temple
Explore the largest and most completely preserved Pharaonic – albeit Greek-built – temple in Egypt, the extraordinary Temple of Horus at Edfu.
Lunch while sailing to El Kab. Afternoon visit to El Kab
El Kab is an Upper Egyptian site on the east bank of the Nile at the mouth of Wadi Hillal, about 80km south of Luxor, consisting of prehistoric and Pharaonic settlements, rock-cut tombs of the early 18th Dynasty (1550-1295 BC), remains of temples dating from the Early Dynastic period (3100-2686 BC) to the Ptolemaic period (332-30 BC), as well as part of the walls of a Coptic monastery. Afternoon tea and dinner on board. Sailing to Esna. Overnight in Esna.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Boat
Breakfast on board. Morning visit to Esna Temple
Visit the Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum at Esna. The beautifully preserved Great Hypostyle Hall was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius; it was excavated from the silt that had accumulated through centuries of annual Nile floods and is about nine meters below present-day street level.
Lunch on board.
Afternoon tea on board while sailing to Luxor. Dinner on board. Overnight in Luxor
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast on board with the morning at leisure. Lunch on board.
Afternoon visit to the East Bank, with a choice of three of the below:
1. Karnak Temple
Visit the Temple of Karnak, built over more than a thousand years by generations of Pharaohs. The remarkable Hypostyle Hall is an incredible forest of giant pillars, covering an area larger than the whole of Notre Dame Cathedral.
2. Luxor Temple
Visit the strikingly graceful Temple of Luxor dedicated to the god Amun. Proceed to the Temple of Luxor, once connected to Karnak via the Avenue of Sphinxes, almost 3 kilometers in length. Built by Amenhotep III in 1380 BC, later pharaohs added to the site. The temple enjoyed many celebrations, the most important being the Festival of Opet which lasted almost a month.
3. Luxor Museum
Visit the surprisingly entertaining Luxor museum. The Brooklyn Museum of New York created displays of pottery, jewelry, furniture, statues, and stelae. They include a carefully selected assortment of items from the Theban temples and necropolis. Several exhibits from Tutankhamun include a cow-goddess head from his tomb on the first floor and his funerary boats on the second floor. However, some of the natural attractions include a statue of Tuthmosis III (circa 1436 BC) on the first floor and 283 sandstone blocks arranged as a wall from the ninth pylon of the Karnak Temple.
4. Sound & Light Show in Karnak Temple
Attend the Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple, a fascinating walking tour through the history of the world’s largest-ever temple complex, narrated by the voices of the pharaohs. Shadows play off the enormous columns in the grand Hypostyle Hall, creating a mysterious effect.
Afternoon tea and dinner on board. Overnight in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast on board. Morning visit to the Valley of the Kings Explores the Valley of the Kings, a vast City of the Dead where magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rocks, decorated richly, and filled with treasures for the afterlife by generations of Pharaohs.
Visit the West Bank with a choice of three from the below:
1. Valley of the Queens
Between 75 and 80 tombs are in the Valley of the Queens, or Biban al-Harim. These belong to the Queens of the 18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasties. It is called the “Place of Beauty” by the Egyptians, where the pharaohs’ wives and children were buried.
2. Hatshepsut Temple
Rising out of the desert plain in a series of terraces, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Ancient Egypt’s only female Pharaoh) merges with the sheer limestone cliffs surrounding it, as if nature herself had built this extraordinary monument.
3. Valley of Workers (Deir El Medina)
Visit the remains of the self-contained village on the West Bank where the workmen who built the kings’ and queens.’ tombs lived in mud brick houses with their families. The site gives archeologists a view of how urban people lived in ancient Egypt. You can also visit the tombs that the workmen created for themselves to admire the art in ordinary people’s tombs. Nearby is the Temple of Deir El Medina, from Ptolemaic times.
4. Tombs of the Nobles
On the West Bank sit 400 tombs of Theban aristocrats, some of which you can enter. The tomb walls were whitewashed and painted with murals of the nobles’ daily lives, making them quite different from royal tombs, where relief work focused on judgment and resurrection. Since the tombs were not sealed, some have deteriorated.
