Guest Book

Homely feel and warmly remembered


Fantastic stay with Mara house and cannot recommend enough. Mara and co were very helpful from the beginning of booking accommodation and recommending transport/logistics/sight visits, and throughout the stay

Amr (manager) was very welcoming and helpful, a good friend to be missed. Also, an incredible cook! I was well fed each evening with properly home made food.

Rooms are well kept and nicely decorated, and a comfortable sleep. Feels less like a hotel, and more like a home.

If you book your tours through Mara, the guides are very knowledgeable and patient, I spent three days with them visiting Karnak and Luxor, Abydos and Dendera (my favourite), and West Bank tour.

On return to Luxor, I will be sure to revisit Mara House. Hopefully, it will be soon!

Posted on TripAdvisor

Amazing secret hideaway in Luxor

An absolute charmer of a guest house in central Luxor, Maras presents a level of sophistication and style that’s usually well above my pay grade. Our suite (yes, suite – not just a room but an apartment) is a wall to wall mini museum of tapestry, carpets, classic furniture and local art, tastefully pulled together in a manner that makes you feel like a very honoured guest.

And that feeling continues when you engage with Mara, Amr and the team – the most genuinely helpful and supportive people I have met on any holiday, and always willing to go the extra mile for your happiness.

If you are reading this while planning a holiday – book it now. Suite 4 is a charmer, say yes when Mar offers you tea (the handmade biscuits were astounding), sign up for the feast and visit Abyssinian and Dendara too!

Travelled with family in Feb 2024. Reviewed on TripAdvisor and Google Maps

10 out of 10
by Bhaskar on
Hotels.com
Authentic Egyptian Hospitality
Posted Jul 15, 2023

Lovely residence. Feel like your stepping back in time. A more authentic way to experience Egypt. Rooms are far more exotic than your typical hotel room. We really enjoyed staying in a real Egypt neighborhood, served a delicious breakfast and feeling the warm hospitality of our hosts. They were great in organizing some special road excursions for us that we requested to ancient sites a little further away. Highly recommend 🙂👌

A lovely place to stay for me and my family
This was a lovely place to stay. My husband and I took our 3 young sons to Egypt and we spent 3 days in Luxor, staying at Mara House.

We were very well catered for, the breakfasts and the evening meals were delicious, the apartment was beautifully presented and well-equipped nd very comfortable. We had a peaceful and enjoyable stay.

We took a tour to Dendara and Abydos on one day (absolutely gorgeous) , and the Valley of the Kings on another which was everything you would hope for it to be; these were organised by Mara and were excellent.

I really do recommend this hotel for travellers with families, we felt well looked after and were sad to leave.

Travelled as family in April 2023. Reviewed on TripAdvisor

We only stayed 1 night, they welcomed us fantastically having arrived at 7 in the morning, we rested a bit from the trip and they prepared a typical breakfast for us there. Then we went to see the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Karnak and that of Luxor and Amr provided us with a taxi that was with us all day, also very kind M'Hammad we laughed a lot with him, and at the end of the day, they prepared an exquisite dinner for us. Very kind and friendly people, of course if I return to Egypt and stop in Luxor they will be my number 1 option.

10 out of 10
by Caleb on
Hotels.com
Very comfortable with extra hospitality
Posted Apr 30, 2023

My family and I stayed at Mara House for 4 nights. The property is very comfortable and homey in the best way. Amr is a wonderful host, always available to assist in every way and went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable. The neighborhood has no restaurants or really any amenities. I highly recommend asking Amr to cook you dinner. His meals were better than most dining options we discovered in Luxor.

Good place to stay
Mara house is a well maintained property with spacious rooms. Our unit was a two bedroom with a hall and a pantry . The house was neat and tidy with comfortable beds and furniture with a great artistic mind.
A well maintained terrace is available for all.
Breakfast was provided. The support staff is very good.
The location is very close to Luxor temple, railway station, Gobus station etc.Also Ms. Mara has arranged our Luxor tours at a competitive price.

The only disappointment was the price charged for dinner was exorbitantly high- on a comparable terms the value for the dinner was significantly higher than a Tier 1 Cairo restaurant; not sure an indirect way of charging .
Apart from this all positive for Mara house

Travelled Feb 2022. Reviewed on TripAdvisor

A Lovely Stay
We were looking forward to our visit to Luxor and Mara House ever since we first contacted Mara by email in September 2022 and it did not disappoint. Despite booking international hotels in Cairo, our experience with Mara was much more personalized and that was reassuring. Mara was not only wonderfully responsive and very generous with tips and advice, her website is also packed with great information which was of immense help during our entire Egypt trip.

As expected, our family of 3 thoroughly enjoyed our three nights at Mara House. Amr took such good care of us, making sure my husband, who was coming down with a cold, always had a hot cup of tea on hand. Amr and his lovely wife were also such innovative and excellent cooks, we enjoyed breakfast and dinner at Mara House each day and loved all our delicious meals.

The house itself has such an original and Old World feel. One can imagine one is in old Luxor of the past and that adds to the charm. Add to that the wonderful service (last minute taxis that Amr arranged to drop us off and pick us up at Luxor Temple one night and Karnak Temple the next, packed lunches ordered the night before for our day trips, super early hot breakfasts to get us going before the 7am pick-up by our cruise operator) and you can't beat the experience!

Travelled Dec 2022. Reviewed on TripAdvisor

The most memorable and special part of Egypt for us was Mara House!

I read Mara's blog for a couple of years, always thinking "someday, when we go to Egypt, I want to stay at Mara House!" And even with all of that buildup of anticipation, she did not disappoint - in fact, our experience surpassed expectations! Mara was so kind and so helpful as we were planning our trip. She found a guide for us in Cairo when our initial plans unexpectedly fell through, and she arranged an awesome guide and driver in Luxor who took my husband and I, and a couple of other charming Mara House guests, to see as many temples and tombs as we could pack in.

But the real treat for me was coming back to Mara House each evening to a home-cooked dinner by Amr, the house manager. So delicious, so healthy - it was food for the soul. We didn't want to eat anywhere else - we were hooked! And being greeted with sweet mint tea... aaaah. Heaven!

My only wish is to meet Mara in person someday (she was out of Egypt at the time, but still so responsive to questions!) and say how much we appreciate what she does and the care with which she does it. Mara House is magical.

Also, special thanks to Amr and his family for all the little touches that make this place feel like visiting a friend's home.

Travelled as couple Dec 2022. Reviewed on TripAdvisor Dec 2022

We decided to visit Egypt at short notice and started organising it ourselves. When it came to organising the details of the Luxor section it became even more difficult and complicated. Luckily we found Mara's blog and website. We liked her style and approach and booked both accommodation at Mara's House and tours with a guide. All organised by Mara, who is a great communicator.
Arriving in Luxor by train we were met by Mara's driver (the train was 2 hours late) and comfortably driven to Mara's House and met by Amr ( the housekeeper). It was like a breath of fresh air. The house is lovely and feels very Egyptian with large, clean and comfortable suites. It is in a local, residential area of Luxor. All the transport was provided by Mara's driver.
Amr and his wife are excellent cooks so the food was extremely good ( with wine and beer available if required). More importantly Amr obviously cares deeply about his guests and went out of his way to make sure their stay was an enjoyable experience.

Our guide to the many sites of Luxor was Mohamed (Mo). He is extremely knowledgeable with good English and just as importantly very personable. The tours we went on were recommended by Mara and provided an excellent introduction to this historic ( and complex) area. The temples and tombs are obviously very impressive but were brought to life by Mohamed's detailed explanations , observations and historical context.

Mara's House is a great place to stay in Luxor but what makes it so special is the team of dedicated and caring people she has assembled to make your visit special. We thoroughly recommend using Mara. Egypt is a unique and special place but can be challenging for an independent tourist, made worse by the country trying to recover from the economic effects of COVID. We wish we had found Mara sooner for other parts of our Egyptian experience.

We first read about Mara and Mara House in an Egypt guidebook when we we’re looking for someone to manage some tours for us.

We had a lovely suite and stayed for 4 nights. Breakfasts are included and wonderful. The hotel manager Amr is charming and very helpful. We had dinner in the hotel a couple nights after long days sightseeing and the food is as good as or better than anything else we had eaten in Egypt.

Mara arranged tours for us and we were joined by two, sometimes 3, other guests. The guide, Mohammed “Moh” and the tours were good. They’ll manage the driver. They even managed a day seeing sights in Aswan before we arrived in Luxor.

We highly recommend Mara House and the tours she offers. Couldn’t be happier.

Staying at Mara House in Luxor and also working with Mara to book tours throughout Egypt was one of the best decisions we could have made. Upon arriving in Luxor, we were provided with a free airport transfer to Mara House, where we were warmly greeted by Amr, which set the tone for the rest of our stay. Tastefully decorated and inviting, our suite included a kitchen, a large sitting area, clean bathroom, and comfortable beds. It was the people of Mara House, however, that truly made our time unforgettable. Amr is an excellent chef and served us some of the best food that we had in Egypt. Amr also helped us with many other things, such as answering complicated questions, arranging transportation, ordering takeout food, and even taking care of our laundry
.
Prior to arriving, we worked extensively with Mara to arrange tours not only in Luxor, but also in Giza, Aswan, and beyond. In Giza (as well as Memphis, Saqqara, and Dashur), we were escorted in private car by Mara’s incredibly knowledgeable Giza-based guide, Mohammed. Having a doctorate in Egyptology with an emphasis in hieroglyphics, Mohammed was able to accurately and concisely explain the many things we were seeing.

Much of our time in Luxor and Aswan was spent with Mara’s very capable and thoughtful Luxor-based guide, Mohammed (Mo for short). Along with providing interesting information on Ancient Egypt, Mo ensured we always had enough water and also had time to explore the many sites that we visited. Additionally, Mo made sure that we visited sites at times of day when crowds were at their lowest, which made our experiences more relaxing and enjoyable.

We had a great stay. We were very comfortable in our suite and were extremely well looked after by Anr and the team. The guided tours worked out perfectly. And we found getting in and out of central Luxor quite easy. A great opportunity to see an area of the city that’s untouristed.
Thank you Mara

Traveled as couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor March 2022 Booked Luxor Holidays 3 Nights Package

"My wife, grown daughter, and I came to Egypt on Mara’s 9 day tour. As you know, the sights and food in Egypt are wonderful; this review will focus on post-Covid concerns you might have. We decided to come despite Covid because we are all vaccinated and Egypt has a low covid prevalence."

We almost missed our flight out of the US because they said our Covid test done on Saturday was too old for our flight on Monday. We had a rapid re-test on Monday am. I would suggest getting tests two days before your flight and then the day before your flight. Get the tests late in the day; for example if your flight leaves at 4pm, get swabbed at 4:30 pm. You want your tests to be as “fresh” as possible.

Mara made sure the Egyptian logistics were all very smooth. The guides (Mohammed Hedar and Mohammed Ahmed) were both very friendly, knowledgeable, and vaccinated. Most of the drivers were also vaccinated. I encouraged the hotel staff to get vaccinated also. We were touring from 9am to 3-5pm every day, after which we were tired and happy.

The Steigenberger hotel in Tahrir Square was modern and clean. It was near great restaurants including Felfala, Abou Tarek (khosary), and El Abd Pastry. The Old Cairo Museum was directly across the street. We walked 20 minutes to the Cairo tower.

We were the first group at Mara House since the pandemic began. As others have noted, the House is not in a scenic or walk-friendly area, but the rooms are huge, comfortable and cool. The chef, Amr, prepares very nice meals. On our free evening Amr arranged a car to take us to the Luxor museum and to watch the sunset from the waterfront.

The Nile cruise was on the Steigenberger Royale ship. It appeared to be the cleanest and newest boat in operation. It was limited to 50% occupancy. The staff did temperature checks, wore masks, etc. I don’t know whether they were vaccinated.

Our family was required to have a new Covid pcr test prior to departure due to regulations in Jordan, our next destination. The guide was very helpful in organizing this. It was pretty expensive but the nice printed documents were helpful in getting through the international flights.

Overall it was a great trip. We had Egypt basically to ourselves! What a great opportunity. I encourage you to email Mara and set up a trip soon before the crowds return.

Travelled as Family. Reviewed on TripAdvisor May 2021 – booked Egypt 9 Nighta Package

Mara House was the icing on the cake of Luxor

"Mara House is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Luxor - a comfortable and comforting retreat when you have had your fill of monuments and baksheesh. It revives you for another daily foray into the fascinating world of the Pharaohs and the no less beguiling contemporary life on the streets..

Mara herself is an excellent host (as you would expect from an expatriate Irishwoman) with plenty of sound advice, especially for the first time visitor to Egypt. Her consideration for her guests even extended to being up at the crack of dawn to make sure that our pick-up for a hot air balloon trip went smoothly.

Our stay in Egypt was stretched by an unexpected 10 days because of the disruption to flights caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland. We were due to fly from Cairo and would have been homeless had we not been fortunate enough to obtain an apartment from "Rooms in Cairo" which is run by Mara's son Stephen and his partner Sara. The couple proved to be just as helpful and hospitable as Mara. The apartment was cool and spacious, simply decorated and very well situated in downtown Cairo. Stephen took us on a tour of the area, showing us places to eat and shop. This is a great part of Cairo where you are not constantly hastled for tips and taxi drivers charge reasonable prices. Cairo is the dirtiest, noisiest, smelliest, friendliest and most populous city we have ever been in and we enjoyed every minute of it not least because of our pad in Adly Street..."

Being a solo traveler to a country such as Egypt can be a little daunting. Thankfully I found Mara House early in the planning stages of my trip. I found Mara's blog posts invaluable - I read them all, some of them several times! I ended up booking the 9 night Egypt tour with an extra night in Cairo so I could add on a day trip to Alexandria.

I didn't actually have much communication with Mara herself - in fact I only got my actual itinerary when I emailed Mara the day before I left on my trip to ask for it, and she wasn't in Luxor when I arrived. However all her guides were fabulous! Ahmed was in constant contact making sure my trip was running smoothly. Nothing was too much trouble for him. A BIG thanks to Ahmed for letting me borrow his USB charger for my phone while I was in Cairo!!

Suzie and our driver in Cairo were both incredible. Thank you for taking us to eat at local places, I enjoyed the koshari immensely 🙂 Driving around Garbage city was a fun experience for me!

Mohamed took us to Alexandria for the day and was a terrific guide. So full of knowledge and very easy to get along with.

Once arriving at Mara House in Luxor, Amr took great care of us and fed us until I was fit to burst! The food was sensational - I only wish I could've eaten more. Mara House itself is just like staying in someones home. The suite I had was massive, with my own balcony, sitting room and extra large bedroom. I appreciated the suburban location so I could get a real feel for the way regular Egyptians live, however I did miss being able to easily take a stroll along the Nile - it's a good 20-30 minute walk to the river so wasn't very convenient to take an evening wander. I also missed small things such as having instant hot water and amenities such as shampoo etc available in the room.

Mohamed was our guide for our entire time in Luxor and on the cruise. You couldn't ask for a better person to accompany you on the tour. Full of interesting facts and stories. I don't think there was one question I had that he didn't know the answer for. I felt very lucky to have him during my time there!

I had such an amazing time in Egypt I'm already planning my return, this time bringing a bunch of my family members with me! I will definitely be booking with Mara House again! Thank you for making my trip to Egypt so special.

Reviewed on Google Maps 6 March 2020 - booked Egypt Holidays 9 Nights Package

We spent a fantastic 4 days with our 4 children ( 4, 8, 10 and 12 years) exploring Luxor and its surroundings. Mara has a great set up and we had a very spacious 3 bed apartment for the duration. Each day was action packed with great day trips to Luxor's East Bank Temples, its West Bank tombs, including the Valley of the Kings, and a day trip the temples at Dendera and Abydos. All rounded off with a Felucca trip on the Nile.

If you are looking to avoid a standard hotel experience, Mara House is the place for you. Hats off to Amr for the great care and attention he gave us.

Bottom line is the kids' loved staying at Mara House,and they are very hard to please. Highly recommended and a great change of pace.

Ireland will have a direct flight from Dublin to Cairo from June 2020, so why not use it to come to Luxor and stay at this charming holiday option!

Reviewed on TripAdvisor 23 Feb 2020. Luxor Holidays 3 Nights Package

I contacted Mara early on in my planning to return to Egypt to explore the Upper Nile having already done Cairo. Mara was great to work with and I enjoyed finalizing arrangements with her for my travels there and stay at Mara House.

I bought a full package of room and meals plus touring for 4 days. Mara House is great. My apartment was beautiful and the food served for all meals was excellent. The tours were well arranged with driver and guide. While some of the travel was long over land, it provided an opportunity to see real life in Egypt along the way, as did staying at Mara House in the city of Luxor.

Her staff, led by Amr, were always welcoming, helpful and very friendly. I would not hesitate to stay again and I would strongly encourage anyone to make a stay here as part of their Upper Nile experience.

The photos shown on the website for Mara House are accurate. There is no elevator, so you may want to consider that in terms of which floor you may be placed. But the staff will handle all your luggage. The roof top terrace is a lovey place to share a drink and conversation in the evening.

Traveled solo - reviewed on TripAdvisor 14 Feb 2020 - Booked Luxor Holidays 3 nights package plus extra tours/nights

Comfortable and spotlessly clean guesthouse. Delicious Egyptian breakfast provided and an evening dinner of Egyptian food offered on one night - beautifully cooked by Amr. All arrangements were seamless for our airport collection by Ahmed and expert guiding by Mohammed visiting some of the area's outstanding sites - places that we just wouldn't have got to if we had been on our own. It was a relief not having to think about all the admin and hassle that could have been involved, allowing us to see so many wonderful treasures in a short period of time. Thank you!

EXCEPTIONAL TOUR FROM LUXOR
After planning for so long my Egypt trip I contacted Mara House and planned the itinerary for our group of three. I knew all the key points I wanted to visit in the West Bank, and the surrounding area such as Abydos, Abu Simbel, etc. and left the details to Mara. I did say that I wanted to be "all Eypted-out" and I was not disappointed. Our guide, Mohamed, through our 4 days is a wonderfully trusted, serious, and amiable person who knows just about everything and everyone. At one point I thought...I could skip some of the smaller sites in the West Bank to make more time in the bigger sites....but I am so happy I continued with Mo's suggestions for the Workers & Nobles tombs...smaller but i found them quite beautiful and tender.

