Old Cataract Aswan
Abtal El Tahrir Street, Aswan, Egypt
Location
Above the Nile at Aswan
The hotel stands on a pink-granite ledge above the Nile in Aswan, in Upper Egypt, opposite Elephantine Island, with the town a short stroll away and Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Nubian Museum nearby.
Transfer
An Aswan transfer
Fly Cairo to Aswan, around an hour and a half, or arrive by Nile cruise — the hotel is a hub of the Aswan leg, with Abu Simbel a day trip away.
Villas
Around 138 rooms
Around 138 rooms and suites across the historic Palace and the Nile Wing, in classic handmade furniture with high painted ceilings and Nile views — including the Sir Winston Churchill Suite and the Agatha Christie Suite.
Best For
Who it suits
Couples, honeymooners and heritage and literary travellers after the most storied hotel in Upper Egypt — a Nile-cliff palace of Christie and Churchill legend, and the romantic heart of an Aswan Nile-cruise.
Board Basis
Bed & breakfast
Bed and breakfast, with half-board options — French fine dining at 1902, oriental cooking at Saraya and sunset cocktails on the Terrace.
About the Resort
The palace where Christie wrote Death on the Nile
The Old Cataract is the most storied hotel in Upper Egypt — a Victorian Nile-cliff palace, built in 1899, set on a pink-granite ledge above the river in Aswan, opposite Elephantine Island. This is where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile, and the terrace where she worked still serves sunset cocktails over the water; the golden-book guest list runs from Churchill to royalty, and there is a daily tour of her suite. Around 138 rooms and suites spread across the historic Palace and the Nile Wing, in classic handmade furniture under high painted ceilings, with the signature Sir Winston Churchill Suite and the Agatha Christie Suite among them. Dining centres on 1902, French fine dining under a Moorish dome, with oriental cooking at Saraya, and there is a spa with indoor and outdoor pools. Aswan's ancient sites are close — Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Nubian Museum, with Abu Simbel a day trip — and feluccas drift on the Nile below. The romantic heart of an Aswan Nile-cruise, for couples and heritage travellers.
Accommodation
Rooms & suites
Around 138 rooms and suites across the historic Palace and the Nile Wing, in classic handmade furniture with high painted ceilings and Nile views — including the signature Sir Winston Churchill Suite, with a private terrace, and the Agatha Christie Suite.
Entry
Luxury Room, Nile View
Sleeps two. A king in classic décor with high painted ceilings, over the Nile and Elephantine Island.
High ceilingsNile view
Terrace
Luxury Room with Terrace
Sleeps two. A king with a private terrace, over the Nile.
Private terraceNile view
Suite
Suite
Sleeps two to three. A separate living room in period furnishing, over the Nile.
Period furnishingNile view
Signature
Churchill Suite
Sleeps two. A butler and a huge private Nile terrace — the signature suite.
ButlerNile terrace
Heritage
Agatha Christie Suite
Sleeps two. Room 1201, the Death on the Nile suite, over the river.
The Christie roomNile view
Food & Drink
Dining
Dining runs to 1902, French fine dining under a Moorish dome, oriental and international cooking at Saraya, and sunset cocktails on the Terrace where Agatha Christie wrote, over the Nile.
Signature
1902
French fine dining at 1902, under a Moorish dome.
Oriental
Saraya
Oriental and international cooking at Saraya.
Terrace
The Terrace
Sunset cocktails on the Terrace, where Agatha Christie wrote, over the Nile.
Wellbeing
Spa & pools
There is a spa with a sauna and fitness centre, and indoor and outdoor pools — with feluccas to sail on the Nile below and the pink-granite sunset to watch from the terrace.
A spa
A spa with a sauna and fitness centre.
Indoor & outdoor pools
Indoor and outdoor pools.
Felucca sailing
Felucca sailing on the Nile below.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
A palace of literary legend, above the Nile. Take sunset cocktails on Christie's terrace, sail a felucca, visit Philae and the Nubian Museum, and head out to Abu Simbel.
Christie's terrace
The terrace where Agatha Christie wrote, with daily tours of her suite at 5pm.
The Nile-cliff sunset
The pink-granite Nile-cliff sunset over Elephantine Island.
Philae Temple
Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Nubian Museum nearby.
Felucca sailing
Felucca sailing on the Nile.
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel on a day trip.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By air
Cairo to Aswan
Fly Cairo to Aswan, around an hour and a half.
By river
Nile cruise
Arrive or depart by Nile cruise, the hotel a hub of the Aswan leg.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting Old Cataract Aswan. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- Bed and breakfast, with half-board options.
Made for couples
- A romantic, storied stay for couples and heritage travellers, and the hub of an Aswan Nile-cruise.
Setting
- On a pink-granite ledge above the Nile in Aswan, opposite Elephantine Island, with the town a stroll away.
Getting there
- Fly Cairo to Aswan, around an hour and a half, or arrive by Nile cruise.
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Dates & party
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Adults
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Budget & accommodation
Budget per person (flights + hotel)
£4,500
£500£50,000+
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Flights
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