5. Medinet Habu
The magnificent Medinet Habu is a series of temples built by the Pharaoh Ramses III (1182-1151 BC) and second only to Karnak Temple in size and complexity. The most impressive is the Mortuary Temple of Ramses III, decorated with relief work depicting his many military victories. With its massive mud-brick enclosure that held storehouses, workshops, administrative offices, and residences of priests and officials, Medinet Habu grew into a city that maintained its population well into Coptic times.
6. Ramesseum Temple
The Ramesseum, the Mortuary Temple of Ramses II, was built early in the great pharaoh’s reign and was 20 years in the making. Here you’ll see the broken, awesome Colossus of Ramses II, a 1000-ton statue in which the fingers alone are over 1 meter long; it inspired the famous poem “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley. This great temple reportedly rivaled the wonders of Ramses II’s temple at Abu Simbel.
Lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner on board. Overnight in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast on board, followed by check-out.
Meals: Breakfast
Check-in on board the Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau, followed by lunch. Afternoon visit to the East Bank, with a choice of three of the below:
1. Karnak Temple
Visit the Temple of Karnak, built over more than a thousand years by generations of Pharaohs. The remarkable Hypostyle Hall is an incredible forest of giant pillars, covering an area larger than the whole of Notre Dame Cathedral.
2. Luxor Temple
Visit the strikingly graceful Temple of Luxor dedicated to the god Amun. Proceed to the Temple of Luxor, once connected to Karnak via the Avenue of Sphinxes, almost 3 kilometers in length. Built by Amenhotep III in 1380 BC, later pharaohs added to the site. The temple enjoyed many celebrations, the most important being the Festival of Opet, which lasted almost a month.
3. Luxor Museum
Visit the surprisingly entertaining Luxor museum. The Brooklyn Museum of New York created displays of pottery, jewelry, furniture, statues, and stelae. They include a carefully selected assortment of items from the Theban temples and necropolis.
Several exhibits from Tutankhamun include a cow-goddess head from his tomb on the first floor and his funerary boats on the second floor. However, some of the natural attractions include a statue of Tuthmosis III (circa 1436 BC) on the first floor and 283 sandstone blocks arranged as a wall from the ninth pylon of the Karnak Temple.
4. Sound & Light Show in Karnak Temple
Attend the Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple, a fascinating walking tour through the history of the world’s largest-ever temple complex, narrated by the voices of the pharaohs. Shadows play off the enormous columns in the grand Hypostyle Hall, creating a mysterious effect.
Afternoon tea and dinner on board. Overnight in Luxor.
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast on a board Morning visit to the Valley of the Kings.
Explore the Valley of the Kings, a vast City of the Dead where magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rocks, decorated richly, and filled with treasures for the afterlife by generations of
Pharaohs.
Visit the West Bank with a choice of three from the below:
1. Valley of the Queens
Between 75 and 80 tombs are in the Valley of the Queens, or Biban al-Harim. These belong to Queens of the 18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasties. It is called the “Place of Beauty” by the Egyptians, where the pharaohs’ wives and children were buried.
2. Hatshepsut Temple
Rising out of the desert plain in a series of terraces, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Ancient Egypt’s only female Pharaoh) merges with the sheer limestone cliffs surrounding it, as if nature herself had built this extraordinary monument.
3. Valley of Workers (Deir El Medina)
Visit the remains of the self-contained village on the West Bank where the workmen who built the kings’ and queens’ tombs lived in mud brick houses with their families. The site gives archeologists a view of how urban people lived in ancient Egypt. You can also visit the tombs that the workmen created for themselves to admire the art in ordinary people’s tombs. Nearby is the Temple of Deir El Medina, from Ptolemaic times.
4. Tombs of the Nobles
On the West Bank sit 400 tombs of Theban aristocrats, some of which you can enter. The tomb walls were whitewashed and painted with murals of the nobles’ daily lives, making them quite different from royal tombs, where relief work focused on judgment and resurrection. Since the tombs were not sealed, some have deteriorated.
5. Medinet Habu
The magnificent Medinet Habu is a series of temples built by the Pharaoh Ramses III (1182-1151 BC) and second only to Karnak Temple in size and complexity. The most impressive is the Mortuary Temple of Ramses III, decorated with relief work depicting his many military victories. With its massive mud-brick enclosure that held storehouses, workshops, administrative offices, and residences of priests and officials, Medinet Habu grew into a city that maintained its population well into Coptic times.