When you don't know the language or the places or much else you always feel a little lost but with Mohamed & the drivers from Mara House, we just always felt in good hands as we zipped back and forth fulfilling a life's dream.

I just need to go back soon to continue!

Tony, USA traveled as family. Reviewed on TripAdvisor 20 Jan 2020 Booked Tours in Luxor

The 5 star service, accommodations and experiences without solid gold prices!



TOUR MANAGER Ahmed:
* Collected us from the airport and looked after us all and treated us like family daily for almost 2 weeks!
* Ahmed, who completed the ultimate sacrifice and tried KFC and McDonalds before we arrived so he could advise us accordingly!
* Ahmed, whom pulled off a surprise wedding - with band - wedding of the century - in less than 24 hours.
* Ahmed, no request is too big, too small or too weird
* Ahmed, who is loved by all and is totally worthy of our adoration.
* Ahmed, we left more than just f.r.i.e.n.d.s.





TOUR GUIDE Mohamed:
* The ever knowledgeable, always endearing Egyptian gentleman.
* Mohamed who has so much wisdom and is never boring.
* Mohamed who stole the bride's heart from the moment she met him, and stole the men's hearts too.
* Mohamed who learnt that 'stop jinning' will get the ladies moving.
* Mohamed, the Redbull scout.



MARA - IRISH QUEEN OF EGYPT
* Mara has spent 19 years making Mara House Luxor what it is today.
* Literally built from the ground up and every piece has been lovingly chosen, made or found.
* Everything about our experiences had Mara's personal touches.
* The information and guidance she provides even before we have left home.
* The Hotel and tours in Cairo.
* The shows and entertainment.
* 7 night Nile Cruise on a 5 star ship.
* The people she has chosen to work for her.
* The off the beaten track experiences.
* Food glorious food. Amr @ Mara House is an amazing chef.
* Lots of tours but also so relaxing - Busy but lots of down time



This tour planned and arranged by Mara starts with the Giza Pyramids and camel ride but somehow each day after was better than the day before!

MARA HOUSE LUXOR, I can't wait to go back and next time spend a week just at Mara House.

MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!!!

Traveled with friends. Booked Mara House Nov 2019 Group Tour. Reviewed on Tripadvisor Jan 2020

This woman has put together the Egypt trip of a lifetime! I am forever grateful my cousin found this tour, I cant put into words how happy my family and I are (aged 22-41). Our lives have been enriched and refreshed. We just finished the 14 day tour this November.





Everything was perfect - the accommodation (hotel, ship, Mara House) all fine quality, the destinations (hidden treasures without tourists), the service/care given to each individual, the educational guides through each location. Wow, wow, wow. I cant fault it.This was exactly the holiday I needed from my busy/stressful life.





Traveled with family. Australian. Booked Mara House Nov 2019 Group Tour Reviewed on TripAdvisor

I joined a small group tour during Nov 2019 with Mara House tours. Everything was taken care of in such a great way. The tour included a wide variety of experiences. The tour manager Ahmed and tour guide Mo really spoiled us with many surprises and were always available to support us in any way needed and more! Ensure that your tour include a stay over at Mara House in Luxor for at least two nights for a special Egypt experience.

I felt safe at all times. The security in Egypt is of very high standard. Apparently recently voted second best in middle east and eight in the world. They also have a special Tourist Police unit which is very visible and caring towards tourists.

Do yourself a favour and visit Egypt with Mara from Mara House to plan and organise your tour.

Travelled with Friends - Booked Mara House Nov 2019 Group Tour Reviewed on TripAdvisor

Mara's guesthouse was just what I was looking for as a solo traveller not wanting an anonymous hotel. Mara and her staff bend over backwards to help you with whatever you need, the house and rooms are lovely, clean, comfortable, Mo the guide was superb (and the sites absolutely spectacular), the food just excellent. Lots of stories and good tips too. Recommend.

Traveled solo Aug 2019. Reviewed on TripAdvisor. Luxor Holidays 3 night package

Mara House is, without a doubt, the best place to stay in Luxor if not all of Egypt! Everyone was so kind and helpful throughout my stay and they helped me to plan the absolute best trip during my time in Egypt. I cannot thank Mara enough for all of her help as well as Ahmed and Fatma for being the best guides! My room was wonderful and everything about Mara House made my stay in Egypt perfect. It is the best!!

Reviewed on TripAdvisor May 2019 Taveled June 2018. Booked Luxor Holidays 3 Nights package and Cairo Holidays 3 Nights Package

Mara, Amr, Mohammed, et al. took terrific care of me from start to finish. The food was delicious, the care genuine, and the tours fascinating. I was looking for connection to both ancient and modern Egypt and found it in conversations at and the tours around Mara House. Mara and Mohammed have a tremendous passion for Egyptology and answered any and all questions I had. The place is kept immaculately and though fairly new, has a designed character. I cannot thank Mara enough for all of her help nor recommend her place more highly.

Traveled solo June 2019. Reviewed on TripAdvisor and Google Maps. Luxor Holidays 3 nights modified

Thank you Mara house for such a wonderful stay!
We truly appreciate how Mara individualized our tour so thoughtfully - we had limited days in Luxor & Cairo and she organized our itinerary to maximize our time to see & enjoy Egypt. I also really appreciate Ahmed - he was so organized & communicative. He confirmed all our trip plans via text or phone call while in Egypt (it felt nice knowing every detail was being looked after). He also told memorable stories that made the history of medieval Egypt really come alive. Amr took such great care of us while at Mara House. We miss his hospitality, delicious cooking, and evenings spent on the beautifully renovated rooftop patio! Thank you for making our trip so special! Carol & Sara


Reviewed on TripAdvisor May 2019 - Booked Luxor Holidays 3 Nights Package and a tour in Cairo

So glad we went with the Mara house team for our first trip to Egypt. Ahmed is the superstar of logistics and took care of everything we needed. The guides (both Mohammad’s) were so knowledgeable about all things Egypt and taught us so much. The sites were amazing and the people were friendly, what more could you ask for on vacation. If you have been curious about visiting Egypt - definitely go and don’t hesitate to plan through the Mara House team.

Traveled as couple. Booked Luxor Holidays 3 Nights Package and Cairo Holidays 3 Nights Package

We have just finished touring Egypt with Mara from Mara House Luxor finishing with dinner at Mara House. Mara and her tour manager Ahmed as well as her local guides have been exceptional in their knowledge of Egypt and their inhabitants over the last few thousand years. Information has been spot on as well as their stories along the way. We have seen some things that others would never have seen. I am so grateful that we found Mara on the internet. Her tours are small and we have made some lasting friends with her and the lovely people in the group. Hotels have been great and the trip down the Nike so beautiful. Thank you Mara and Ahmed for being so fastidious in your arrangements leaving nothing for us to worry about - everything has gone to plan. We would not hesitate to highly recommend this tour with anyone interested in travelling to Egypt.

Traveled as couple with friends. Booked Mara House April 2019 Group Tour, Reviewed on Tripadvisor

So glad we went with the Mara house team for our first trip to Egypt. Ahmed is the superstar of logistics and took care of everything we needed. The guides (both Mohammad’s) were so knowledgeable about all things Egypt and taught us so much. The sites were amazing and the people were friendly, what more could you ask for on vacation. If you have been curious about visiting Egypt - definitely go and don’t hesitate to plan through the Mara House team.

Traveled as couple. Booked Mara House April 2019 Group Tour. Reviewed on Tripadvisor.

First class service from Cairo to Luxor to Aswan to Alexandria. Mara's tour agency provides a safe, comfortable and fun Egypt experience. Knowledgeable and caring guides are with you every step of the way from arrival at the Cairo airport to tours of the sights to departure from Egypt. I have recommended her agency unreservedly to both my adult daughters and to close friends. That says it all. And when booking your tour, remember Alexandria. We found it to be a Mediterranean delight.

J.G. Connecticut, USA. Traveled as family. April 2019 Egypt 9 nights package. Reviewed on TripAdvisor.

My husband and I toured Egypt Mar 10-20 2019 under the guidance of MARA House, and we had an absolutely splendid time! Her guides were very professional, knowledgeable, friendly and top notch! Our Cairo guide suggested an early visit to the pyramids to avoid the crowds - that was a terrific plan! Cairo museum was Egypt’s history in “one spot”! Old Cairo downtown was an eye opener - be sure to try the Hibiscus drink to lower your blood pressure! Delicious ?

Mara’s Luxor house gave us a glimpse into Egyptian homes- you get a chance to see a beautiful authentically decorated home (as opposed to the international hotels) - delicious breakfasts& an Egyptian dinner feast -totally Egyptian! I consider this a major plus to all the ancient history you see.
The Nile River cruise on the Blue Splendor was top notch the best boat (we got to walk through other boats when we were docked & Our boat was most grand) Mara’s tour was very reasonably priced and the experiences included in her tour were excellent.

We give her high recommendations and believe you’d be as happy as we were!?

Wilf & Shirl 2019 Canada - Travelled as couple. Reviewed on TripAdvisor. Egypt Holidays 9 nights package

The best thing about Mara House is Mara herself. Mara is warm and personable, and an invaluable resource with a wealth of information about traveling in Egypt. Before booking with her, she took the time to answer all of my questions about what to see, and the friendly email exchange helped to alleviate my concerns about booking. The rooms are well appointed spacious apartments, with strong internet connection. Meals here are delicious. I wouldn't hesitate to go back.

Mikan, USA - travelled solo March 2019. Reviewed on TripAdvisor. Luxor Holidays 3 night package + stayed extra 4 nights.

During the month of February 2019 & for 8 days, my son & I shared a wonderful adventure to Egypt courtesy of Mara Tours. Mara provided us with excellent flights, excellent accomodations, excellent food & ample opportunity to explore the cities of Cairo & Luxor.

At times we felt like we were in a movie! Mara made sure we were surrounded with caring & informed guides as well as making sure we had a fine sense of the kind & great people of Egypt. Mara truly exceeded our expectations ensuring our comfort & accommodating our curiosity of a land that is rich in sights, sounds & history.

Mara's house is richly decorated which in turn invited us to enjoy Egyptian living & culture. We couldn't be more pleased that we chose Mara tours for our adventure. Until we meet again, thank you Mara. Respectfully,
Matthew J. Voytek, III.

Travelled as Family Feb 2019 Booked Cairo Holidays 3 Night Package and Luxor Holidays 3 Nights package Reviewed on TripAdvisor and Google Maps

Our whole experience with Mara House was excellent. We did the 9 day Egypt tour and were in good hands the entire trip. Mara completely put me at ease about traveling in the winter (in the event we had flight delays on our end) and was happy to answer any questions I had. Her blog posts are VERY helpful for planning the trip and to also understand the locals and customs.

I am so glad that Mara included visits to Abydos and Dendera temples, and to the nobles tombs and workers village in the itinerary. They were so beautiful and not to be missed! Ahmed took care of us in Cairo and gave us great advice on how to navigate the city upon arrival (including getting across traffic). He made sure we had everything we needed, knew our schedule for each day, and handed us off to our very capable guides while in Cairo. (We had so much fun with Suzy!) Arriving in Luxor was a breath of fresh air compared to the bustle of Cairo.

Mara House itself is clean, quiet and beautifully decorated. Amr took great care of us during our stay and all of the food was delicious. Do not miss out on the salahadeen feast! I don’t know where we will find Egyptian food in the states, but it will be a quest well worth it. Mo was our guide for the last half of the trip and was very knowledgeable about all the sites and happy to answer any questions we had. He was great at helping us navigate the busy sites and gave us plenty of time to explore on our own too. We appreciated that he would take the time to point out things that were unique to each site.

I still think that there are parts of the trip that are still sinking in. It was a once in a lifetime trip, and Mara House made sure that the whole experience was unforgettable!

Teresa Glick USA. Travelled as couple. Feb 2019. 9 nights Egypt package. Reviewed on Google Maps and TripAdvisor

My family booked the 3 nights package at Mara House during the 2018 holiday season. My twin daughters and my wife really enjoyed visiting the ancient tombs, temples, and the sunset sailing on the Nile. We are very impressed by Mohamad’s knowledge of these ancient temple, and he made the visit a very enjoyable and educational experience.
Amr is very caring and considerate and made our stay very enjoyable, arranging transportation to local restaurants and the Luxor museum. In additional, the meals he prepared were delicious. We also had our breakfast at the roof-top garden, which was beautifully arranged with succulents and flowering plants. .

Amr, thank you for such a lovely stay! You have been so helpful and kind and have made our stay very stress free. The breakfasts and feast was delicious.

Thanks to Mara, Ahmed and Amr for organising our 9 day Egypt tour - absolutely fantastic!

Matt & Amelia, Sydney, Australia. Traveled as couple. Jan 2019 9 night Egypt package (From Mara House Guest Book)

Mara, Amr, and Mohammed were all great! The accommodations were fantastic, while our guide, Mohammed, was better than I could have hoped. Best way to see the sites and I would definitely recommend it!

Travelled with family - Mara House and tours - Reviewed on Google Maps

The Trip of a Lifetime! My wife and I just returned from a wonderful 11-day trip to Egypt. What made this trip so amazing was Mara and her outstanding team (Ahmed, Mohammad & Mo!), who made Egypt, its fascinating history (from ancient to modern) and its wonderful & friendly people, come to life!

All the arrangements were perfect; from Mara's delightful, informative and stress-free itinerary, the 4-star accommodations, easy in-Country flights, our soothing 4 night Nile cruise, great food, great small-group fellowship (there were only 10 of us!), and of course Egypt's HISTORY! And the whole time, everywhere we went, Ahmed and his team cared for us just like family.

When we tell our friends where we went, and about everything we saw and did, and how reasonable the cost, they're astounded! This has to be the BEST VALUE/MOST AFFORDABLE all-inclusive Egypt tour available from anyone!

If you want to experience Egypt, we give our highest recommendation to Mara House! You won't be sorry!

Travelled Nov 2018 - USA. Mara's Group Trips Reviewed on google maps

If you would like to be well taken care of while touring the sites of Luxor, Mara House will take care of both your stay and your touring. House manager Amr was amazing, seeing to every day's itinerary and arranging horse carriages, Nile river trips and even cooking delicious meals.

The crew of guides and drivers employed by Mara will take great care of you whether exploring urban Luxor or taking a long day trip to Abydos.

The room was spacious, clean, quiet and the AC was good (important in September when it gets really hot).

Travelled solo Sept 2018 USA. - Luxor Holiday 3 night package - reviewed on google maps

Egypt/Luxor/Aswan trip Oct 3rd-Oct14th 2018

We spent 11 days last month with Mara Tour and her excellent staff (Ahmed, Mohamad from Cairo and Mohamad from Luxor). Thanks for the team for all excellent information and keep us all safe all the time, especially Ahmed who was on call at all times.

We learnt a lot about the ancient history of Egypt up all the way to Islamic, Christian era and modern times. We will definitely come back when they have more tombs/pyramid opens for tour! Great job guys!

Jacky H Traveled as couple. USA. Mara's Group Trip Oct. 2018. Reviewed on Google Maps 5 Nov 2018

Dear Mara,

M and I have just returned from our trip to Egypt and Jordan. I wanted to write to express our sincere thanks to you and let you know that your tour was one of the highlights of our visit.. Fatima was a delight; knowledgeable, informative, accommodating and helpful. We know we were privileged to have such a special and unique experience. Thank you, and Fatima for making this possible.

Wishing you, Fatima, and everyone in your organization our very best! Tours in Cairo

C & M, USA

Excerpt from email received from M & C on 28 Oct 2018

THE ONLY WAY TO SEE EGYPT!

I have always wanted to go to Egypt. By accident I ran across Mara House while looking for another trip elsewhere. This was the best accident I have ever had! Unbelievable!

My first concern was safety. Mara put my mind at ease right away and told me it was very safe. Right she was - I NEVER once felt unsafe or the least bit uneasy. The Egyptian people are so wonderful. They are friendly and always willing to help no matter what you need. A nice place to eat, directions, or just crossing the street.

My husband and I went on an 11 day tour - This is a small group tour which started in Cairo, went to Luxor, then Aswan with a Nile cruise.

Ahmed was our tour guide/manager. He was amazing!!! Ahmed met us at the airport with a smile on his face which never left for the entire 11 days. He took us to the Steigenberger Hotel in Cairo and made sure we were checked in and our luggage was in our room.

The next day we started our amazing/unforgettable adventure. We did it all 🙂 Valley of the Kings- King Tut's Tomb, Seti Tomb; Giza - went into the great pyramid up to the King's chamber and had a camel ride, saw an ancient boat, and the sphinx.. Valley of the Queens - Nefertari Tomb ... Cairo - Sufi dance, Garbage City, Cave Church, Abdeen Palace, City of the Dead... Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan - Philae, Nubian Village, held crocodiles, went into a classroom for kindergarten; what adorable children. We saw countless temples and tombs - We went to Antiquities Museum which was amazing.

I could go on for hours talking about how wonderful this trip was and everywhere we went; but it was Mara's guide, Ahmad who made it special. We were never out of Ahmed's sight. He went out of his way to make sure our trip was something special and unforgettable - he succeeded!

There are also two Egyptologists - Mohammad and Mohammad (Mo). They had so much information on each place we visited. Both were amazing and so sweet. The three of them really made you feel like you were family. It was like you knew them for years after meeting them.

Bob and I were so comfortable at all times. I could really go on for hours telling you about how wonderful this trip is - but you have to experience it to really appreciate how great this trip can be. Don't wait - Egypt is ready for tourists and going with this tour group is the only way to go.

Reviewed on TripAdvisor - travelled as couple - Mara's Group Trip October 2018. Deleted by TripAdvisor 25.10.2018

Great value, fantastic staff.

We recently completed a large group trip. Our group Manager Ahmed is very organized and super easy to communicate with. Both Egyptologists Mohammad A. and Mohammad H. were very knowledgeable and always willing to answer our questions and appeared to really enjoy their work. We had excellent drivers and saw so many more sites then expected and more then were promised. This trip is great for history buffs and the value you get for money spent is amazing. Egyptian culture, particularly the tipping and shopping were hard to get used to but Ahmed was very patient with us and gave us guidance whenever needed.

Reviewed on TripAdvisor - Traveled as a couple October 2018 - 11 Nights - Mara's Group Trip. Deleted by TripAdvisor 25.10.2018

Where to begin? Thank you so much for helping me realize a childhood dream. This trip was amazing from start to finish. Ahmed, Mohamed and Susie were great in Cairo. Amr and Mohamed in Luxor went above and beyond to make sure I was not only delighted with the tours but to make sure I did not miss out of Luxor experience.

