Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Egypt / Aswan / Old Cataract, Aswan
Old Cataract, Aswan
Aswan, Egypt · Mandarin Oriental · Grand Luxury
Architect Henri Favarger led the 1902 expansion of the building, which Accor later restored as a historic palace-hotel. The property holds AAA Five Diamond recognition and sits on the Aswan Corniche overlooking the Nile, opposite Elephantine Island.
- 35 rooms
- Opened 1899
- Neighborhood: Sheyakhah Oula
- Architect: Henri Favarger; historic palace-hotel restored by Accor
About Old Cataract, Aswan
- Agatha Christie wrote 'Death on the Nile' at this hotel in the 1930s, and the 1978 film adaptation — starring Peter Ustinov, Mia Farrow, David Niven, and Angela Lansbury — was partly filmed on-site, including scenes in the Moorish ballroom.
- Winston Churchill first visited for the 1902 inauguration of the Aswan Low Dam and returned so often throughout his life that the hotel named a suite after him; it currently rents for several thousand dollars per night.
- In 1973, US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stayed at the hotel while brokering the ceasefire that ended the Yom Kippur War, making the Old Cataract an unremarked footnote in one of the 20th century's most consequential diplomatic negotiations.
- The 1902 Restaurant's dining room was designed with a 23-metre dome inspired by Mamluk mosque architecture — its columns modelled on the Qalawun Mausoleum, its grillwork on the Mosque of Ibn Tulun — making it one of the few fine-dining rooms in the world that architecturally recreates medieval Cairo.
- Howard Carter came to the hotel to celebrate the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922; the guest list across the hotel's 125-year history also includes Tsar Nicholas II, Princess Diana, François Mitterrand, Jimmy Carter, and Margaret Thatcher.
History
The Cataract Hotel was built by Thomas Cook in 1899 to serve European travelers to Aswan and opened on January 8, 1900. It was expanded in 1902 with a third story and additional rooms and dining space, and a new tower wing was added in 1961. Accor closed both wings from 2008 to 2011 for a complete restoration and reopened the property on October 18, 2011 as Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan. The restored hotel is notable for its Nile-side setting, long guest list, and association with Agatha Christie and Death on the Nile. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Cataract_Hotel)
The setting
The hotel sits on the Aswan Corniche overlooking the Nile, opposite Elephantine Island and near the city’s historic riverfront. Its setting has long appealed to travelers drawn to Aswan’s role as the gateway between Egypt and Nubia. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Cataract_Hotel). 7-minute walk to artifacts at the Nubian Museum.
Restaurants and bars
- 1902 Restaurant — Restaurant
- Saraya — Restaurant
- Al Qahwa — Restaurant
- The Promenade — Restaurant
Experiences
- Afternoon Tea — A signature Afternoon Tea served in an open-air setting, inspired by the hotel's heritage.
- Dining at Saraya — All-day dining serving regional specialities and international dishes in elegant surroundings.
- Infinity pool — An outdoor infinity pool set above the Nile, serving as the hotel's wellness centrepiece.
- Discover Aswan: Aswan and Nubian Museums, Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk — Nearby sights the hotel highlights: the Aswan and Nubian Museums, the Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk.
Amenities
- Nile-view rooms and suites
- Palace Wing and Nile Wing
- Spa and wellness facilities
- Outdoor pool
- Heritage hotel setting
- Meeting and event spaces
- Signature terrace and lounge areas
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Fine dining
Awards
- AAA Five Diamond
- Condé Nast Readers' Choice
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star
- MICHELIN One Key
- World's 50 Best Hotels ranking
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