Ibis Stories & Cruise on the Nile

Mirta & Alexia

About Us: How the Nile Brought Us Together

We’re Mirta and Alexia, lifelong friends who have known each other for 25 years. Life had taken us on separate paths, until our children’s deep friendship brought us back together. For the first time, we found ourselves organizing a trip all together, and what began as a family vacation turned into an unexpected bond, a rediscovery of friendship, and the spark for something bigger.

In October, we set off on a family cruise along the Nile — aboard a boat that would forever change the way we see Egypt: Ibis on the Nile. From the very first moment, we were mesmerized. Watching the sun rise over Karnak, seeing majestic temples, cliffside tombs carved into the Nile’s banks, and the desert merging with the river, it felt as if time had paused and history was unfolding around us.

One evening, as the Nile glowed gold under the sunset, we struck up a conversation with Alaa Hassan, the boat’s owner. We asked questions, listened to stories, and were drawn into a world that went far beyond sightseeing. It wasn’t just a cruise — it was an experience that connected us to thousands of years of history.

By the end of the trip, we knew: we wanted to share this. We wanted to create journeys that weren’t just tours, but intimate, immersive, and unforgettable experiences — where history, myth, and the river itself come alive. That’s when we decided to invest in Ibis on the Nile, partnering with Alaa to craft every detail of the voyage, from hidden rock-cut tombs and desert monasteries to sunsets and starlit skies above ancient temples.

Alaa - The shipowner

The Hassan Family: Guardians of the Nile

Meeting Alaa, we realized we weren’t just discovering a boat — we were stepping into a family legacy. Alaa and his two brothers, Mohammid and Hagag, now run a fleet of five boats, but their story begins with their father, Ali Hassan.

Ali started humbly, guiding tourists along the Nile in a traditional felucca, a simple sailboat, but he was a visionary. He saw potential in the ancient dahabiya, once used to carry stone and rocks along the river, and transformed it into a vessel for exploration, wonder, and connection.

He began building these boats with his own hands, blending tradition with innovation. Each vessel he crafted became more than a boat — it became a home on the river, a bridge to history, a floating invitation to experience Egypt as it was meant to be felt.

Now, Ali’s sons, including Alaa, have carried the family legacy forward. They’ve expanded the fleet, maintained the craftsmanship, and continue to honor their father’s vision: every sail, every deck, every detail is steeped in the rhythm, history, and beauty of the Nile.

Partnering with Alaa and his family wasn’t just about investing in a boat — it was about becoming part of a lineage that reveres the river, its stories, and its traditions. Together, we’re offering journeys that carry forward this legacy and invite our guests to experience the Nile in a way that is personal, historic, and unforgettable.

Bestaoui - The captain

Captain Bestaoui is the soul of our journey along the Nile. Now 65 years old, his life has been inseparably tied to the river since the age of fourteen. He began as a young boy transporting flowers along its gentle currents, later navigating heavier loads of stone, learning the river’s moods in all their forms.

For the past thirty years, Bestaoui has devoted himself to welcoming travelers, working side by side with the Hassan family and sharing with them a deep respect for the Nile’s timeless rhythm. His knowledge is not only born of experience, but of a rare, almost poetic connection with the river itself.

At the helm of a dedicated crew of twelve—including a chef and a sous-chef—Captain Bestaoui leads every detail of life on board with quiet authority and care. Under his guidance, the team works in perfect harmony to create an experience that is both seamless and deeply personal.

There is no one who reads the stars as he does, nor anyone who understands navigation with such instinct and grace. With Captain Bestaoui each journey becomes more than a passage—it becomes a story, carried by the wind, written on the water, and guided by the stars.

Our vision

Every journey we offer is inspired by that first magical cruise. It’s about:

Feeling the pulse of history along the riverbanks
Discovering hidden rock-cut tombs and ancient temples
Experiencing the desert and the Nile as pilgrims and monks once did
Watching sunsets, tracing the stars, and following myths that shaped civilization

Our rediscovered friendship, strengthened by our children, taught us that shared experiences create bonds that last a lifetime. Now, it’s about sharing the Nile itself — slowly, thoughtfully, and with awe.