Mara House was clean and well looked after, perfect for relaxing after 43 degrees C days at the Temples and Tombs. Amr's feast was phenomenal and service you will not find in many places.

My favourite sites in Luxor -Tombs of Ramses III, IV and IX, Sety I and the Hypostyle Hall of Dendera. In Cairo, it was Saqqara and climbing inside the Great Pyramid.

Thanks to Mara for excellent communication to make all this happen. Hope you are in Luxor next time I come so I can thank you in person.

David R (Mara House Guest Book 2 Oct 2018) Booked Egypt Holidays 9 Nights package

Great value for Egypt

We did our tour with this company. We were met at the airport at 4.30am by the smiling caring tour manager despite the fact that he'd been transferring people since midnight.

Our hotel was amazing and Ahmed, our tour manager, arranged for us to get into our room by 7am! Not many places will do that for you. Mara, the owner of the tour company, met us all before the tour started to explain how things would be.

We spent 4 days in Cairo and then a relaxing cruise on the Nile from Luxor to Aswen. Here we got to have dinner at Mara House which was amazing! The Egypologists, Mohammed and Mohammed, we're both amazing. They had so much information to share and were so pleased to do so.

Ahmed, what an amazing man! He was soooo helpful. I got a bit sick with an upset stomach and he regularly checked on me, making sure I was well hydrated and up to the next bit of the tour. He even escorted us back to the airport at a ridiculous hour of the morning! Nothing was a problem for him. Every request, he forefilled. He was waiting at our hotel about one hour before pick up every day! Apart for the history of Egypt, Ahmed is the jewel in the crown of this tour. Thank you Ahmed. Your professionalism was greatly appreciated!

We thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The fact that the group is small is fantastic and would happily give it a 5* plus rating.
Thanks Mara House Luxor

Reviewed on TripAdvisor. Travelled as a couple – Booked Mara House Oct 2018 Group Tour

It has been a dream of mine to come to Egypt since I was a little girl. When we were deciding on a honeymoon location, it was a "no-brainer" So glad we stumbled across Mara House and the programs you offer.

Throughout our trip we have felt so well taken care of and looked after. Mara and Amr, you have been one step ahead the whole time making sure we have the best experience possible and we can honestly say we have.

We will be back to Egypt and to Mara House
H & J - New York, USA. 15 Sept 2018 (Mara House Guest Book) Egypt Holidays package

Honeymoon, and Literally a Dream Come True

My wife and I were planning our honeymoon in January. Initially we were thinking about touring the British Isles. But then I asked her: “Is this the one place you’d like to go in the entire world, if you could choose any destination? Because this may be our only opportunity.” She replied, “I’ve always wanted to go to Egypt, ever since I was a little girl. But I guess it’s too dangerous.” Being a graduate student of middle eastern history, I have kept abreast of current events in the region and therefore immediately dismissed her fears. (If that is a concern, let me tell you that I felt safer there than I do walking around Denver.) I then proceeded to research Egyptian tourism. Mara House came up once I got away from the major booking websites. Encouraged by the reviews I found on numerous travel websites and the descriptions on marahouseluxor.com of the tour packages she offered (and seeing that she has the same last name as me, which is utter coincidence but I saw it as a sign), I requested information on the 9-day tour package she offers. The moment I saw the price my jaw literally dropped and I immediately booked the trip. We arrived the last week of May.

Everything went incredibly well, and our expectations were either perfectly met or —more often than not— wholly exceeded. Her staff was courteous and attentive, going above and beyond to make our stay in Luxor absolutely joyous. Mara has spent years vetting the people with whom she entrusts her clients and that was evident in every way. The hotel in Cairo and the cruise ship Mara booked for us were more luxurious than I'm used to. The tour guides were extraordinarily knowledgeable — and believe me, I tested them with some rather esoteric questions, particularly during the Medieval Cairo portion of the tour since that’s in my wheelhouse. For that reason I’m confident that the entire tour presentation was based in fact, as opposed to some tours whose guides, I think, would prefer to make something up rather than admit they don’t know the answer. If they were expressing an opinion or didn’t know the answer to a question (which was rare) they said so. Moreover, they were excellent at running interference and warning you about unpleasant encounters with locals who, and this is no secret, can be very aggressive. It simply can’t be avoided so be prepared, but also know that the guides won’t leave you to be harassed if you follow their recommendations. Or you can just be a total mark like myself and end up buying way too many souvenirs… I mean, gifts for all my friends back home because I totally intended to do that.

The group we were in was small; the difference that made on the experience was apparent when we encountered other groups at the sites comprising dozens of people following around one beleaguered guide. And I will say this: when booking, you have to decide if you want cooler weather or fewer crowds. The peak season is from October to April. Personally, I can attest to the fact that the heat was difficult at first, but you do get used to it quickly and there are strategies for coping with the heat that really help. Regardless, the tour buses and drivers Mara arranged for us all had powerful air conditioning, as did her hotel in Luxor, the cruise ship, and the Cairo hotel.

Now I’ll address some concerns from other reviews I’ve read.

First, if anyone complains about Luxor House itself, they must not have looked at the website very closely because Mara does not conceal anything. The hotel is very nice, clean, and has a really authentic feel. Breakfast is served before the tours and it’s terrific in my opinion. On one evening you will be served a traditional Egyptian feast and it was the best meal of the entire two weeks my wife and I were in the country. And, if you just got married a couple of days before arriving, the staff may surprise you with a small little something special, but that’s just me saying that so you better not insist that “well this guy on TripAdvisor said….” My point is just that the staff is simply terrific and will go well out of their way to make your stay very enjoyable, even magical. Our room did not have a television, and we weren’t expecting one because nowhere on marahouseluxor.com does she say that the rooms have TVs. Just as well anyway; why would you want to watch TV on a trip like that? Mara House is not in a central, touristy area. Its pretty much right in the middle of a densely populated residential area. Honestly, my wife and I liked that better than the super-mega-luxury hotel in Cairo (though I’m certainly not complaining about that either.) It is not in a “construction zone,” as some people complained about years ago. The bathroom was just fine, very spacious, and exactly as described. Everything in the room worked and it was, of course, as clean as can be.

Next, things than be a bit complicated concerning arriving at the airport, traveling throughout the country, local customs, tipping; etc. Mara gives you everything you need to know up front. If anyone was caught off guard by any part of the process, it was their fault for not reading her informative emails carefully enough or for failing to do their own research and consequently having completely unrealistic expectations. For instance, if you think that tipping is not a part of the expenses of traveling in a place like Egypt, you have only yourself to blame if it surprises you. Seriously; who travels to a foreign country like Egypt without doing their due diligence and finding out what to expect before they go? Fortunately, that is one of the things about which Mara provides detailed instructions, and for that I was extremely grateful. I don’t want to have to guess at things like that.

Mara herself was not in the country when we were there, which was a bit disappointing simply because my wife and I were looking forward to meeting her as she had been so helpful in planning our trip. However, she and I had some terrific conversations on facebook messenger during our time there, sharing my posts on her page and what have you. She is perfectly accessible even if she isn’t there in person (she was in Ireland, which I plan on visiting someday myself) and as someone pointed out, if the staff is extraordinarily capable then what does it matter if the owner of the hotel isn’t present? All of her staff speak perfectly adequate English. Amr, Fatma, Ahmed, they speak better English than many people born and raised in America. Some minor changes were made to the itinerary (that honestly worked out better for my wife and I, but I can see how that might be an annoyance) but they weren’t done out of convenience or sloppiness; there were legitimate reasons why they needed to be made and basically out of the hands of Mara House.

Upon our return to Colorado, everyone wanted to hear about the trip. The most accurate thing I could say was that it was indescribable, and then proceed to describe it as best I can. I’ll just say the same thing here: Egypt is indescribable. The next thing I say to people is that seeing as how there is no other place like it in the world, if you have even the slightest inclination to go I strongly suggest that you do, and don't hesitate. You never know how future events may prevent you from taking the opportunity, whether they be political events in Egypt or here at home, or just in your own personal life. And then I tell everyone that they should contact Mara Vaughan in Luxor. I cannot possibly conceive of a better way to experience Egypt. If you would like to hear from me directly, find me on Facebook.

- Justin Vaughan in Colorado. Reviewed on TripAdvisor. Deleted by TripAdvisor 25.10.2018 Egypt Holidays package

Mara House Egyptian Experience- Thank You! Well earned TripAdvisor awards - excellent food and hospitality. Amr, not only a great cook (do you deliver to USA?) but also my first try at Koshari. I'm hooked!

Thank you for a most memorable stay. My momma heartily endorses all that you provided for this guest! Touring, transportation, a comfy place and good food and a most memorable experience in this country!!

KR Milwaukee, USA 13 July 2018 (Mara House Guest Book) Luxor Holidays package

My husband and I recently enjoyed 10 days in Egypt on Mara's 9 night tour. We couldn't have been happier with our decision to forgo the 'tour companies' in favour of the private tour we had with Mara's team. The itinerary was so well planned and the logistical organisation faultless. Cars, boats, calash and camel rides appeared just as we needed them and we never had to queue for tickets or deal with the obvious language barrier. We felt safe and welcomed the entire time; due to the confident and calming presence of our tour guides, the careful manoeuvring of our drivers, and the talented chef and manager at Mara House. Communication with Mara prior to the trip was personal, efficient and helpful. Communication whilst on tour was also exemplary. Given we both have management/organisational jobs in Sydney, it was so wonderful to be able to truly relax whilst in Egypt and totally entrust our days to this impressive team. Our motto to each other was "Let go and let Mara!"
It's a formula that works.
We highly recommend booking your Egyptian tour through Mara House. We are certainly glad we did.

Moira and Jamie Loader
Sydney, Australia.
Travelled May 2018. Egypt Holidays package

The tour with Mara was a great way to experience Egypt!
There’s no doubt we saw the most amazing number of extraordinary things - Mara’s view is we will only be here once so she puts in as much as possible. It was full on, with generally long days with lots in them but I really feel as though I’ve been immersed in experiencing Egyptian history and culture, put together by someone who does tours because she loves Egypt and wants others to love it too.
The hotels have been outstanding, the cruise ship was fine (although about C grade by European cruise ship standards), the guides were great and I learnt a lot, and the organisation was generally good, except for a few times when things were derailed by the Egyptian way of doing things, and Mara stepped in and got them sorted out.
The only thing we missed was Abu Simbel, but there were no flights at all from Aswan that day, and after all the temples we’d seen, no-one really wanted to do a seven hour round trip by minibus, getting up at 3 am, for an hour there.
I would have preferred one less day in Cairo and an extra day in Aswan, so we could have done both the Philae/Nubian Village visits on one day and Abu Simbel either by plane or minibus on another.
I’m really pleased I’ve seen Egypt and that I did it with Mara. It would be difficult, frustrating, uncertain, and scary to see Egypt without doing it with a good tour company. You would be driven insane, miss a lot and take ages to do it.
I’m a solo female traveller and Mara and her team took out all the worry and the hassle and I had a great time.
Thanks Mara!
Reviewed on TripAdvisor. Travelled with Mara's May Group 2018. Deleted by TripAdvisor 25.10.2018

Many thanks to Mara and her very friendly and professional team for an absolutely incredible egypt experience. The knowledge of her guides was first class and the way Mara and they explained the amazing history and stories of Egypt from the ancient pharaonic period through to the present day was very entertaining and easy to understand. The logistics of the trip from Cairo to Luxor to Aswan could not have gone more smoothly. We felt safe, secure and relaxed during the whole tour. The hotels we stayed in and the Nile cruise boat were of a very high standard.

Mara bent over backwards to make sure that all our specific needs were catered for and the itinerary was flexible enough to ensure that we always came first. We really enjoyed the more personable approach from Mara and her team that was possible with a smaller tour group.

Our trip to Egypt was unforgettable and exceeded all our expectations and then some. We highly recommend a Mara Egyptian tour.

Linda and Andrew Fraser, Melbourne Australia. Travelled with Mara's May Group Tour 2018. Reviewed on TripAdvisor. Deleted by TripAdvisor 25.10.2018

Couldn’t recommend Mara’s tours highly enough. From ancient temples to the streets of modern day Cairo, Mara’s team of expeirnced guides gave us an incredible expirence that fee could match. As a solo female traveler, I felt safe, included, and engaged throughout the entire trip-a quality which speaks both about Egypt as a country and the wonderful people I was allowed to meet along the way. Truly, I don’t believe there’s another, or better, way to experience Egypt!

10/10 stars. Travelled with Mara’s May Group Tour 2018. Reviewed on TripAdvisor. Deleted by TripAdvisor 25.10.2018

Could not recommend Mara’s tour highly enough.
Loved all aspects, especially the friendly and knowledgeable guides: Ahmed, Haider and Mo.
We considered making our own itinerary, but when we saw Mara’s, it was a no-brainer to choose hers. There is no way we could have covered the ground we did on our own.
Mara has an affinity with Egypt that is contagious, if you are thinking of going to Egypt, look no further! Thanks for a brilliant experience Mara

Travelled with Mara’s May Group Tour 2018. Reviewed on TripAdvisor. Deleted by TripAdvisor 25.10.2018

We will never forget this tour of Egypt, and thank you, so much, Mara and Ahmed, for putting this all together and making it so easy for us to see and do it all. Despite being seasoned travellers, we felt beforehand that seeing Egypt via a small group tour with informed Egyptologists was really the best way to do it…. and now at the end, we are really glad we did it this way!

The ancient sites were sublime and important to us both, aesthetically and spiritually and visually. That is really why we came. We loved the Pyramids, and for Wendy we had a special time re-enacting a much valued family photo of her grandfather in World War 2, riding camels in front of the Pyramids. At Luxor, both Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple were amazing to experience. A special dinner at Mara House was a real treat.

We had a very long bus drive day from Luxor to enjoy visits to Dendera, and especially Abydos Temples, another favourite …. but the ride was a fantastic way to observe the daily life of rural Egypt….. ever revealing new surprises. We liked our visit to the Luxor West Bank Valley of the Kings tombs, though it happened on a very hot day that got up to 46 degrees C… even hot for us Australians! However for most of the tour we managed the dry heat with just a special soaked neck wrap… though Chip also sometimes used a soaked Hyper Cool vest.

Life on the criuse boat was easy.. though we are not 'cruise boat' people, and we soon tired of the buffet food and poor coffee …. Loved the caleche ride to Edfu Temple, and were fascinated by the Kom Ombo Temple duality and the mummified crocodiles … though horrified at the huge congestion of diesel-belching cruise boats that all seemed to arrive there at the same time.

At Aswan, Wendy found the Nubian Village a valuable and interesting remnant of a now destroyed culture, almost entirely flooded by the High Dam, but was sad to see it now just a tourist shopping trap. Though the retailers there, better than elsewhere, had got the message that not hassling visitors could get them better results. In fact, overall in Egypt, we did not find the sellers hassling of us too bad most of the time. At Aswan, Philae was our final temple, on its pretty little island. Then back to Cairo.

Throughout, it was remarkable to experiece the excellent condition of these remaining Pharaonic temples and tombs. We had tried to get flights to Abu Simbal, but could not, and were not willing to do a six hour drive for a short visit. But on reflection, we were not disappointed with our substitute activities in Aswan.

We were disgusted by Cairo's filth and congestion on the roads, and the lack of pedestrian safety for those needing to cross the major streets. We understand there are 'plans' to re-create the 'Parisian' central Cairo of old. We hope that this work happens…. but first just fix the footpaths and add in more traffic lights for pedestrians!

We were initially daunted by the high level of security, which presumably was needed. We felt safe but protected throughout. And gradually we got up our confidence up to wander out alone…. and were amazed by the warm and friendly welcome of many Egyptians… including the children smiling and saying 'Welcome to Egypt!' to us. We saw relatively few other Westerners in Egypt … most tourists seemed to be from Asia and other Middle Eastern countries.

Chip did not enjoy anywhere near as much the tours of sites around Cairo itself, including the (too) many mosques and churches. And the long stints stuck in Cairo traffic. But the visit to Cairo's Garbage City/Mountain was fascinating… both very impressive and horrifying at the same time!

The interpretations of the ancient sites were very good (especially Mohammed's in Luxor and beyond). We learnt so much. The logistics management on occasions was not as good in our view, but perhaps that is attributable in part to Egypt itself! Certainly things could go off schedule. But we did see everything in our program.

Altogether, an amazing experience with a great group of compatible and friendly people…. it will take some time to digest!

Travelled with Mara’s May Group Tour 2018. Reviewed on TripAdvisor. Deleted by TripAdvisor 25.10.2018

I had a little extra time after a work trip and did the Cairo Package, which was great. There's no way you can see everything in three days, but doing so is better than not ever making the trip at all. And of course, you can do the Pyramids in a day, and honestly, there's a reason doing so is on everyone's bucket list.

What I really appreciated was how the guides provided direction and insight, but also pulled back to allow visitors to have their own experiences. After the tours were over, they were there to offer info about restaurants and activity hubs if you wanted it, but that was up to you. And as great as it is to have a guided tour of the Cairo Museum, taking some time to explore it yourself can be even more enlightening.

And if you're like me and thinking about doing a trip on your own...just don't. Mara lays out all the insight you need about why it's best to have a guide (https://marahouseluxor.com/do-i-need-a-guide-in-cairo/), and after being there, I couldn't agree more with all of it. It's a question of whether you want to spend the trip seeing the sights or trying to figure out the best way to get to and see the sights. The latter is definitely the way to go, for more than the seven reasons she lays out.

Read your entire blog. Amazed at your determination- way to go. Brought entire family to Luxor (6pax) on a last minute idea. I googled and found Mara House- took me one whole day, by night time you linked me up with Ahmed. 5 glorious days. God has blessed you with this gift. Praying you have more success. Praying too that one day we will come to visit Luxor once more.

Traveled as family Jan 2018 Booked Luxor Holidays 3 Nights Package plus extra nights.

Grand Tour with 8-Year-old

We’re just back from 9 full days in Egypt, totally planned by Mara of Luxor’s Mara House. Wonderful experience for both me (67) and my granddaughter. Mara’s guides were all excellent, knowledgeable and helpful. Other reviewers have praised Fatma and Mohamed in Cairo, as well as Mohammed in Luxor. I totally agree. I would also like to add freelance guide Hassan Mostafa, who accompanied us on our 3-day Nile cruise. Added to his skills as a guide was a playfulness and connection to kids that made it all more fun for my granddaughter. Hassan also showed us Karnak and Luxor Temples.

