Al Moudira Hotel
Hotel · El-Oksor ·
Palatial hotel with individually designed suites, spa, pool
Information
Al Moudira Hotel, Al Qarna, Luxor Governorate 1340304, Egypt Get directions
Palatial hotel with individually designed suites, spa, pool
Al Moudira Hotel, Al Qarna, Luxor Governorate 1340304, Egypt Get directions
"The word oasis gets thrown around, but in the case of Al Moudira, it’s merited. On land filled with date palms and next to fields of sugarcanes in Luxor, Egypt’s quiet west bank, this jumble of cupola-topped suites feels world’s away from the cruise ship crush across the Nile. Italian Lebanese designer Zeina Aboukheir opened it in 2002, and it’s long been a hideaway for aesthetes like Rick Owens (and Christian Louboutin is often there for lunch). Under new ownership, the property has had a subtle facelift; the new villas with stargazing rooms and salvaged marble and tilework blend right in with the original suites nearby, which are similarly adorned with hand-painted hieroglyphs, trompe l’oeill drapery, and souk-sourced antiques. There’s a farm with ostriches, donkeys, and a new seasonal restaurant by Andalusian chef Gioconda Scott, and a lounger-lined pool that warrants that oasis moniker all on its own. Luxor’s sunrise balloon rides and temple tours await, but no one could judge guests for simply snoozing the day away in this sun-dappled dream. From $330. —Chris Schalkx" - CNT Editors
"The word oasis gets thrown around, but in the case of Al Moudira, it’s merited. On land filled with date palms and next to fields of sugarcanes in Luxor, Egypt’s quiet west bank, this jumble of cupola-topped suites feels world’s away from the cruise ship crush across the Nile. Italian Lebanese designer Zeina Aboukheir opened it in 2002, and it’s long been a hideaway for aesthetes like Rick Owens (and Christian Louboutin is often there for lunch). Under new ownership, the property has had a subtle facelift; the new villas with stargazing rooms and salvaged marble and tilework blend right in with the original suites nearby, which are similarly adorned with hand-painted hieroglyphs, trompe l'oeil drapery, and souk-sourced antiques. There’s a farm with ostriches, donkeys, a new seasonal restaurant by Andalusian chef Gioconda Scott, and a lounger-lined pool that warrants that oasis moniker all on its own. Luxor’s sunrise balloon rides and temple tours await, but no one could judge guests for simply snoozing the day away in this sun-dappled dream. From $330. —Chris Schalkx" - CNT Editors
"A boutique riverside retreat set amid sugarcane fields on the west bank, conceived and built from desert by Lebanese-born artist-designer Zeina Aboukheir in 1999; composed of soaring adobe suites and villas within a walled garden, it attracts artists, musicians and writers who gather around the pool and in the tiled dining room for dishes such as Nile perch, moussaka and a standout creamy garlic dip called tomeya. Intimate, design-forward, and praised by regulars for its unassuming-but-grand atmosphere, the property also provides access to excellent local guides and curated excursions." - Chris Wallace Chris Wallace Chris Wallace is a New York-based writer and photographer. He recently published his first book, "Twentieth-Century Man," about the late artist Peter Beard. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Located at the gateway to Luxor, Al Moudira Hotel is the only palace located on the west bank of the Nile. The domes and the patios ornate with arabesque makes up the oriental décor. It offers an outdoor pool and a spacious terrace. All the rooms and suites at Al Moudira are individually designed and fitted with antique furniture, featuring a unique traditional oriental décor. Each is equipped with a satellite TV, a mini-bar and a telephone. The suites include a spacious lounge. Guests can enjoy the mix between the Mediterranean and Eastern flavors at the Great Room Restaurant. Snacks, salads and pizzas are enjoyed at the swimming pool pavilion. Cocktails are served at the Colonial Bar. Al Moudira Hotel is 2.5 mi away from the Valleys of Kings and Queens and Hatshepsut Temple. You can get to the hotel from Luxor East Bank by car, as well as by ferry down the Nile or in multicolored shuttle boats. Free Wi-Fi and on-site private parking are possible." - My Boutique Hotel (en)
"As you stroll around the lush courtyards, knock back your cocktails in the sitting-room bar, soak up the sun on the terrace by the pool, or retreat to your splendidly enormous room, do remember that this small empire of beautiful things was completely reclaimed from the desert. Al Moudira is not simply the best hotel in Luxor, it’s one of the best in Egypt; an architectural pleasure dome of vaulted ceilings, Pharaonic murals, wooden latticework and regal arches. It appears to be ancient, but it was nothing but sand only a couple of decades ago. Wander about and it’s easy to imagine you’re strolling through a small palace. Pillars soar, bougainvillea roams and luxurious little private sit-outs are everywhere. You enter through an interior courtyard, the hub of the hotel. You can eat here throughout the day, though the domed restaurant is equally serene, or sample the Egyptian-Lebanese cafe or lazily lunch poolside. As for the 54 rooms – well, the smallest is huge, so take it from there. Expect high domed ceilings (occasionally in your bathroom, too), crisp white linen, beautiful tiles on every floor, warm colours spread across each wall. There are a number of impressive villas complete with butler service in the extensive grounds too. Above all, this is a remarkably peaceful place. One not to miss. Highs Everywhere you go, something beautiful passes your eye The big pool – perfect after a hot morning in the Valley of the Kings The food is excellent, the best we ate in Egypt Rooms are enormous and palatial, lavishly decorated in Moorish style Check out the spa, with its array of treatments and massages; it has a sauna and steam room too Lows You’re about 6km south of Luxor, so you’ll need taxis to get into town, or to cross the Nile by ferry boat Like all design hotels it comes with a hefty price tag, but you get a lot for your money If you're judging by international 5* standards, you might find service a little slow You can slip easily on the rugs in the bedrooms, which slide about on the floor tiles" - Tom Bell
