Al Moudira stands among farmland on the quiet west bank of the Nile at Luxor, close to the Valley of the Kings and the temples of ancient Thebes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and well away from the crowds on the east bank. Its founder, Zeina Aboukheir, built it several decades ago as a honeycomb of 10 courtyards with the feel of a grand country house, using doors, tiles and fittings rescued from historic buildings that were being lost. Ten hectares of palm groves and gardens surround it. The 54 suites gather round courtyards with fountains, and each is large, with a domed ceiling, hand-painted frescoes, antiques Zeina collected across the Middle East, and beds dressed in Egyptian cotton. A pool and a Turkish bath ease the heat after days at Karnak and in the tombs. Meals are served in the Great Room under stone arches and chandeliers, and the team can set private dinners in some 40 places around the grounds or on the hotel's felucca. Set Nefru, a restored early 20th-century dahabiya with five cabins, is moored nearby for private Nile charters.
- Rooms
- 54 suites and a group of private villas
- Taken whole
- The whole hotel, for events and private celebrations
Insider tip Charter Set Nefru, the hotel's restored dahabiya, for a few days sailing on the Nile before or after your stay.
Why I choose it It is the most characterful place to stay in Luxor, on the side of the river where the tombs are, with villas that let families and friends keep to themselves.