I had been nervous about visiting Egypt, and especially taking a child into what might be a potentially dangerous country. Mara had been very reassuring, and I’m so glad that I listened to her. I always felt we were in good hands, and quite as safe as possible in today’s world.

Our schedule was packed so little time to improvise. It would have been nice to have more time for shopping and just walking around. We were limited by having the parameters of Spring Break. We did squeeze a short visit to the beautiful Luxor Museum, which I highly recommend. Also, after our visit to the Valley of the Kings, I asked if we could see some local artisans at work. Mohammed took us to an alabaster workshop, which was quite interesting.

Mara House itself is like a little museum, with high quality art works an integral part of its charm. Manager Ahmed was an impeccable host. A very comfortable place to stay. We loved our spacious suite.

I don’t know if I’ll make it back to Egypt one day. I would like to. The people are open and friendly, and the magnificence of its attractions can’t be exaggerated.

Stayed: March 2018, travelled with family - reviewed on TripAdvisor 09.04.2018

We just wanted to let everyone know about our amazing trip with Mara and Ahmed. We still can’t believe how much we saw of Egypt, and how wonderful the other people on our tour were. We travel a lot and have been to many phenomenal places, but Egypt really stands out for us. Mara and Ahmed have really come up with an incredible itinerary, a nice pace and first class accommodations everywhere we went. If there is something special that you want to do, or see, they will make it happen. The sites are unbelievable, and it was unimaginable that the next site was better than the previous one. The history is overwhelming, the treasures are staggering, the people are delightful and Mara and Ahmed are the perfect hosts for this marvelous adventure! Thank you both for our magnificent trip to Egypt!!

We had a trip of our life to Egypt from 2/13/18 -2/25/18. Mara and Ahmed are our tour leaders. They are superb, sweet and kind and organized. My husband just had a quadruple bypass and everyone take such a good care of him . We had a awesome,memorable trip.Both of our Egyptologist guides are so knowledgeable. It make our trip more fun and educational. Thank you very ..... much for our international ground members. You guys are the “Best”. You are sweet , thoughtful , kind and helpful. We sincerely appreciate it.
Hopefully in the future, we will have a reunion.
Missed you!! Take care!

A Wonderful Stay

We planned a year end visit about two weeks before the leaving Malaysia. Despite this short notice, Mara and her team made our stay a most wonderful experience. One key ingredient is that Mara delivers exactly what she promises.

Our stay was made special by the attentive Ahmed, who is the manager at Mara House and also our guides Mohamed (Luxor-Aswan) and Fatma (in Cairo).

We started out in Luxor instead of Cairo and Mohamed made our tour most interesting as there is a clear understanding of his ancient heritage, so whilst we did the usual visits to the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor temples, we also visited less the worker's village and the Hellenistic temples at Abydos and Dandera.

Also, Fatma gave us a grand tour of Cairo showcasing what contemporary Egypt has to offer. Despite what appears to be a rather packed schedule,

Mara and her team made sure there were quiet moments floating down the Nile in a Falucca. It was indeed a magical and wonderful experience.

We are a retired professor and a retired elementary school teacher, who were on the November, 2017 tour. This trip was everything we had hoped it would be, and then some. We are experienced travelers, but we chose to go on a guided tour in Egypt rather than on our own, and we are glad that we did. Our tour had 12 tourists, so we fit into a van, which was our typical mode of local transport. A tremendous amount of planning and local arrangements went into the "infrastructure" of this tour; I believe that Mara planned the overall structure of the trip, so that we saw absolutely as much of Egypt as possible in 10 days; but her right-hand-man Ahmed probably handled the details, of which there were MANY. Everything was flawlessly handled. Vans appeared out of nowhere when they were needed. Tickets were purchased. We were, for example, let into a theater a little early so we could all be seated together for a fabulous Sufi Dance exhibition in Cairo. Lunch appeared when required. Airport transfers went flawlessly; our luggage moved magically from airport to hotel, hotel to boat, etc. You could never in a million years plan your own Egypt trip so well. Don't even think about trying.

Mara is a native of Ireland, who fell in love with Egypt. In conducting this tour business, she wants to share her Egypt with others. She is not in this primarily for the money, as her prices should make absolutely clear. I don't believe you would be able to see half of what she showed us, on your own, for the same price. Moreover, what we paid was just what she said we would pay. You can trust Mara.

As for what she showed us, there was a tremendous variety, more than we would have known to arrange for ourselves. Our primary interest was the antiquities of the Pharaonic period (pyramids, tombs, temples). We were unaware of the Islamic, Graeco-Roman, and Coptic periods of Eqyptian history, and the resulting melting-pot nature of contemporary Egyptian society, but Mara and Ahmed made sure we saw everything.
Nor was the focus always on history: we visited a kindergarten in the Nubian Village, and learned how garbage is collected in Cairo.

I must also praise the talents and learning of the two Egyptologist guides that Mara and Ahmed hired to explain everything to us. (One in Cairo and another in Luxor and Aswan.) These two have many years of experience as tour guides and the erudition and knowledge you would expect from a professor. They answered every question (and without needing Google),
and were absolutely helpful. We did see a lot of temples and as a result, at some point it came to life for me: I saw in my imagination what it was like thousands of years ago on one of their festival days, when the god of the temple would be taken out in his boat by the priests and carried across the Nile to visit the god of the temple over there, in the middle of a celebrating throng of the whole local population, with music, dancing, eating, and drinking. The oracle would speak from the back of the temple to answer the people's questions.

Finally I note that our group had one thing in common: each of us had been told by some friends and relatives, "You're crazy to go to Egypt",
and had concluded "Let's go anyway!" Well, we are glad that we did.
If you're worried about it, take up your concerns by email with Mara.

Our family's November 2017 Group tour with Mara just ended, and here I sit at the classy piano bar at the Ramses Hilton in Cairo reflecting on one of the most extraordinary adventures our family has taken... the full Egypt tour with Mara House.

I would highly recommend this trip to anyone that wants a meaningful and comprehensive experience of this diverse and amazing country!

From an historical perspective, we delved into ancient, Pharonic Egypt in unexpected ways... visits to the 'mainstream' sites like Giza were complemented with visits to lessor known and often even more extraordinary sites like Abydos, Dendara, and sites of nobles tombs and workers tombs that provided a spectrum of insight into ancient Egyptian civilization from the mundane and essential to the mysterious and divine. On many occasions our small group had sites entirely to ourselves... that's due entirely to Mara House planning using their knowledge of local environments from Cairo all the way to Aswan.

This tour also included historical views of the Greek/Roman period in Egypt as well as 'Coptic Egypt' and the impact of 1400 years of Islamic evolution, all the while giving us an experiential grounding in contemporary Egyptian life today. It is impossible to imagine a better way to experience... in a single trip... the enormity of Egyptian history and culture than the experience Mara House provided.

The guides and Egyptologists that accompanied us brought it all to life with astounding depth and clarity. Our tour guide general manager, Ahmed, managed the complex logistics of this nearly two-week trip with precision that left our group with little to do but be educated, be mystified, and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

A word about Egypt: not once on this entire trip did we ever feel 'not safe.' The Egyptian people are brilliant... cheerful, friendly and positive... and uniformly welcoming and warm and eager to share a hello... it is really a joy to meet and interact in Egypt. The street hawkers can be a little annoying at times, but that goes with the territory in most heavily touristed sites around the world. Egypt has been through a lot in the last decade and is really receptive and accessible to tourists and cross-cultural exchange... if you're thinking of coming to Egypt this is a great time... and if you want a fabulous tour, Mara House has it all.

Thank you Mara, Ahmed and team for sharing your love of Egypt with us... it was a trip of a lifetime and sincerely: may we meet again!

We arrived into Luxor at noon and were promptly greeted by an employee of Mara house. Following check in, we relaxed for an hour in what could only be described as an apartment, and then left for the first day of tours, visiting two amazing temples (Luxor and Karnak).

The next 2 days, beginning at 8 a.m., we visited a number of sites in the area with a very capable guide by the name of Mohammed. Intelligent, knowledgeable and very patient, Mohammed showed us the best that Luxor could offer. His English was impeccable and he took the time to make certain our questions were answered.

Each evening when we returned “home”, the host at Mara house, Ahmed, greeted us warmly and inquired on what we had seen. To our surprise upon returning each day, he has turned on our room air conditioners (it was 114 F our final day), so that our rooms were comfortable. Ahmed went out of his way, morning and night, to make us feel welcome and comfortable.

The refrigerator in our room was stocked with cold drinks, wine and chocolate, as well as other snacks to munch on. But the golden gem of Mara house were the meals. Amir prepared a delightful breakfast each morning. Delicious and plentifil, we left for our daily tours full and content each morning. One evening we were treated with a “traditional ” meal. The time and care Amir put into preparing this meal was obvious. It was superb!

Every detail at Mara house was well thought out to provide for comfort and a feeling of being cared for. With out a doubt, for lodging, tours and meals, this is the place to be.

This was my first trip to Egypt and I was a little unsure what to expect. Mara House couldn't have been a more perfect choice! The location in Luxor is fantastic - just a few minutes to the Nile, the temples, and the markets. The hotel is beautiful, with an open sitting area, large formal dining room, and large suites with a small in-suite kitchen and mini bar.

The staff are fantastic - honestly, the best group of people I've ever worked with through all my travels. The hotel manager, Ahmed, is warm and accommodating; every detail is worked and runs like clockwork. He is there if you need anything. The guide for Mara House - Mo - is so knowledgeable about both modern and antiquities Egypt and answered every question I had. He provides information about each one of the stops on the tour, so you get more than just snapshots on your trip. All of the drivers for Mara House are fantastic and will get you anywhere you want to go.

The itinerary Mara House has worked for the "3 Day Luxor Package" is perfect. You see enough sites without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. And with Mo's help, you'll understand the significance of each stop in the itinerary.

Overall, an incredible experience from start to finish. I would absolutely recommend Mara House to anyone, whether it's your first trip to Egypt or your 20th.

Thank you to Mara and the staff at Mara House!

We booked a 10 day trip with Mara House. Her team handled all arrangements as documented on her website. We arrived in Cairo and Fatima picked us up and transferred us to the Ramses Hilton (old hotel will review separately).

Over the time we were in Cairo Fatima was attentive and available for all questions. While in Luxor Ahmed was extremely attentive and coordinated our entire stay. He went above and beyond what any hotel concierge or staff would.

Mara House is very nice and the food was great, however if you want a hotel experience Mara House may not be for you since its on a residential area, but I would take this over any hotel in Luxor. The tours were great, we learned a lot and the best part for us, not for Egypt, is that most tour sites where empty. Thank you Mara and team!!!

Travelled June 2017 with family

I took the Mara House Luxor group tour in November 2016. Over five months later, I am still in awe of the experience. If you are looking for a trip that is forgettable the next month, you don’t want to use Mara House. However, if you are looking for a trip that you will fondly remember long after the journey has ended, Mara’s House is such a destination.

As a single female traveler, I was hesitant about safety. Prior to the trip, Mara quickly got back to me on every question that I emailed her. I wondered if she ever slept since I never had to wait long for her replies. Booking that trip was one of the best things I have ever done. Our small group was a joy to travel with on the daily adventures Mara planned out for us. On the first night meetup, she had us go around the group to not only introduce ourselves but ask what we wanted to accomplish for this trip. I was impressed that over the next 10 days, she worked to make each of our dreams a reality.

There were opportunities some of us took such as a side trip to Abu Simbel and touring the recently opened tombs such as Sety I. For the extra money and the expectation that this would be a once in a lifetime trip, I did it all and have no regrets. The days were busy but not hectic.

Mara is passionate about what she does and it shows in the exceptional staff that she has assembled to make your stay a pleasurable one. It was also educational not only learning about Egypt’s past but the present hopes and future dreams of its people. I cannot sing enough praises for the staff. They were remarkable! After all, that is what travel should include in being able to get a taste of the culture of the country that you visit.

Speaking of taste, you will not get any better food than what is prepared at Mara House. The stairs to the various room levels may be a little challenging for some, but I found it not an issue. The room was clean and I had fun using the shower in the bathroom. After all, travel is about new experiences. It is located on a side street and if you are lucky you might get to see the camel right down the road.

If you are thinking about visiting Egypt, don’t let this opportunity pass to experience the hospitality at Mara House Luxor. You won’t forget it (in a good way)!

I had a wonderful time in February 2017 with Mohamed and Fatima. I enjoyed the Pyramids of course, but also 2 tours of different areas of Cairo. The Ramses Hilton hotel was spectacular, and Fatima and Mohamed and their drivers were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I guess what makes them so excellent compared to other tours I have done is that they made me feel they were excited to be my tour guide. They had great enthusiasm and I felt very comfortable under their guidance. I have already recommended the tours to other travelers.

If Egypt is on your bucket list, as it was on ours, then hesitate no longer because Mara and her wonderful crew are here to make your visit to the Land of the Pharaohs all that you dreamed of and more. All the glowing accolades you’ve read about “Egypt with Mara” are true. We’ll give you a few highlights.

- Pre-trip communication: Before our trip, Mara answered each and every question we had, no matter how niggly, via email promptly and in great detail. We were as prepared as we could be having taken Mara’s advice on what to bring and what to expect. (And for those who wonder “Is Egypt safe?”, the answer is yes. Never once did we feel otherwise. And just to make sure, there was an armed security guard on our van,as well as a military escort.)

-Welcome to Egypt: Mara’s right-hand woman is Fatma,a lovely young Egyptian whose smile brightened our time in Cairo. She greeted us at the airport, escorted us to the hotel and made sure we felt like part of the family. Fatma is a gifted multi-media artist, intelligent and insightful, and it was delight to learn about the life of contemporary Egyptian Muslims through her.

-Hit the ground running: From the moment we arrived, our days were packed from morning to night with visits to the major sites up and down the Nile. Mara’s guides were knowledgeable, friendly and patient. We had a succession of Mohammeds, but the one we spent the most time with was with us from Luxor to Aswan. He looked remarkably like Barack Obama and good-naturedly crammed as much information as would fit into our whirling heads. He rounded up the stragglers, kept things moving and made sure all questions were answered.

-Go with the flow: While we did everything that Mara promised we would do, the sequence of events sometimes had to be rearranged because Egyptian schedules can be somewhat vague.
She advised early on that we’d have a much better time if we simply went with the flow, and that occasionally things worked out even better than planned. That being said, if someone in the group had something special in mind to do, Mara was delighted to make every effort to see that it was done.

-Shopping: Mara is strictly about making you happy.. We were there to see the wonders of ancient and modern Egypt, not to spend time in souvenir shops or alabaster and papyrus factories. However, Mara understood that most visitors like to bring something home with them, and there is an afternoon devoted to the market Khan Al-Khalili, where guests are not directed to any shop in particular for the commission, but pointed toward the section of the market where you’ll find what you want.

-Conclusion: Of course, a written description can never convey the experience of actually being there, but you can expect a well-organized, thoughtful, fun, and memorable experience if you throw in your lot with Mara. Her delightful Irish wit kept things light and enjoyable. She also has a deep grasp of the esoteric side of the temples, tombs and monuments of ancient Egypt and understood when I unexpectedly had what she called “a moment” in the Temple at Abydos.
We recommend without reservation “Egypt with Mara” for your visit to the land of the Pharaohs
.
Fiona and Kevin Gordon

OH MY! Where to start!!!!
I joined the Mara House 11 day tour back in November 2016. It was THE.BEST. DECISION. EVER!!!
To start off with, I had originally contacted Mara to do a solo tour for a few days (4-5) and then return home but after speaking to her and finding out more details and her honest opinion about a solo trip there, I weighed my options and decided it would be best to join in on her 11 day tour (and for the price-how could I turn it down). She was ALWAYS super fast on responding to my emails and very professional.
As time got closer to the trip, she kept me in the loop about new sites that were open to tourism and offered the opportunity to be able to go see them, if I wanted to, along with estimate prices.
Now, a few days before I took off, my flights had shifted (by a day!) and I would then be arriving the day that everyone else was having their first day of sight-seeing. I was so disappointed. However, keeping in touch with Mara she assured me that I would still be able to see what I had missed on the first day (Giza Plateau) and that we would talk about it when I landed.
When I landed I had a driver waiting for me outside, he did not speak much English but he was very polite and professional. He drove me to the restaurant where the group was headed to eat and spoke to the "reception" desk, so they knew who I was waiting on.
Once everyone arrived, I felt so welcomed!
Everyday I was blown away by the knowledge that was passed to us by her tour guides, they were all so very knowledgeable and friendly. We got to see so many things! I didn't even realize how much we saw until I got home and sorted through all of my tickets. We were on the go everyday but it didn't feel like too much.
The stay at Mara's House Luxor was by far the best experience of Egypt! You can tell her and her employees have great relationships. The food at the Mara house was phenomenal!!!! Her cook takes great pride in his skill. The rooms were beautiful and comfortable. It felt like a home and not just another room to sleep in. Mara and her team made sure to accommodate everyone, even with the smallest requests. Everyone knows that in groups it's hard to please everyone but I think Mara and her team did a superb job in fulfilling people's requests.
I was able to get to the Giza Plateau on the last day of my trip, and for me that really pulled the entire trip together.
Mara really goes above and beyond what is expected from a tour experience. I felt completely safe the entire trip and I am looking forward to going back, hopefully with my son!

Having just finished a tour, here are some thoughts on why you should choose to travel in Egypt with Mara on one of her small group tours.
Firstly, her hand-picked local staff and guides are exceptional, both in their abilities and consideration of the needs of each group member.
Things like airport departures & arrivals, luggage handling, transport, hotel check-in, etc. are all simplified.
Airline boarding passes and entry tickets to the various Houses, Tombs, Museums, Pyramids, Monuments, Mosques, Churches, etc. all seem to appear as if by magic.
Mara's people also seem to make buses and small boats appear at will.
Because it is a small group, you easily get to know each member of the group. The inevitable question "where is Jack/Jill" is usually answered quickly.
Some of the areas in the places you visit are small in size and can only comfortably accommodate a small group plus a guide.
You may get access to some normally closed areas (like our group did).
You can help to shape the tour in terms of what to see or do and how long to spend at a site.
You will get to see Mara House in Luxor - a wonderful oasis in the rustic streets of an ancient city.
Mara herself has a great understanding of old and recent Egyptian history and culture - most importantly she is willing to share her thoughts and knowledge.
You might wonder how you get to see so much in a relatively short time. Part of the answer is that you don't spend any group time in places like perfume houses or fabric shops. That's where the big tour companies will probably want to take you.
You will get time to shop in a big market and also at places where there is no bargaining or pressure.
If you would like to improve your bargaining skills then the Egyptians are ready to teach you a few things.
You will get to see what Mara promises and probably more.
Finally, please don't even think of coming to Egypt, renting a car and driving yourself to see the sights. The traffic in Cairo is crazy - I imagine you would not last 5 minutes before becoming lost, mentally unhinged or both.