6. Ramesseum Temple
The Ramesseum, the Mortuary Temple of Ramses II, was built early in the great pharaoh’s reign and was 20 years in the making. Here you’ll see the broken, awesome Colossus of Ramses II, a 1000-ton statue in which the fingers alone are over 1 meter long; it inspired the famous poem “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley. This great temple reportedly rivaled the wonders of Ramses II’s temple at Abu Simbel.
Lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner on board.Overnight in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast on board while sailing to Esna. Morning at leisure. Lunch on board.
Afternoon visit to Esna Temple
Visit the Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum at Esna. The beautifully preserved Great Hypostyle Hall was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius; it was excavated from the silt that had accumulated through centuries of annual Nile floods and is about nine meters below present-day street-level Afternoon tea on board with the afternoon at leisure.
Dinner on board. Overnight in Esna.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast on board, followed by sailing to El Kab.
El Kab is an Upper Egyptian site on the east bank of the Nile at the mouth of Wadi Hillal, about 80km south of Luxor, consisting of prehistoric and Pharaonic settlements, rock-cut tombs of the early 18th Dynasty (1550-1295 BC), remains of temples dating from the Early Dynastic period (3100-2686 BC) to the Ptolemaic period (332-30 BC), as well as part of the walls of a Coptic monastery.
Lunch while sailing to Edfu.
Afternoon visit to Edfu temple
Explore the largest and most completely preserved Pharaonic – albeit Greek-built – temple in Egypt, the extraordinary Temple of Horus at Edfu. Sail to El Fawaz. Afternoon tea and dinner on board. Overnight in El Fawaz.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Boat
Breakfast while sailing to Selsela. Morning visit to Selsela
Chelsea (Jebel Selsela) The ancient Egyptian site of Selsela is about 26 miles south of Edfu and 14 miles north of Kom Ombo and is located in an area where the Nile River narrows. It was known in ancient times as Khenu (Place of Rowing), and here, the bedrock changes from limestone to sandstone. This is the border of the Egyptian region of Nubia, and in ancient times, Egyptians believed that the Nile originated here.
Lunch on board while sailing to Kom Ombo Afternoon visit to Kom Ombo Temple
In this Ptolemaic temple shared by two gods, Sobek and Horus the Elder, everything is duplicated symmetrically, with double hallways, doors, and chambers. Afternoon tea and dinner on board. Overnight by a nearby island.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast on board while sailing to Aswan. Lunch on board.
Visit the Spice market, followed by a visit to Nubian Museum.
Called “The Land of Gold” by the ancient Egyptians, Nubia extended from Aswan in the north to Sudan in the south and had its own distinct culture and language. Much of Nubia was covered with water when the Aswan High Dam was built, but efforts were made to save and preserve
Nubian culture. This vast collection of Nubian artifacts is housed in a beautiful sandstone building.
Afternoon tea and dinner on board. Overnight by a nearby island.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast on board. A choice of two of the below:
1. Philae Temple
According to the Ancient Egyptians, the goddess Isis traveled all over Egypt gathering her husband Osiris’s remains after he was cut to pieces by his evil brother. On Philae Island, where she found his heart, the Egyptians built a sacred temple to Isis, goddess of purity, sexuality, nature, and protection. While building the High Dam, Philae Island was submerged by water, so UNESCO helped transport the temple complex to nearby Agilika Island, where you see it today.
2. Unfinished Obelisk
Visit this massive obelisk, abandoned in Aswan’s Northern Quarry, when a crack was found as it was carved from the red granite. Tools left behind to show how builders accomplished such great work.
3. Kalabsha Temple
The Temple of Kalabsha (also Temple of Mandulis) is an Ancient Egyptian temple located initially at Bab al-Kalabsha (Gate of Kalabsha), approximately 50 kilometers south of Aswan. The temple was situated on the west bank of the Nile River in Nubia and was initially built around 30 BC during the early Roman era. Afternoon tea and dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Night Stay on Dahabiya Bout
Breakfast on board, followed by check-out.
