• The luxury hotel on Luxor’s West Bank.
• Within a few minutes of the main sites of the West Bank, so you can easily beat the crowds.
• Arabian nights architecture with hammam style bathrooms and fine dining.
The Whole Story
Located near the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, and twenty minutes from the temples of Luxor and Karnak, Al Moudira is a fantasy palace built by a lady from Beirut with extravagant taste. It’s a cross between a 19th century Cairo mansion and a luxurious harem.
The force behind the project is the owner Zeina Aboukheir who is a jewellery designer and photographer. She grew up in Lebanon, lived for many years in Tuscany and travelled the world extensively, before falling in love with Luxor’s West Bank and deciding to settle and build her dream hotel there. The hotel was designed by Aboukheir, working with her architect Olivier Sedaoui. She later spent three years supervising and directing work at the site. The workers called her “al moudira” which means in Arabic “the boss”. When the hotel opened its doors in 2002, this naturally seemed to be the perfect name.
Al Moudira features every signature and trait that we associate with our more exotic impressions of the Arabic world. Vaulted ceilings with multicoloured skylights, traditional wooden screens called moucharabieh, beautifully engraved old brass water pipes, fountains everywhere and the odd burst of colour from a bush of bougainvillea. With several hectares of gardens, the Al Moudira is an oasis of greenery – a perfect contrast to the surrounding desert.
The beauty of Al Moudira is grounded in the traditions of the Arabic world, but it is also beautiful in the sense that it is so quiet and remote, yet only a stone’s throw from the Valley of the Kings. Luxor is popular as a tourist destination for good reason – because there is so much to see. But of course that doesn’t mean you necessarily want to be surrounded by the madding crowd all the time. Visit a tomb or a temple, or simply stay by the pool – that’s the true luxury of Al Moudira.
The Rooms
All room categories measures in excess of 45 square metres, and each of the 54 rooms are uniquely furnished and decorated. All rooms have air conditioning, satellite television, telephone, in-room safe and mini bar.
Luxury Suites
Each of the rooms is unique with a living area, which then opens out onto a courtyard hidden behind traditional wooden screens called moucharabieh. Luxury suites feature hammam-style bathrooms
Junior Suites
Have a bedroom and living room area with a sofa and kilims offering the perfect place to relax. Some Junior suites feature sunken baths.
Moon rooms
Rooms open onto a flowered patio.
Family Suites which sleep up to four people are also available.