I was originally a little concerned about the price of this hotel compared to others in the area. However, I decided to book because I felt my husband would appreciate the tour package for his birthday since he and Mara share a love of Abydos and Dendera. We found it was all worth it because that the team behind Mara House is absolutely fantastic, and their care and efforts are what make the place special. The real value is ultimately not in the location, or even in the hotel itself (although it is lovely), but in the tour packages they provide and the team that works to make the experiences memorable.

We got their 3-day Luxor package, and also booked through them for some Cairo tours. I cannot sing enough praises about the outstanding tour guides that Mara House provided for us. Hamdy, Fatima, and Mohamed were so knowledgeable and fun and were happy to talk about all topics, not just ancient Egypt. We learned so much from them.

Ahmed and Amr, the staff of the hotel, went to great lengths to make us comfortable. Ahmed rebooked a tour for us extremely last minute and was on top of every detail, and Amr even got my husband a delicious birthday cake on our last evening.

Ending note: If you are looking for a more relaxed vacation (like with a pool), to care for your budget, or for a traditional "high end" hotel experience, perhaps look at other options. But if you want some seriously good touring and a more intimate introduction to Egypt and it's culture, book this hotel. The team will make it a great experience.

We just came back from a 10 days trip in Egypt with "Mara", we did the itinerary proposed by Mara from Cairo to Luxor and the cruise on the Niles to Aswan. I don't think there is a better way to visit Egypt. The tours and the entire 10 days were perfectly organized, and we did not worry at all during the entire trip.

From beginning to end we were very pleased with the guides, the drivers and the housekeeper. Mara house in Luxor is a fabulous oasis. The room are spacious, the food is amazing and the staff very helpful and friendly. When I think of my trip in Egypt all I think of is "luxury". For a SAFE and a REAL vacation in Egypt, if you are eager to learn and visit the best of Egypt I highly recommend everyone to book with Mara.

Ok so am not really much of a writer but I wanted to review an incredible trip I just took with Mara House. I have never travelled overseas before and had always dreamed of going to Egypt and was fortunate enough to find Mara's Egyptian adventure online which was a 10 day journey including Cairo and Luxor as well as a cruise to Aswan.

From the beginning Mara was absolutely super speedy getting back to e with details about the trip. The itinerary was well packaged with many sightseeng advetures. On this trip I made some incredible new friends and got to explore many destinations that Mara organised. In addition, we also got to spend a few nights at Mara House in Luxor which was a splendid cozy and decorative bed and breakfast where we were treated to several authentic Egyptian Feasts.

The 10 days I spent with Mara and our group were so wonderful and I really appreciate all of the great details she added to the trip which truly made it a great adventure. I am more of a photographer than a writer but in closing I want to say that if you're considering coming to Egypt please give Mara House a shout, you won't be disappointed.

We are a same sex male couple who recently travelled to Egypt.

Mara House Luxor is off the beaten tourist track in a safe and respectable part of Luxor, Egypt is a country of contrasts and to really experience how Egyptians live, book your stay at Mara House and live amongst those who rely on working in the tourist areas. Simple.

The staff are unbelievably flexible and are totally dedicated to helping you to have a "Mara House Experience". Seriously dedicated. Not a fault in sight in this regard.

If you yearn for Ancient Egyptian monuments and mystery, this is an ideal place to pursue your desires in this regard. Mara and her extremely capable staff have connections with some extremely knowledgeable local guides such as Mohammed and deserving of particular mention (for us anyway), Ahmed, whose mastery of story language will have you mesmerised on the Nile temples and itching to visit the next temple/site. Mohammed is like a walking encyclopedia on the Luxor sites, ask him any question and he will happily provide the information for you.

You can't do all this without the support of the stupendous drivers such as Mahmoud (if he likes you you get to call him by his nickname - much easier to wrap those western vowels around, but you have to earn it), whose road mastery was a lesson in diligence and safety. He knows those roads backwards, he has some great shortcuts that will give you photos no-one else could provide. Bonus if you are a smoker and ask to stop in the middle of the desert!

If you yearn for an 'authentic' experience, this is also a place for you. Just discuss with Mara or Ahmed what it is you would like to do and hey presto it is done. An enviable thing to arrange things in Egypt so quickly! If you ask for the moon, be prepared for at least a 12 hour wait while Ahmed and Amr organise it for your next day! Truly amazing.

The food and service and feeling of secure safety more than compensates for any supposed inconveniences westerners may feel by having a wet room as part of the bath rooms. Don't compare to western style five star hotels, you will not enjoy yourself if you do, and that will be your own fault, not theirs. Toughen up and focus on why you are there. Mara House becomes your bolt hole from which to experience both Modern AND ancient Egypt. Vital to your stay. Location is great for quiet walks where you can say good morning to the neighbours, have a local coffee and chat with real Egyptians.

Did we mention already, the food. Incomparable Amr has a real gift of his heart when he prepares your food. My partner was taken shopping in the local markets to gather the ingredients for our feast that evening. That experience alone is more than enough excuse to visit. The food is to die for, really. There are not enough superlatives to describe it, you must visit to experience genius, good simple and wholesome food. (I had a cold while there, was given the 'cold' drink - next day boom I felt fantastic.) We in the West seem to have forgotten this and rely on pills and 'modern' medicine. The Egyptians have been doing this for millenia, tried and tested.

Again, did we mention the food ?

Seriously, Ahmed and Amr were welcoming and we were treated as part of their family. Having a local with you while you walk the streets is invaluable to help you communicate and learn (also to help you avoid being taken advantage of when trading - listen to their advice - it works). As Mara says you gotta walk like an Egyptian - watch how you are then treated compared to westerners who perhaps don't. Much more respect and people are much more likely to invite you for Shisha or tea, without the hassle. A great chance to kick back, relax, watch life and have some GREAT international conversations that lead to better understandings between the West and Egypt. Ask questions and be prepared to answer questions, it will be revealing I am sure, if you have an open mind and heart.

Again, did we mention the food ?

Seriously worth considering, read terms and conditions and have no expectations when you arrive for a mind blowing and memorable experience of Egypt.

You should know that a mosque is close by so take your good earplugs that first call to prayer in the morning is loud!!

Mara's House is excellent and I'd stay here again. She's from Ireland but has been living in Egypt for a long time, so she knows a lot about the place. Hotel is spotless and she makes sure you feel great too. I used her touring services too not only in Luxor, but in Cairo, and she didn't dissapoint. Mohammed was my tour guide and he knows a lot about Egypt. Glad I stayed with Mara.

I'm just now getting around to writing reviews from my travel experiences this summer. I spent 4 nights and 5 days at Mara House and absolutely loved it. My room was VERY big, quiet, and comfortable. Mara's team does everything possible to make sure their guests have a comfortable, safe and pleasant stay. My luggage was lost during my flights to Egypt and I had only one change of clothing. But Ahmed made sure I had fresh, clean clothes ready every morning, so I barely missed my luggage. The food at Mara House is wonderful, fresh and plenty! I especially appreciate how Mara arranges and plans the tours. No stress! And as for price... You can *try* to coordinate your hotel, transportation, tours, tour guides, meals, etc yourself but you probably will pay more and things will not go as smooth as what Mara has in the plan. Mara does all the work for you and it's a blessing! It is a science! I recommend Mara House to everyone. Everything went according to schedule, yet I was never rushed. I even had free time in the afternoons and evening to experience Luxor. If you're a solo female traveler wondering if Egypt is safe, it seemed very safe to me. I've been to several countries, but Egypt was my first Middle Eastern holiday. Egyptian people are very warm, friendly and welcoming. I hope to return many many times

I've put off writing a review because I've been trying to think how to do justice to Mara House. Anyone who looks Luxor up online is bound to find the incredible resource that is Mara's website. There was never any question I was going to book my stay through her. But I wasn't prepared for how helpful and comprehensive a service Mara offers. She's full of information and tailors a trip to exactly what you want. I've never had a tourist experience quite like it. My stay and the tours in Luxor were exceptional (and the Egyptian breakfast was to die for).

But what I really want to recommend are the tours in Cairo. My two tour guides there were the best I've ever had anywhere. In fact, I enjoyed meeting them more than the amazing sites they took me to! Such sweet and interesting people. I only booked my Cairo tours through Mara as an afterthought, but they were the best decision I made, and the tours were the highlight of my time in Egypt.

Not expecting 5 star but got it!
"This amazing old world style hotel has spacious suites, enchanting sitting rooms, free wifi and top quality, attentive staff. You can sunbake on the roof too!!!

I have had the best Egyptian food of my entire 2 week trip here - just sumptuous!

Mara also organized some great tours and the staff had really good suggestions for my days off there too.

Highly recommended and I will be staying there again when I return!"
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Date of stay: December 2015 Reviewed on TripAdvisor 2016

Big, clean rooms, excellent staff

"Room was large -- really a suite, with large bedroom + sitting room with couch and stocked mini-fridge. Very clean, beautifully decorated, even smelled nice. The two fellows on staff were excellent -- friendly, helpful, and always around if you needed them. Breakfast was good, with eggs, fruit, yogurt, and bread, and served at whatever time I asked for it. Just a lovely little place."

Reviewed on TripAdvisor

Amazing!

"We (my husband and I) visited Mara house as part of our honeymoon.

A private taxi was organised from our hotel in Hurghda to Luxor for our two night stay. The driver was exceptional, as was the guide Mohammad. Mohammad's knowledge is second to none, he was also incredibly patient as a fair skinned girl from the north of Scotland I really struggled with the heat at times. He helped me fulfil a life long dream of visiting the valley of the Kings. He was also very helpful in learning the correct way to "haggle".

The Mara house Staff, Ahmed, and Armha provided us with a very warm (no pun intended) welcome, making us feel like we were at home away from home. The food Armha prepared for us was exceptional and with out a doubt thee best meal we had in Egypt. We will be recommending Mara house to our friends, and hope to return in the future."

Reviewed on TripAdvisor

Great time, great service, awesome food, go now!

"Wow, what a great experience I had in Luxor with Mara House. The staff was incredible, the food they had was excellent. They even helped you with tipping advice, stomach bug issues, a great mini bar including local wine and arranging my tours and airport pickups.

Loved it there! In a time when tourism is down, it's great to support the local businesses. Check them out, they rock!"

Reviewed on Triipadvisor

Peaceful Oasis in Luxor

"You enter this lovely lodging through a very ornate entrance and immediately you feel the peace and tranquility of a beautifully decorated Egyptian home.

It was our first visit to Egypt and everything is so new and unfamiliar but Ahmed, our host,greeted us so warmly with offers of tea and conversation, that we felt relaxed and at home. Ahmed took such great care of us. He organized an excellent felucca ride for us and recommended an exceptionally good restaurant for us to dine at later. He made sure that the folks transferring us to our ship the next day knew exactly where to come to. He really couldn't do enough for us. Ahmed even went out of his way to help us but some gin! Not always easy to do in Egypt!

Mara House is lovingly maintained and as I have mentioned above,decorated with lovely Egyptian textiles which give it quite an exotic atmosphere. The rooftop deck is lovely anytime of day and wonderful at night to watch the stars from. The rooms are spotlessly clean and bright and contain all that you need for a comfortable stay including cold drinks. Mara House can arrange excellent to tours in Cairo too!

I also highly recommend that at anyone to travelling to Egypt for the first time read Marie's website. It is a goldmine of info. We found it so very helpful in everyway. Thanks Marie. Your operations are first class!"

Reviewed on Tripadvisor

Thanks for a Wondeful Visit

"I had a great visit to Mara House this April. The place itself was very comfortable and everyone extremely welcoming and helpful.
I had been looking forward to the 'feast' which sadly they weren't able to put on due to numbers, but to make up for it they prepared for me an individual home cooked Egyptian meal which was just delicious!
The tours were exceptional and the guide really brought the temples and tombs to life - I have never been so blown away by ancient sites anywhere else in the world.
I had been feeling quite daunted by the prospect of travel to Luxor, with its reputation for hassle and touts, but i didn't really feel any hassle at all during the whole stay, and this is all thanks to Mara and the team.
Thanks again!"

Reviewed on TripAdvisor

Mara House: ‘home away from home’

"From the first exchange of emails, Mara was very generous with her advice not only in regards to my planned stay in Luxor but also in regards to the whole trip. No question, query was too much trouble and she basically became my travel adviser for this holiday in Egypt I had been dreaming about for years.

Staying at Mara House is like staying with the locals in a beautifully appointed private house, away from the tourist area.
I was fortunate to stay there twice, first with my son and a week later on my own.

The suite I shared with my son was very spacious, tastefully decorated, well appointed including five star quality bed linen. The suite was smaller on my second stay but had the same ‘home away from home’ feel and attention to details.

The breakfast was a delicious spread and nothing was too much trouble for Ahmed and Amr: from organising a taxi when required to recommending excellent restaurants when in Luxor and picking me up in Aswan in a private car to get back to Luxor.

The Abydos and Dendera tour organised for us by Mara House was outstanding: from the very knowledgeable

Egyptologist guide we had to the smooth driving of the chauffeur and the delicious cold lunch provided.

Mara and Mara House turned my stay in Egypt into an unforgettable, wonderful holiday.

If you are looking for a unique experience, outstanding service and care, Mara House is the place to stay."

Mara House - Nov. & Dec. 2014

"If you are going to stay in Luxor for a few days or for a more extended period, I strongly recommend Mara House. I have just completed my first visit to Luxor and have had a wonderful time. In fact I hope to return to Egypt next year and, if I do, I will certainly stay at Mara House when in Luxor.

The rooms (suites) are spacious, well appointed, clean and very reasonably priced. Mara House organizes guided tours to Abydos & Dandara, Karnak & the Luxor Temple, and the West Bank. In addition has connections with 4 or 5 taxies and this is re-assuring and one less hassle to worry about.

After the tour I returned to the West Bank via taxi until I had visited every tomb open to tourists. They also facilitated a balloon ride and several felucca rides.

Ahmed (the manager) has spent hours helping me book my Nile Cruise and the Hotel I will stay at in Aswan (I don't have a cell phone nor access to my email).

Amr is the King of the Kitchen - a chef and not a cook. lol And everything he makes is a native Egyptian dish - you just can't beat that.

The staff are always friendly and professional and I got to know them well over 2 months.

Now is the time to come to Egypt as there continue to be few tourists about (and I don't think this will cont. much longer).I have been in tombs in the Valley of the Kings with just a couple other tourists, and stood alone in the center of the Great Court in the Luxor Temple with no one in sight but a couple temple guards.

Luxor is an ancient Arabian delight - at no time have I felt threatened or in danger - and I am just a 68 year old baby-boomer lost in the wonder of it all.

The other day I was at Karnak and saw 2 buses of tourists. The cabby told me 50+ was the norm prior to 2011. Don't miss this opportunity I think the crowds will be back soon."

Reviewed on Triipadvisor

Incomparable Service In A Great Place To Stay

"Don't even think about it. Just book a stay here. From the get go, Mara not only helped me book a stay in her lovely hotel, but gave invaluable help in planning our whole trip to Egypt. She gave us great advice on how many days to spend in each of the three locations that we were staying plus helped me book very nice guides in both Luxor and Cairo. She also helped us book a hot air balloon ride of the Valley of the Kings that was really unforgettable and one of the highlights of our trip. She organized pick ups for us at the airport (even though our party of four had two separate arrival times) and her staff is probably one of the most accommodating I have ever run across.

Due to a slight delay (and some lost luggage) we arrived past midnight and not only did her crew give us a warm greeting upon arrival but let us know that they were available to us 24/7. Think you will get that kind of attention at the bigger name hotels? No way.

The rooms were very comfortable and our two rooms were connected by a living room area, great for lounging around and chilling out.

The next 3 days were filled with so much sightseeing at the Luxor and Karnak temples, a day trip to Abydos and Dendara, the aforementioned balloon ride before the tour through the Valley of the Kings, and the temples and tombs surrounding the area.

All through it, Mohammed our guide, gave us very knowledgeable, pertinent information but also gave us time to explore on our own. He was a pretty cool guy. One night, in asking for a taxi to get a dinner in town, the staff suggested a calesh ride for the same price. What a cool experience. Being driven around in a carriage by donkey and getting to see some of the city was definitely worthwhile.

The staff will always let you know how much the taxis will cost so there is no haggling or surprised with the drivers. I found the prices quoted were more than fair.

The last day though is when the staff and Mohammed really shined in helping us over some bumps. One of my friends space out and forgot to buy his ticket from Luxor to Cairo so that necessitated a sort of complex departure that involved having our driver take him to the ferry form where we were on the tour, to another taxi that would take him to the airport. That latter taxi stopped at Mara house to collect my friend's luggage first so that we wouldn't have to bring it with us during the day. One of the staff from the hotel came with the taxi to make sure my friend would meet up with the taxi driver and get to the airport in time.

The level of service continued in Cairo as the people Mara arranged to take us to our hotel from the airport had to first negotiate the red tape in getting my other friend's luggage out of storage that the airline had lost and refused to deliver to Luxor. The gentleman was with my friend for an hour and a half before he finally was able to get it and we were able to leave for our hotel.

Our guide in Cairo, also arranged by Mara was excellent and I have to agree with her advice that if there is one place in all of Egypt to have a guide, it is at Giza. The level of hassle and aggressiveness by the vendors and touts there was really hard to watch. Without a guide, we would definitely would have been followed around relentlessly like I witnessed other tourists there experiencing.

All in all, I recommend Mara's hotel and her staff and indispensable advice with all my heart. I have traveled to over 40 countries in the world (even though I usual don't write reviews, I felt compelled to do so for her and her staff) and while I may have stayed in more posh hotels, none have had the level of service she and her staff provided.

We stayed at the Hilton in both Cairo and Sharm-el-Shiek and while the staff there was competent and nice, there was no comparison in the attention to detail and willingness to help Mara and her crew showered upon us.