Meals: Breakfast
Additional information
The tip is about $3-5 USD per person per night. For example, if you are 2 people staying 4 nights on a Nile cruise, the tip amount is $4 x 4 nights x 2 people = $32. So you leave $32 in an envelope at the front desk at the end of your Nile cruise.
Extra personal expenses on the trip may include a food tour, alcoholic beverages, tipping, visa fees, recreational expenses, and other services not listed.
Following are the items with extra costs during the trek:
All our packages and tours of Egypt do not include entrance fees to special archaeological sites such as entering the pyramids from inside, the mummies’ room in Museum, or entering the Tutankhamun tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.
The customer receives a confirmation voucher via email within 24 hours of successful booking.
We are offering a low down payment of just 25% to secure your spaces on tour, including hotel rooms, cruise cabins, domestic flight tickets, and other travel-related services. The remaining balance can be paid up to two days before your arrival date or in cash upon arrival at the destination to your tour manager, making you’re booking a risk-free investment.
Notes:
From Luxor’s majestic temples to Aswan’s vibrant souks, we offer various activities to transport you to the heart of Egypt’s rich history and culture.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of a Nubian village near Aswan. These colorful settlements, nestled along the Nile’s banks, offer a glimpse into the rich traditions and lifestyles of the Nubians. Wander through the brightly painted houses, interact with the friendly locals, and learn about their fascinating history and customs. Enjoy traditional Nubian life to make memories that will last a lifetime.
Experience the magic of ancient Egypt at the Philae Temple Sound & Light Show. As the stars twinkle above, the temple comes alive with stunning lights and captivating narration, telling the tales of gods and goddesses. The interplay of light and shadow across the temple’s majestic structures, enchanting music, and dramatic storytelling create a mesmerizing spectacle that transports you back in time.
Embark on an unforgettable journey above Luxor, the world’s greatest open-air museum. As the sun peeks over the horizon, your hot air balloon gently lifts off, revealing a breathtaking aerial view of ancient temples and the majestic Nile. Glide serenely over the Valley of the Kings and Queens, witnessing the timeless splendor of these ancient burial grounds from a unique perspective.
Step into the past at Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramesses III. This architectural marvel in Luxor is a testament to ancient Egypt’s grandeur. Explore the well-preserved temple complex adorned with intricate carvings depicting victorious battles and daily life. The towering columns and vivid reliefs make Medinet Habu a must-visit destination for all travelers like you.
Delve into the bustling Spice Market of Aswan, a sensory explosion of colors, scents, and flavors. Stroll through the vibrant alleys with stalls overflowing with fresh, aromatic spices, herbs, and exotic ingredients. Engage with local merchants, sample unique spices, and learn about their uses in traditional Egyptian cuisine. It’s an experience that captures the essence of Aswan’s rich cultural tapestry.
Set sail on a traditional felucca and glide gracefully along the Nile in Aswan. Feel the gentle breeze as you navigate the tranquil waters, witnessing the timeless beauty of the Nile Valley. Watch the sun set behind the palm-lined banks, casting a golden glow on the river. This peaceful boat ride offers a journey through the heart of Egypt’s enchanting landscapes and ancient history.
Our stay at the Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm hospitality and a breathtaking view of the Nile. The chateau itself is a hidden gem, exuding elegance and charm. Our suite was a haven of comfort, and we loved waking up to the serene river views every morning.
The staff’s attention to detail was impeccable, and they went above and beyond to ensure our stay was perfect. The dining experience was a culinary delight, with a variety of delicious dishes to choose from. We also appreciated the romantic dinner by the Nile, which was a highlight of our trip.
The chateau’s location allowed us to explore historical sites with ease, and the guided tours provided valuable insights into Egypt’s rich history. We left with hearts full of gratitude and memories that will last a lifetime. Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau is a true sanctuary for couples seeking a romantic and unforgettable Nile experience.
“My stay at Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau was an enchanting experience. The chateau’s location along the Nile is simply breathtaking. From the moment I arrived, the warm hospitality of the staff made me feel at home. The rooms are elegantly decorated and offer stunning views of the river. Dining at the chateau’s restaurant was a culinary delight, with a variety of delicious Egyptian dishes. This tranquil oasis on the Nile is a hidden gem, and I can’t wait to return.”