As I said in the beginning, don't hesitate to make a booking with her. In fact, don't hesitate to come to Egypt. We had one of the best trips ever here."

Reviewed on Tripavisor

Mara Celeste

"Two week stay with the good people at Mara House. These days it is skeleton crew keeping the place ticking over; so a little bit the feel of being on a ghost ship. Despite difficult times with very low bookings all over Luxor they manage to maintain good standards. In fact this time there was actually another guest in residence (first time I experienced this) for some of the time and thus a few late nights chatting over several beers in the bar.

I made a point of keeping to my usual routine, walking through the streets to the rail station then through the underpass and for short walk to Luxor temple or the Ferry port to cross over to the west bank for a days "work". I did more trips via Caleesh as they seem most in need of support and one can pay LE5-10 for quick hop to ferry or up the street. Saves a lot of sweat.

Among the excellent facilities at Mara House is the internet and ability to pay by debit card, something becoming less common in Luxor and which can make money management difficult. The bookshops seem to be good at taking plastic, including the rather well priced (with a bit of haggling) bookshop/giftshop in the Mummification museum.

I've a feeling Mara is passing on the baton for managing the hotel to her son John - much as I missed seeing Mara this time round I feel the place is in very safe and competent hands."

Something Different

"I had planned to stay at a 5 star hotel in Luxor but cancelled my booking after reading reports on Mara House on Trip advisor. I loved staying at Mara House which I found homely, comfortable and the staff and Mara very accommodating and friendly.

Mara arranged transfers from Aswan with stops to Luxor and a taxi on the West Bank all of which were competitively priced and I compare prices.

The house is in a residential area, where there is construction and the streets surrounding the hotel are filled with the sounds of daily Egyptian life, which I enjoyed. The walk to the station may not suit everyone, but I found the neighborhood safe and interesting, the locals are just interested in who you are, laughing, teasing, children asking for money, but all good natured.

If you enjoy 5 star hotels and everything that comes with them, this hotel may not be for you.

If you are looking for something more authentic, give it a go. I would stay with Mara and her team if I returned to Luxor in a heartbeat"

Friendly and comfortable

"My son and I really enjoyed our short one-night stay at the end of June 2013. We were the only guests at the time as tourism has suffered so much since the Revolution but verything was calm - too calm - Luxor was like a ghost town everywhere - apparently only a 3% occupancy rate these days. GO TO LUXOR!!!

Everything in Luxor was just a short and inexpensive taxi ride away. We had no time for tours when we were there, but when I asked for info about a massage, Mara appeared with her cell phone and a spa on the other end of the line, and had negotiated a discount. Everything was just so easy.

The room was huge and clean - the suite had a separate airconditioned bedroom off a main sitting room which had a small kitchen as well. The price of the room was incredibly good value. The fridge was stocked with an assortment of drinks and snacks at extremely reasonable prices.

Mara is very engaging, and we spent a good amount of time talking about Egyptian politics, which were heating up again when we were there. She also described a very interesting project she was working on with the Souk vendors for a No Hassle shopping experience for tourists - something which will be very welcome.

We could have stayed anywhere in Luxor, but I wouldn't have changed places for anything - it was much more interesting at Mara House."

Hi Mara, Have you thought about a day trip to Kharga? Great new temple there just re-opened and the best Roman mudbrick fort in the world. The little museum is fascinating as well.

Mara arranges tours not only for her own guests, but she also arranges tours for others. Even some hotels ask her for her tour services. The tours are exhaustive and detailed. Mohammed, the Egyptologist and our guide was very knowledgeable and explained and pointed out the finer details of Egyptian archeology. We were a family of six and after spending so much money to come visit from Canada, it was well worth to spend a little extra and get a proper tour (sans shopping) arranged by Mara. Besides having an Egyptian guide beside you "shoos" off a lot of touts and peddlers that hassle you every step of the way.

Highly Recommended!

"On arriving in Luxor, Mara had arranged a taxi which took us directly the Mara House; a hidden gem in a residential part of city. My boyfriend and I were warmly greeted by Mara and her staff and the hotel offered an exceedingly large and clean room (living, bedroom, bathroom and balcony area). Mara offered countless advice over our 3 days stay from being streetwise to the kind of temples we HAD to visit, (this is all organised as part of our payment) and she wasn't wrong! The temples were breath-taking and we found the people across luxor to be friendly and happy to help regardless of the unfair negative media press in the west.

All in all, i can't recommend Mara House enough, her generosity and personality exceeded our expectations. I genuinely felt touched and honoured to have spent time with her in her oasis enjoying and listening to story upon story.

I can only hope we will see each other again."

Salahadeen Restaurant

Here’s one of those hidden gems you might be looking for.

First, you get to experience the real Luxor as you by taxi or calesh ride to where the locals live. It’s only a five minute ride from the trainstation, but still an experience in itself. I’m sure Mara, who runs this place, can arrange that for you as she has her own drivers who knows how to get there smoothly. As you arrive you’re in a dark and dusty alley, but as soon as the gates of Salahadeen swings open the magic begins.

The decor is lovely, like you’d imagine it’d be in One Thousand and One Nights or something. The music is setting the mood (even though I’d prefer some more “magical”, mysterious music) and the staff will take very, very good care of you.

The thing is, this restaurant is only open when there’s a worthwhile number to open to, so it’s very exclusive. You really need to call or mail in advance, probably several days, maybe even weeks, to make sure it is open (might be different on bigger holidays, like Easter). And there’s only a few tables, although I’m sure they can make room for more if needed. A quick call or email is all it takes, Mara will respond immediately.

I’m not a big eater, I get full very quickly, but wow… The food was so good I just had to dig deeper. 15 dishes cooked, served and eaten in true traditional Egyptian fashion with the dishes served on one large tray that you spin around. You’ll be instructed how to get the most out of the food as well, combining different dishes to make it even more delicious.

I’ve been in Luxor for five days, and this is easily the best food I’ve tasted so far. Highly recommended for that extra memorable experience.

IndyGrinder, Stockholm, Sweden –Visited March 2013 (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)

A must stay place in Luxor..

"We have just returned from the most incredible holiday in Egypt but the highlight has to be having stayed at Mara House in Luxor. This is run by Mara, a lady from Ireland who has set up the most amazing hotel which demonstrates such attention to detail not only with regards to the set-up and provision with each of the rooms/apartments but with even greater respect to the support and advice that she and her staff provide to guests.

We travelled as a family of 4 and arrived at Mara House after a 3 day trip into the desert followed by an overnight train ride on the sleeper from Cairo so that on arrival we were pretty tired and grubby. Mara made us feel so welcome and we were all really pleased and impressed with the rooms we rented being large, spacious, cool and beautifully decorated. Heaven after the previous few days!

Information is clearly outlined about tours to take, places to visit and eat in so that we were assured of successful outcomes with whatever we decided to do. Two of Mara's staff members were particularly helpful throughout our stay. Mohammed who drove us to various chosen destinations in his taxi and was just superb by always waiting for us at the end of any visits that we made. Also Amr who helped us feel looked after at the house but also by coming with us on a trip into Luxor to go shopping in the Souk and advising us on fair prices to pay for goods. We expected to be hassled at every opportunity but Amr's presence meant we were not ripped off.

Mara House is also a restaurant and for 2 evenings we ate traditional Egyptian food sampling a range of the most delicious dishes that we are now keen to try making at home.

To top things off though Mara and Mohammed supported us even more after we had left the house to go to the train station for the return trip to Cairo on the sleeper train. After sad goodbyes we were at the station only to find that the train wasn't running due to strike action. Faced with a potential coach trip overnight instead, Mara advised us to try flying instead and both she and Mohammed taxied us to an Egypt Air office and managed to book flights for us all that evening. Time was tight but Mara and Mohammed were just incredibly helpful and we did get away by plane in good time in the end. We can't thank them enough for their help but above all we can not recommend Mara House highly enough as a place to stay in Luxor"

Reviewed on Tripadvisor

The best place to stay in Luxor

"We are a mid 30's couple and we spent 3 nights at Mara House. I initially found Mara House on Tripadvisor when looking for a place to stay in Luxor.We had the best time ever thanks to Mara and her friendly staff.

Location
The house is located behind the train station, about 15 minutes easy walk to Luxor temple. Dont let this deter you from staying at Mara House because it is really just a short stroll away.

Accommodation
The house is on many levels with a large terrasse on top which is perfect for an afternoon beer and chill out moment. Overall it is a familly/home atmosphere that you can't find in a hotel.
Our apartment (#2) had a large bedroom, a living room with kitchen, terrasse..just like being at home. On our first night the house restaurant was offering a 15 courses dinner which we highly recommend. The breakfast in the morning is also perfect with coffee/tea, juices, bread, chees, jam, and local sweetbreads.

Let's not forget
Mara is an invaluable source of knowledge, and she will do everything to make your stay perfect, from organising tours, to booking taxi and restaurants. Mara is also happy to share her stories and local knowledge as you wish, she made our stay even more memorable.

We both gladly recommend Mara House, feel free to PM me if you have questions. Otherwise dont hesitate to contact Mara directly as she is always in touch on emails."

Irish hospitality in Luxor - the amazing Mara!
"Stayed at Mara House 11-16 Feb 2013. Chosen because we felt we would be happier staying with a woman who spoke English! On arrival at the airport we were met by one of Mara's drivers who took care of our visas etc and guided us through the airport to the waiting car and driver. On arrival at Mara House the lady herself was on the steps to greet us in person. A member of her team took our luggage while another made us a very welcome cup of tea. Within minutes we felt completely at home. Our apartment was spotlessly clean and well appointed.

We'd pre-booked some of Mara's trips but late one night we wondered, rather hopelessly, if we could also squeeze in a hot air balloon flight for the following morning. A quick call from Mara to one of her contacts and it was done. Egypt could have been a chaotic and daunting experience, especially when one doesn't speak the language. Mara's expertise and knowledge of Egypt took all the hassle away - leaving us to have an amazing, carefree, wonderful holiday. Thank you so much Mara."

A unique experience

"It was through tripadvisor that I found out about Mara House when I was looking for accommodation in Luxor for the final part of a family holiday that took us from Jordan to Egypt.

My wife and our two kids stayed 3 days in Luxor and Mara House was the perfect place to base ourselves. Mara was excellent in helping with our arrangements, including excursions, before we set off on holiday. She provided a level of support you simply won't get from the usual hotel chains. The hotel itself is full of character and the rooms are lovely. It is very much 'off the beaten track' and those of you more used to Hiltons and Marriotts (I include myself here!) will find this a very different kind of experience. Mara House is in a regular Luxor neighbourhood nowhere near the tourist spots (although you can easily walk downtown).

The highlight for us were:

1. Great help in organising tours, which will include guides who take you a bit more off the beaten track and show you aspects of ancient Egypt that the river cruise brigades won't see.

2. If rooms are free, Mara will be happy to check you in early (our flight got in at 0830) and let you check out late (our room was needed by another family but Mara provided a different one in which we could shower and freshen up before our flight home).

3. The experience itself. Yes, you're still a tourist, but you will see a side of Egypt that is both friendly and fascinating.

If you are looking for a place to stay in Luxor I wholeheartly recommend Mara House."

Mara House-Irish hospitality in the heart of Egypt

"My friend and I stayed at Mara House for five nights in February 2013. We chose Mara House because of Mara being english- spoken and because of her expertise and vast knowledge of Egypt.

Right from the off, when we were emailing Mara back and forth with our ever-changing itinerary, we knew that we were making the right decision to stay with Mara. Mara's prompt replies (always within 24 hours) reassured us that we would always be in good hands. That was so true, from the moment our plane touched down in Egypt. Mara had one of her drivers meet us and take care of our visas before taking us to Mara House.

It was lovely to be greeted by Mara at the door of the residence. Right away she made us a very welcome cup of tea and had our luggage taken to our room. We felt straight away that we had been friends with Mara for years! She was so welcoming and her Irish hospitality was second to none. Nothing was too much trouble for Mara. She organised all our tours to Tombs and Temples and even packed a breakfast and/or lunch for us. At very short notice, she helped organise (through her many contacts) a hot air balloon ride over Luxor.

Our suite was spotlessly clean. We couldn't fault it in any way. The fridge was well stocked with water, soft drinks, wine, beer, chocolate bars and crisps, all of which were replenished each day.

Staying with Mara made our trip so enjoyable and took all the hassle away. She's a remarkable lady! Thank you Mara for making or trip so exciting."

Salahadeen Restaurant

“Everyone should try”

Salahadeen not only looks beautiful (decor) but the food is excellent and you can’t find most of these local cookings elsewhere. When I heard it is open, had to go there again. Reservation is needed. At first you might think the cost is more than in other restaurants – but – they have lots of different food and i just couldn’t move when I finished eating. If you eat starters etc. in any other restaurant the cost will be the same if not more.

Exceptionally good

"I stayed at mara house mainly as a consequence of the trip advisor reviews. It proved to be a great decision and is a wonderful base for exploring Luxor and beyond.

The rooms are in fact apartments which was a nice surprise as lack of space is normally my biggest bugbear with most hotels.

I booked a few tours through mara house and thought them great value and efficiently organised. Both guides I experienced were enthusiastic and well versed in their subject.

Maras staff are exceptional . They couldn't have been more welcoming or helpful. Special thanks to the GM Sahry and Amr the 'master chef" who were beyond terrific. Do not miss the banquet !

I'm not sure how the bad reviews came about however all the people who were staying when I was there were loving it. Note- this is not a holiday inn type experience....if that's what you are looking for I'd look elsewhere.

If you would like to experience genuine Egyptian hospitality and the beautiful environment that has been created by Mara and her team do not hesitate to book. By the way Luxor and Aswan felt extremely chilled out and safe. Not even a hint of tension.

I am already planning my next trip to this amazing part of the world. Final note - the surrounding area is simply a typical Egyptian street. No better or worse than others in Luxor."

Great Egyptian Experience.

"Mara House in Luxor was truly an inspired find. It was a great bonus to discover the house is set back in the town and away from the large hotels and very insistant vendors in the markets. A walk along the street from the house will bring you by Egyptian front doors to be met by welcoming hello's from local adults and children.

Mara House is a new develoment built to a very high standard with large rooms or apartments, fully equipped to cater for yourself if you wish. Do not miss the "feast" a scrumptious meal of Egyptian cuisine, beautifully cooked and presented by the staff in the house. No shortage of help or advise with booking trips and arranging transfers from the airport or to the Nile. All the arrangments for our visits to the Luxor temples, Dendera and Abydos were made easy by the Mara House staff.

The occasional power cut was the only down side and proved only a minor inconvenience. I heartfully recommend Mara House for its friendly service and excellent accommadation. I would gladly book it again and hope to do so in the future."

Great fun, great value, great food. Do try staying here!

"Completely different from all the big hotels with their corporate beige interiors. Mara House is a genuinely attractive Egyptian house off the tourist track in the centre of Luxor. Bursting with colour and style, clean, bright and with a friendly welcome.

We stayed in an attractively decorated large double room. Good quality Egyptian cotton sheets and very effective air conditioning. The en suite shower room was large and clean.

Dinner was honestly fantastic - lots of different small dishes and the best soup we tasted during our three week holiday in Egypt. Breakfast comprised tasty fresh bread, cheese, yoghurt and fruit juice.

It is difficult to `star rate` Mara House. We arrived there having just come from the Oberoi Mena House rated the best 5* hotel in Cairo (it was excellent, see my separate review) and so you may wonder why I have also given Mara House 5* rating when its facilities are so obviously different. Well, Mara House is a taste of the real Egypt; something often missing from even the best big hotels. A real travel experience. Something authentically different from the norm. It is also amazing good value for money and I recommend it whole heartedly.

Mara also helped me book internal flights with Egypt Air. She was able to access flights considerably cheaper than I could - and without seeming boastful, I reckon I know my way round airline booking engines!! We also booked a private tour guide though Mara for our three day stay in Cairo. Again, I cannot recommend Mara`s service highly enough. Our guide spoke good English, the car provided for us was clean, air conditioned and fairly new and the driver expertly negotiated the horrendous Cairo traffic.

Do try staying at Mara House in Luxor if you can, you won`t regret it!"

Great stay at Mara House Luxor

"From the pick up at the airport (charged separately) to the wonderful tour guide and tours to the well-appointed rooms, our stay at Mara House was great!

We arrived early on a Thursday morning and the guide was already at the house ready for the West Bank tour. We requested something light to eat as we had not had breakfast and it was served with warmth and hospitality. We spent the first day on an abbreviated West Bank tour in the comfort of an air conditioned van.

For dinner that night, a taxi pick up was arranged and we ate at an Indian restaurant recommended by Mara. Run by an expat Brit, A Taste of India was delightful and the food was excellent. The cold beer also went down a treat. 🙂

Friday we took Mara's suggestion and left the house with packed lunches and seven or eight other guests in a large air conditioned bus, from a tour of Abydos and Dendera. Our same knowledgable and friendly guide, Mohammed, accompanied us on this trip as well.

On Friday evening, we ate at the Mara House restaurant and enjoyed an Egyptian feast. We left, happy, on Saturday morning.

I can highly recommend Mara House both for its accommodation and arranging of tours. In fact, I already have."

A taste of the real Luxor

"Mara House was a wonderful retreat in Luxor. It is small and located in a neighborhood away from the main section of town. I vacationed here for two days with my wife and two children (then 3 and 5). Mara is an Irish expatriot who runs this lovely hotel. SHe is almost always available and takes great care of her guests. The accomodations are wonderful and quaint, with a/c in the bedrooms which is a must. The fridge is stocked and the food (especially breakfast) is fantastic. Mara will set you up with everything you need for sightseeing and getting to and from the airport. Of note is the fact that we felt completely safe and welcome in the neighborhood. My children played with the local kids on the street, and the walk to and from town was well lit and safe."

A weekend get away

"My weekend in Luxor staying at Mara House was an excellent R&R weekend away from the hussle and bussle in Cairo (where I live and work). Mara and Amr organised a fabulous sightseeing day on the West Bank starting with a dawn hot air balloon ride - I would get up at 0345 every day if each day could start with breathtaking views from a balloon basket high in the sky.

Amr was our host for the weekend, he made us feel most welcome. The house and our room was clean, spacious, comfortable, well stocked fridge with water, soft drinks, wine and beer and I loved the decor. We had a fabulous weekend in Luxor and Mara, Amr and Mohamed played a big part in that!"

Gem!

"Absolutely beautiful hotel! Highly recommend the tours arranged by Mara House-- we trust her advice and had a wonderful time experiencing Luxor, Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings tour, and most unforgettable -- Dendara Temple. Mara and her staff made us feel so special and our suite was very unique and comfortable. Thank you Mara!"

Luxors' Little Gem!

"We have just returned to the cold of the UK after a fantastic time away in Egypt. The saddest part was the complete lack of tourists, and such a friendly place with SO much to see and do.

We choose Mara's House after reading reviews here and we were certainly not disappointed at all! Mara is there whenever you need her, and is a mine of information - who needs Wikipedia! She organises anything to suit your personal needs in the way of tours and highlights, or meals and what to do of an evening.

There was no faulting anything - her staff and anyone that she called on for tours or our Calesh trips in the evening out to have a meal that Ramadan and Rambo went beyond the call of duty or what you could ever expect to make everything in Luxor really special.

Had we been concerned at all that there was any trouble from what we had seen and heard on the news with the media hype, there was nothing to be seen of anything that would give the slightest of concerns.

All we saw was wonderfully friendly people, who were SO concious even in the tourist markets 'not to hassle', but also very sadly literately hundreds of River Cruise boats 8 deep tied up along the river.

Back to Mara House and the rooms were fantastic and spacious, with great cooling facilities, wonderful staff and everything you could need. We travelled with our 2 daughters 10 and 7, and our son 4, and they loved every minute and learnt SO much.

To sum up - you could spend a load of money, stay in a 'luxury hotel' that could be anywhere in the world with no personality, or you could stay at Mara House, and SEE Egypt and be a real part of the place. I am really pleased that we choose the latter and had the wonderful experience we did! The only negative was - it wasn't long enough!!
THANKS MARA!
Linstrom Family"

Reviewed on Triipadvisor

perfect choice

"Mara House was absolutely perfect for us as a young couple. It is in a quiet, peaceful, non-touristy area yet only a short walk away from the hustle and bustle of central Luxor. Our room was lovely and the hotel staff were fantastic.

We went on one of Maras organised tours and it was very interesting and good value for money, the other days we ventured out without a guide but had drivers, lunch etc organised for us by the hotel.

We did not get to meet Mara (as she was on a holiday of her own!) but her manager Amr went out of his way to make sure we were able to do everything we wanted to do. We were made to feel very welcome, were offered tea every time we appeared, and went to the local coffee shop on several nights with Amr and his friends.

We left after our 5 day stay feeling like we had made good friends, as well as having had a wonderful holiday. We cannot fault Mara House, we highly recommend it and know that we will definitely be returning at some point :D"

Best decision we made in Egypt

"I know it has all been said before by previous reviewers but I feel compelled to repeat and endorse the compliments. We are extremely well travelled spending at least 4 months of the year travelling all over the world so are not easily impressed.

My partner and I were planning to stay at a more upmarket hotel on the Nile as we were only staying 2 nights and thought it would be easier. Once we saw the reviews of Mara House on TripAdvisor we started to rethink. After a few email exchanges with Mara I knew that this was where we had to stay.

The personalised service begins from the first email. She immediately offered suggestions on our every option for the trip. She totally gets it. She offers tours (without being pushy) and also advice for those who would prefer to do things on their own.

At first I thought the price of the accommodation might be a bit high as there are hotels with pools available for not a lot more money. However with Mara there are no hidden extras. Her drinks are very reasonably priced - in the hotels the prices are extortionate. And boy do you have to drink a lot of liquids in Luxor. She sells a 1.5 ltr bottle of water for 3 Egyptian - the same price as the supermarket. The hotels charge at least 5 times that. Wi-fi is free too.

The location as mentioned by others is a little unusual on arrival - it is not Beverley Hills - but this is Egypt and it is totally safe and hassle free to walk around.

The building itself from the outside doesn't look special but once you walk through the door you see it is more boutique hotel than guesthouse. Beautiful decor.

Mara greeted us and treated us like we were old friends. She gave us great attention and answered all our questions in a very knowledgeable and helpful manner. The rooms are in fact apartments - very spacious and comfortable with separate living room and balcony.

The staff are extremely attentive - even came to the phone shop with us to help us through the burocracy of buying an Egyptian SIM card. The day after we arrived Mara went to Ireland to visit family but her staff kept up the same level of service.

We took two tours organised by Mara. At first I thought the prices a little high but as I said before - with Mara there are no hidden extras. All the entry fees to temples and tombs (which are not cheap!) are included. Most of what you are paying is to cover these fees. The drivers are courteous and the guides knowledgeable and the most important thing for us is that unlike most guides all over the world they don't take you to shops.

Mara also has a folder of useful information and recommendations which cover most things you would want to know. Her restaurant recommendations were spot on. Whenever you need to go anywhere she will organise a taxi within 10 minutes at a fixed reasonable price. She or her manager are always at the other end of the phone to send a taxi to pick you up.

Her restaurant isn't open every night - seems to depend on the number of guests. But she will let you know if it is going to be open. Don't miss it. It is an incredible feast. Don't eat too much during the day so that you have a good appetite for this banquet. And the restaurant itself has beautiful decor.

Once you leave the oasis of Mara House and venture into the touristy neighbourhoods Luxor is a total hassle. Everybody is on the make and they are annoyingly persistent. Understandable at one of the worlds top tourist attractions in such a poor place.

Mara also has 2 self-catering apartments in downtown Cairo where we are staying now. A very different experience from Mara House but it is perfect for us. She organises tours and transfers here in Cairo as well.

Even though she has now gone to Ireland she keeps her Egyptian phone switched on in case we need anything. Saved our lives the other night when we needed to know where we could buy some cold beer.

Thank you so much for everything Mara. Go raibh maith agat! Shokran. You are a great reason for us to return to Egypt."

Top care and service



"First time in Egypt for us. Mara sorted every detail out for us. We chose her Meritataten package, basically Western Valley tombs and temples one day, then Dendara and Abydos next day. Guide, driver and A/C minibus for our exclusive use.

Then we opted for one day in Cairo, one of Mara's package deals. Pyramids and Cairo Museum. Again, you are picked up from the airport, taken to the apartment, and next morning the guide arrives. Everything is made so easy. We stayed overnight in her large, luxury apartment near Tahrir Square. It is in an iconic Art Deco building right in the centre. An experience in itself.

Even though it was Friday and some protesters were beginning to assemble peaceably, we crossed the square and never once felt in the slightest danger. We had some fascinating conversations about the elections and life in Egypt today. Both guides were excellent.

The sites were quite empty because many tourists on the Cruise boats were staying away. We didn't have to queue for anything. Now is a great time to go.

Back in Luxor, Mara is keen that you don't get hassled, so you can be sure that your guide will not take you to see his cousin's shop or any of the other scams that go on. Her guides know this and approve of this as they want to see the tourist experience improve.

We chose to use a caleche (horse and carriage) all the time we were there and, basically, for about £12 (English) you have his services for the day. The guy we used (recommended by Amr, Mara's manager) was a great character and so obliging. We really enjoyed being able to see the world going on around us and he would occasionally stop off at the horse feed stall in the market en route to top up the stock of green stuff for his horse. You felt you were really a part of the daily life.

Tipping was a concern for us. We knew it was expected, but had no clue as to when or how how. Mara's website has a page on this and it was very useful.

Likewise, we were worried about getting the dreaded upset stomach. This also was catered for as we picked up some tablets on day one and never had to use them.

The whole tipping thing is a complex issue to do with the way that the local economy works, which I won't go into here, but look at Mara's website and there is some useful information there.

The accommodation (our suite) was very comfortable. Big bedroom, lounge with balcony, air conditioning, big fridge with water, beer, wine, etc all at normal local prices so you felt you could just take what you needed and not be concerned about the budget. This is the Mara trademark. She is giving you the experience you would like to have if you could do it yourself.

I could go on. So many things to make your life run smoothly. You only had to ask. In fact if they thought you were unsure about how to get somewhere, then Amr would just go with you to make sure you were ok.

You are, however, in Luxor, not out in some large hotel complex. You will hear the Call to prayer from the mosque a street or two away. You will see people who appear to have few material possessions in the same street, but it is safe. We thought nothing of walking through the town in the evening. It is a great experience if you want to feel what living in Luxor is like.

I can't recommend this enough. If you aren't sure what to do, let them suggest a restaurant or a trip. You won't regret it."

Best experience in Egypt

"We recently spent a quick weekend in Cairo and Luxor and had the privilege of staying at the Mara House. Having spent the previous couple of nights in a 5 star hotel in Cairo, we were interested to see what it would be like shifting to guest house in Luxor.

We were greeted with some fantastic hospitality and a wonderfully comfortable stay in a great little place. Mara was away at the time, however Amr did everything possible to ensure that we fully enjoyed our time there at Mara House. The rooms were very comfortable and facilities were great.

The rooftop terrace was a nice little place to hang out in the afternoons, while the restaurant served us with a multi-coursed treat in the evening. The sitting room was also a cosy little place for a wine/beer/tea and chat with friends in the evening (both before and after dinner).

I couldn't rate this place high enough, as it has gone on to being one of our favourite placeas to stay anywhere in the world. I hope you too get the chance to enjoy."

Charming gem

"Mara's house is the perfect hotel to experience the "real. Egypt". The accommodations were spacious, beautifully appointed and very clean. Location was perfect. Tours are available with Mara's wonderful guidance. One must do...ride thru the markets aboard a Calish. Mara will help arrange for an insightful and safe ride at a very reasonable price. From your balcony you can see and hear all the wonderful daily sounds of the remarkable Luxox..you will remember this stay fondly."

Best place we stayed during our vacation!

"What did I like most about Mara House:
1. It is located in an Egyptian neighborhood a short distance from the tourist area.
2. It has excellent service.
3. Very clean and comfortable.
4. Mara is a wonderful hostess. She can help with tours or just information if you want to see the sights on your own.
5. Wonderful restaurant.

If you want a "sterile" hotel experience where you can hardly even tell which country you are in, stay in a large resort by the Nile. If you are lucky, they may even charge you American/European prices for food and tours, so you really feel at home. If you want see the real Egypt and experience the local culture at a very comfortable, clean, reasonably priced hotel that has free wifi, excellent personalized service and great food stay at Mara House.

As soon as we arrived Mara and her staff greeted us and brought in our luggage. We were offered a refreshment and Mara sat down with us to go over our plans for Luxor. We planned to sight see on our own so she provided us with maps and advice. We walked all over the East Bank by ourselves and felt very safe. She arranged for a taxi for us for the day to see the West Bank at a very reasonable price. The room was large and comfortable. I had the best sleep of the whole trip here. There was plenty of hot water and wifi signal in most of the room.

There is also a beautiful rooftop deck that you can enjoy. We had our laundry done which was very reasonably priced. We gave it to them the night we arrived and the next afternoon it was folded and returned to our room.

We were fortunate to be able to eat at the restaurant Salahadeen for 2 of the 3 nights we were there. The quality of the food was excellent and very delicious. We were served 2 different soups to start which were great. Then you are served a large tray with at least 15 different dishes. These included both meat and vegetarian dishes, rice, potatoes and various dips and a large basket of flat breads. There is something for everyone! There was so much food my husband and I could not finish it. This was followed by desert which was a scoop of ice cream with fresh fruit and tea. Not only is the food delicious but the service is excellent. All of this is served in a very beautiful, relaxing dining room with Egyptian furnishings. I really like to stress the great service at Mara house because that was something I found, overall, in short supply during this trip.

I was supposed to come the previous year but due to the revolution I had to postpone the trip. I had emailed Mara many times prior to arriving, asking for advice about the current situation and she was a great help giving me the information that I needed. Not only is she helpful and professional but she is a very interesting woman. Meeting her and staying at Mara house was definitely the highlight of our trip to Egypt. "

My wife and I visited Egypt for 2 wks in March 2012. I would return in a heartbeat. We North Americans always ask, "Is it safe?" My goodness, all you see is waves & smiles! Yes, the people are on very bad times now from lack of tourists so NOW is the time to visit this wonderful country and have it practically to yourself when you visit sights. Plus, your dollar goes a l-o-n-g way in Egypt.

We had the good fortune to stay 3 nights at Mara House in Egypt. Our host was Amr, a wonderful spirit who couldn't do enough for us. He took us shopping at the souk, arranged cabs, recommended restaurants. Ask him to bring a hibiscus tea to the rooftop garden so you can hear the street sounds below....that was a nice evening.

Our Room 2 was very spacious with several sitting areas, good furnishings, a comfy bed, a strong shower, and a stocked fridge (including wine). Excellent.

I'd brought hair braids & coloured pens for the kids we'd meet along the way. What a hit for them...yet it's such a small easy thing for us to do. Make a personal connection, one person to another, when the world is so desperate for a good healing.



If you're looking for a vacation where you can learn, be dumbstruck by ancient sights, and enjoy the people, GO TO EGYPT and for icing on the cake, stay at MARA HOUSE!

Home from home !

"We didn't stay there for long enough, but we hope to return one day !

Mara was so helpful to us in any number of ways, as well as offering a lovely hotel with a top class welcome. The staff, all locals, were most obliging and helpful, and we were very comfortable and happy there. This is the place to go to get the low-down on life in Luxor, and Egypt more generally. Nothing can quite match the local knowledge of a Westerner who has spent years getting to know the ins and outs of the country and its people, and yet also understands the needs of a non-Egyptian !

We ate the marvellous Sahaladeen feast in the beautiful and newly-reopened restaurant, which was a delight to the senses, and is heartily recommended."

We "like" Mara House

"Thanks to the previous reviewers on Trip Advisor, Mara House was exactly as I expected.

The hotel was the perfect place to host 3 Egyptian friends, and Mara was right there the entire time to make sure our stay in Luxor went well. In a very professional way, she helped me navigate about and arranged for us a tour of the West Bank. I needed transportation from Luxor to Sohag, and Mara took care of the details for that as well.

Her Salahadeen feast was well received. My friends were very comfortable and were as impressed as I. I highly recommend Mara House to the savy traveler."

Salahadeen Restaurant

"I can't stop thanking all of you for making us feel at home. We enjoyed every bit of our stay from the delicious food, the cozy room, the good advice and the excellent service. This is a place that we will never forget, Mara. We wish you the besta and you deserve to be No. !! Gracias. Michael & Jeanne-Marie (Arizona) dined 18 Feb 2012.

Mogg Morgan of Mandrake in Egypt

"There will be a longer account on my blog "Mandrake In Luxor" - so this is interim note - Mara Guest house suited me in everyway and I certainly will be returning, probably with a posse. I stayed in Luxor the entire week, visiting the sites but also some prospective authors on the West Bank (I'm a publisher). Despite all the "troubles" one hears of in the press - this must be one of the savest cities to walk around in at night. I crossed over to the west bank to visit my clients and came back late - no problem.

The guide books say this is hassle capital of Egypt - but that certainly isn't true. People in Salakhana are interested and friendly but that doesn't really translate into hassle. There are probably some dodgy types around near the rail station but nothing you wouldn't find in UK - beside the local traders have a vested interest in protecting tourists from hassle.

I'm not fond of big corporate hotels and prefer a more low key guest house - actually less hassle and in many ways more luxurious. One of the stars of Mara must be Amr, the manager but also secret cook. Apparently they stopped having a professional chef, as on a good day Amr is a real foodie. It was very quiet in Luxor and Mara's, so not too much going on, mainly just the breakfasts. On my last day Mara suggested I go chill out on the roof garden - they'd wakeme when it was time for my taxi. Next thing I know its 3 oclock and Amr says "I made you some nice soup" - what an underestimate that was!

I took my bags downstairs and chatted for my last 30mins. Another bowl of, this time marrow soup materialised - slight bitter aftertaste but delicious - especially good with the fresh pocket bread. I gotta go back on the promise of more culinary adventures. Mara's says Yarrow soup is therapeutic so I maybe needed the vitamins in that soup.

"Amr!" I said, "You can cook!"

There's more - all things permitting, you just got to go to Mara's."

Salahadeen Restaurant

"Salahadeen is a delightful change from the predicable hotel restaurants John & Nancy Pantone (USA) dined 13, 14, 15 Feb 2012

Elegance and great service in the heart of Luxor

"We stayed at Mara House for 5 days in January, and it was the best place we stayed in our 16 day Egypt adventure. The staff were extremely helpful, getting us taxis and coordinating our visits to Karnak, Luxor, Abydos, Dendera and more. The breakfast is amazing, we ended up bringing parts of it with us to snack on during the long, adventuresome days. When we dragged ourselves in at dusk, we were greeted with a kind offer of tea, which we always gratefully accepted. The room was very clean, with a kitchen, TV, balcony and a gracious design. Plenty of hot water, too. I can't say enough about this place, it was simply delightful, especially the staff."

Mara and her staff made my experience in Luxor marvellous and fantastic.

From trip advisor I saw this great review about Mara House, I thought I will give it a try and go back to my student day (mid life crisis)!! well I was travelling without my family, so…..!!

The House was bright, tastefully decorated, and my room was very nice and very comfortable. That was good, but the arrangements Mara and her staff made for my short 99.9999% perfect! The other bits well inshallah as they say in the region.

Balloon ride in the morning: it is breath taking...it is a must to see the sunrise and how the hills turn bright red in the rising sun. Simply awesome and there was a lot of very nice people in the basket!!

Tour guide - Hasan- very knowledgeable (comparing to me anyway) about the tombs/temples on west banks. the valley of the workers is also very good, much smaller, but just as colourful and details! Furthermore, Karnak and Luxor temples were simply gob-smacking!

Light and music show at Karnak Temple at night, unbelievable lighting and Mr Hopkins narration was very theatrical! One should start there first before any tours!

The driver, Mahmood, was very safe and understand me when I said drive safely! Which is not typical in the region!!

Most importantly: customer services is not about how the smooth running of normal day to day business, but when it hits a problem.

The problem: The railway was suspended unexpectedly on the evening of my departure, Mara's staff: Ahmed, Sam, etc, all assisted me in more than their responsibilities or duties to ensure I can get on the train and catch my flight. As one can imagine the chaos when the railway resumed services!! Ahmed and his team were there at the station on the platform at 0115 to make sure I get on the train, and got my ticket and found my seat, etc! I cannot ask for better customer services!!

After all that: I recommend Mara House unreservedly.

Warm, welcoming bed and breakfast!

"Mara House is well-appointed and easy to get to (take 'em up on the airport transfer!) but what really makes it is the staff! They are very friendly and knowledgable and we felt doted on the entire time. Breakfast was included in our price and they were happy to make us a cup of tea at just about any time of the day.

The rooms were clean, beautifully decorated and spacious, complete with a well-stocked mini-bar and snacks, a place to lounge and relax after a long day of exploring and comfy beds. Our room was cleaned and reset each day after we left.

Lastly, we arranged for a few tours through Mara House and were not disappointed by any of them. The guide we were paired with is an Egyptologist and extremely knowledgable about anything we wanted to know. We got to see temples and ruins (Abydos, Dendera, Hatshepsut, Karnak and Luxor) as well as tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Nobles. On our last day we also arranged a hot air balloon ride: such a treat and very relaxing.

I highly recommend Mara House: it was a treat and we would definitely visit again!"

Oasis in Luxor

"Fantastic stay at Mara House for my girlfriend and I.
Mara and her staff are very good. Welcoming (without being overbearing), and fonts of local knowledge.
We can unreservedly recommend Mara House."

Home

"The only disappointing thing about our time at Mara House, was that she wasn't there! But who can blame her for flying back to Ireland for Christmas! I certainly wont, not when she left a very capable staff, led by her Manager, Amr, who did EVERYTHING he could to ensure that we were happy, comfortable & enjoying our stay. What a gem.

Mara has an extensive & helpful website, she has been WONDERFUL at responding to emails, & she is very upfront & honest about her home & its idiosyncrasies! It was like a B&B, but in Luxor.

Walking to the Luxor Temple is like running the gauntlet, the first time, but after that...we loved being able to walk places & see, smell & hear the rich life of this city. Returning to Mara's was like coming home!

I recommend Mara's Dendara/Abydos trip. Terrific guide & we got to stay way longer than the tour buses in each place! I also recommend earplugs, as the night & early morning are rich in sound!!!!! This place is well worth staying in if you are wanting something a bit different."

A wonderful haven

"A sincere warmth greets you on arrival, the rooms are lovely and the beds are comfortable. A well stocked minibar includes a very welcome cold beer at reasonable price. As the hotel is in the middle of an ordinary Egyptian neighbourhood, it's possible to feel you are in Egypt and not just hopping from hotel ghetto to another. The roof garden is lovely for a relaxing drink and chat among the trees and flowers. I can recommend the guide for the tour to Dendera/Abydos, he really knew his stuff."

We spent 3 days and nights with Mara and it made our trip to Luxor all the better for it. She welcomed us with drinks and plenty of free advice. If you are an independent traveller this is the place to stay.



The location is excellent, rooms and service excellent, and the roof top terrace a real bonus. Our trip over 12 days took us from Abu Simbel to Cairo. Mara House was the best value in Egypt!

Reviewed on Tripadvisor

See a different side of luxor

"Maras house was beautiful, lovely decor and furniture. Unfortunately we only booked to stay one night, we wished we had booked to stay longer as we felt so comfortable here. The room we stayed in was huge, it was actaully 2 rooms, much bigger than what you get in top-range hotels. We are so glad we stayed here as we got to see a different side to egypt and visit some of the lesser-known temples with a great guide. If you stay here, do follow Maras recommendations for tours, her guides are fantastic and very attentive without being overbearing. We loved staying here especially because it was in great location, right next to the train station and also amungst a tradtional neighbourhood, we could chat with locals and have an experience that would definetly not be found a a high end chain hotel. We will be back soon and cant wait to try the restaurant! thank you Mara."

Excellent service, great comfort!

"We stayed two nights in Luxor and toured the west bank and the temples with Mara House tours. All in all it was a great experience. The service at Mara House was helpful, personal and genuinely friendly. The rooms were big with very comfortable beds. A big plus was the mini bar which had good prices.

When looking at a map of Luxor it can seem to a bit of, but it is really just a 10-15 min walk from downtown. It is also nice not to get a "TAXI! TAXI TAXI!" or "Carriage, you want carriage?" in your face as soon as you leave the hotel.

I would absolutely recommend Mara house to anyone wanting to see Luxor without any hassle."

Fantastic place to stay in Luxor

"The place itself is beautifully decorated, extremely well tended to, and a pleasure to stay in. Service is excellent -- Mara is incredibly knowledgeable about the area and is more than willing to help out with anything. I honestly couldn't think of a better place to stay."

Authentic experience paired with pure professionalism and service

"My husband and I stayed at Mara house in May 2011 and would go back again in a heartbeat.

It is not located near the main hotels - and we loved this! We really enjoyed spending time in a real Egyptian neighbourhood. We were generously invited in for tea by some of the neighbours and this experience was extremely authentic and someting that both neither I nor my husband will ever forget.

I must make mention to the staff working at Mara House - they were caring, passionate and truly commited to ensuring that we had a great stay. They even arranged for a driver for us for a day to do some specific sightseeing and shopping.

We really appreciated that Mara House was able to arrange tours for us. The process was smooth and met all of our expectations (fun, affordable, professional, informative). We also liked that the tour groups were small (no more than 6 of us) and with other guests staying at Mara House - we have made some life-long friends and again this is something that we will never forget.

All in all, a great stay (I really don't have anything bad to say) and I would recommend Mara House to other travellers!"

Great time to experience Luxor

"We stayed two nights at Mara House in May and had a fantastic time. Our room was huge and tastefully decorated, and the staff couldn't have been friendlier. Mara recommended tours to the West Bank on our first day and Abydos and Dendara on the second; both tours were conducted by Mohammed who proved to be a friendly and informative guide. We chose to eat in on the first night and Mara provided a beautiful Egyptian feast of epic proportions. On the second night we decided to stroll down to the Winter Palace for drinks - this took about 20 minutes and on the way we were warmly greeted by the locals. All in all, we had a great time and felt completely safe. Now is a great time to visit, as things are a little quiet and the usual crowds/queues at major sites have diminished. We highly recommend staying at Mara House."

A great hotel for independent travellers

"Mara's House is very welcoming and thoughtful. The rooms are massive and come with a stocked fridge at local prices. The service is great, very considerate and no hassle. Mara herself is incredibly helpful, both through her website and the tips and advice on travelling in Egypt. The location is just behind the central train station and not in a touristy area, but still well located. I would recommend this to anyone who does not want to join the maddening crowds and is willing to try something a little off the beaten path."

Live like a Pharaoh in true Luxor

"Mara and her very able team made my wife and I feel like we were ancient royalty living in a palace in the suburbs of real Egypt.

The rooms are HUGE! Our room was made up of two big rooms plus bathroom. The first - a grand sitting room with veiled couch, kitchen table and fridge and the second - a bedroom complete with 4-post bed. Tea and coffee anytime on request. Great breakfast. All situated 10 minutes walk from the train station and 15-20 minutes from the market and centre of town.

Mara offers to organise tours to the Valley of the Kings and Abydos and Dandera temples. The Valley of the Kings tours took us to the best of the must see attractions and also to tombs of workers and artisan rarely seen. Abydos and Dandera temples are out of Luxor but are some of the best preserved temples in upper Egypt.

I should note we were staying with Mara when riots erupted at the end of January. Mara held briefing sessions explaining the situation with each guest every morning and evening and before any tours to keep us informed of the situation in and around Luxor and in all of Egypt. Mara made all of us feel very safe and made sure that we could keep in touch with our family and embassies. She also organised for our safe transfer to the airport."

a change from faceless hotels

"This is a small and very welcoming hotel in a very down to earth part of luxor - a working class area with no other tourists around - the people around were very friendly and there are several interesting workshops and other local businesses. The hotel staff are very helpful and efficient and the owner Mara is exceptionally helpful.

It is a fair walk to local restaurants - luxor temple is 10-15 minutes on foot - but despite this I was very happy with the location given the total lack of touts and hassle and the pleasant rooms."

Home away from home in Luxor, or even the whole Egypt

"Stay at Mara house with Mara was absolutely awesome!!! It was located in a residential area, so you got see a slice of local life. and very good location, 10 minutes walking distance to train station.

Mara who runs Mara house was absolutely fantastic. It's her that actually gave us the awesome stay in luxor. She provided her guests detailed information regarding direction. And she trained her staff very well.

The room was spacious and charming, with middle eastern decor. And I love the sofabed that you could read book in a comfy way. Unfortunately she closed her restaurant but we were fortunately enough to try her cooking. It was the best meal I had in Egypt!!! The mutton soup and onion soup were soOooo delicious, just love them so much!!! However, breakfast was quite simple.

And we also visit abydos and dendera as per suggested by Mara. The experience was priceless. A knowledgable Egyptologist with very beautiful temple.
And on the last night, we forgot that we asked Mara to organise a taxi for us to train station and we actually had another. Yet, she still didn't blame us.

Anyway, there are only 8-10 rooms available, so if you want to stay here, book it quick before it get booked out. And you'll definitely get a unique but absolutely awesome stay!!! And Mara, a big hug to you!!! We miss your hospitality and you!!!"

Superb hotel with an excellent host

"We travelled through Egypt as part of our honeymoon. This is the first time I have ever written on this website and was moved to do so by my experience at Mara House. The hotel was beautifully furbished and immaculately kept. The rooms are big, spacious and traditionally furnished. Breakfast was good and was delivered to the room. Nothing was too much trouble. Mara offered help in organising our trips and recommended bars/restaurants to visit. All in all, we loved every minute and would recommend the hotel to anyone."
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Great room and helpful staff

"We travelled to Egypt in such a special perild (Jan 30 - Feb 7, 2011). We're happy to be Mara's only guest during our stay in Luxor. Due to the travel alert, all the guests cancelled their bookings except us.

We have a rather luxury room with two bed rooms and a spacious living room with dining and cooking area. The room is very clean and we love the towel with apple smell. The room is especially good for those who travel with kids and big families.

Mara and her staff are very helpful during our stay in Luxor. Abydos and Dendara temple are the most impressive tempel for our trip. Thanks to Mara who recommend them and arrange the trip for us. Mara also provids many useful travel tips in Egypt which is very helpful during sightseeing and bargain with locals.

Although the hotel locates a little bit far away from the center of Luxor, it is in a local neighbourhood. You can enjoy local children say hello and shake hands with you when going into / out the hotel. It takes about 15 - 20 minutes walk to the Luxor temple across the Luxor train station. I should say walking in the city can help us enjoy the city more. We really enjoy friendly Egyptians who are always smile and happy to say hello to us.

We love Egypt and will surely come back again. Mara House will be our first choice when we come back."

The best bet for the Independent Traveller in Luxor

"Mara's House is a great choice in Luxor. My husband and I just returned from a 21 day holiday in Egypt (during the riots too). I would unhesitatingly recommend Mara's House. We found Luxor to be one of the most expensive cities in Egypt, and Mara's is a great value.

The rooms are spotless and large, and tastefully decorated. The location is unexpectedly convenient, even though it is on the "backside" of the train station and city center. This is a good thing, too, as Luxor is one of the most intense tourist sites in Egypt.

Mara's pricing is consistently fair, and her staff and Egyptologists very good. You could probably haggle a better deal somewhere, but you also might get surprised by some fee or whatever that wasn't included. Plus Mara has a no tip policy til checkout. It's a real relief for the independent traveller to enjoy a reprieve from the constant tips and haggling!

As to Egypt as tourist destination generally, given the recent riots: Go as soon as you can!! We just left this past Friday February 4, and can honestly say we were treated wonderfully, and experienced ABSOLUTELY NO HOSTILITY whatsoever. This is not surprising though, as tourism has been a major Egyptian industry for 2500 years!

I wish Egyptians the best of luck in their political struggles BUT speaking strictly as a tourist: Words cannot describe the luck of a lifetime to have had Blue Lagoon, St. Catherine's Monastery and Mt. Sinai all to ourselves. Go, go as soon as you can to experience this beautiful country in relative solitude...."

Fabulous

"I booked this hotel as we like to get away from the 4 & 5 star hotels and find some local places with local knowledge. This is an amazing place down a small side street with the local kids running to greet you every time you step out an dall very freindly and not too much hassle. The rooms were enormous, very comfortable beautifully decirated and extremenly clean and well maintained. Plus lovely roof terrace.

Mara is extremely helpful, arranged for a taxi to collect us from the station, booked trips (the cost of which was added to the room bill saving our cash ) thoroughly recommend the balloon trip and star gazing. Nothing was too much trouble, would definitly stay there again and recommend to friends."

Best place to stay in Luxor

"Tired of those big hotels with their endless boring corridors? Want to experience Luxor in a small, intimate setting? I know just the place for you - Mara House, which, incidentally, received the top rating for hotels in Luxor in 2010.

We have just returned from our second stay with Mara -- and once again have nothing but praise for her hospitality. The rooms are large, probably the largest you'll ever stay in. The staff is eager to make your stay a pleasant one, and when you enter Mara's front door you leave the hustle and bustle of Luxor behind you. You are immediately welcomed into the family, offered a cup of tea, excellent advice on sites to see, and a willingness to arrange for guides and transporation. In my opinion, there's no better place to stay in Luxor so make your reservations now.

Until we meet again, Mara. Libby and Ed"

A Unique and Wonderful Place to Stay in Luxor!!

"We had a great stay at Mara House in December 2010. The rooms are large and beautifully decorated, and Mara is a wealth of information about all of the Luxor sites and Egypt in general, not to mention restaurants, medicines for upset stomachs and, above all, honest guides and drivers, which was a welcome relief, as it is very easy to get taken advantage of in Egypt. We've stayed in plenty of 5-star hotels that didn't hold a candle to the value and service we got at Mara House. We recommend it enthusiastically !!!"

Thanks Mara for making us feel at home.

"My wife and I visited Luxor last September. One of the highlights of our trip to Egypt was our stay at Mara House. Luxor itself is an extraordinary place to visit, however, the heat, the dust, tummy troubles, Egyptian driving, etc. can wear you down. Mara House was an oasis in a beautifully restored building. Our room was large, clean and very comfortable. A mini fridge was always stocked with water, beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks at reasonable prices. We were well rested and well informed while at Mara House. Mara and her staff seem to really care about their guests. In fact, Mara is one of those rare people that you meet while traveling that becomes a memorable part of your trip.

The restaurant wasn't operating while we were there unfortunately.

There are no amenities like swimming pool, internet, gym, etc. So, if you need those things, this isn't the place. Also, it's located on a residential street, somewhat behind the train station, so it is not a convenient location but it is accessible to all attractions."

Best place we have stayed in Africa and the Middle East

"Mara House is almost too good to be true! Mara is a fantastic, warm, helpful host that makes you feel at home and looked after. Mara house is clean and new and lovely. The rooms are huge and spotless with a kitchenette. They also have balconies and a clothesline (so useful for a traveller!!). The attention to detail at Mara House is amazing, the breakfast is great, tours are of a very high quality and reccomendations are spot on. We leave wishing we had booked more than two nights here."

Smart choice in Luxor

"A bit far from the town center, but if you don't mind a little walk in dusty but lively roads and you are ready to repeat your name to a thousand kids on the way, then it's a great choice for your stay in Luxor.
The hotel is extremely clean and confortable. Our room was a real apartment (even bigger than our house in Italy). Overall the feeling of a 4-5 stars hotel, but with the warm welcome and the helpful suggestions Mara gave us every time we needed them.
Warm, clean, perfectly managed and friendly, when we most needed it."

Exceeded our expectations

"We stayed at the Mara House for six nights in November. Having read all the fantastic reviews we wondered if the Mara House would live up to our expectations. It did in every way. The rooms were large, spotless, well decorated and very comfortable. The beds great.

We really appreciated the stocked refrigerator (at reasonable prices). It was wonderful to return after a long day of touring and not have to lug back water, drinks and snacks.

Mara and her staff were great. We really appreciated that we could fully trust and rely on Mara’s advice, the Mara House drivers and tours (with no detours for shopping). Mara’s map got us oriented and kept us from getting lost. Her restaurant suggestions were fantastic.

Our only disappointment was that the restaurant was closed for remodeling during our stay.

Just a note: the Mara House is in a residential/small business neighborhood. As tourists we were obvious “outsiders.” But except for the children wanting to talk to us, no one took much notice of us (actually nice after running into one tout after another on the corniche). Further, we had zero safety concerns.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and were very happy that we hadn’t chosen the cocooned artificial reality of the chain hotel. Our experience of Luxor would have been very different if we had and not nearly as memorable.

As a last note we also stayed in the Mara House Apartments in Cairo and have a great time there as well."

A fantastic experience - Thank you Mara!

"Staying at Mara House was a fantastic experience. We travelled to Egypt with our two daughters, aged 7 and 9. Our suite at Mara House was charming and you could see that a lot of love, care and attention to detail was exercised in the building and decoration. Family accommodation in Luxor is limited and this was a great find. Set in a friendly neighbourhood and close enough to walk to the station, the town, Luxor Temple and the Nile. The personal service and Mara’s orientation of Luxor and the vicinity insured that we maximised our limited time there. All of the staff were welcoming and made us feel right at home. The breakfast was great too! I would recommend Mara’s without a doubt!"

A home away from home!

"I traveled to Egypt recently with my two eldest (13 yo girl and 11 yo boy..) Our timetable did not permit us to take a tour and I was a bit daunted by all the arrangements that I needed to make to see the sites (even though I am a lonely planet fan and have been to Egypt before). In addition, standard hotel rooms are not great for our traveling configuration. I came across Mara House on Trip Advisor and shot off an email to Mara.

I received a reply very quickly and called her to make arrangements. She arranged all transfers as well as guides. In addition, she made suggestions (that turned out to be fantastic) about what and how to see things in Luxor.

We arrived late in the evening from Cairo and she was there to greet us. The rooms were amazing - clean and very comfortable. The service was impeccable [I made the mistake of leaving dirty clothes in a pile and they were taken away, washed and pressed gratis!] and breakfasts were very tasty.

Mara was a pleasure to talk to, and her knowledge of Luxor is fantastic. She also took time to talk to my kids and found out what they enjoyed, how their day was etc.

I would heartily recommend Mara to anyone who is traveling to Luxor, and I would go back in a heartbeat. My one regret is that I could not find anyone comparable in Cairo!"

More than just a Guesthouse

"Mara's readily given help & advice makes this more than just a nice place to stop - it is also a place to get assistance in arranging onward travel. We arrived in Luxor, and our only concrete plan was to fly out of Aswan four days later.

Immediately upon arrival, Mara sat us down and went through our options with us, and within an hour and a half we'd settled on an itinerary that allowed us to take in as much as possible. Through her connections we managed to get on a cruise at the last minute, and on her advice, managed to sort some cheap return flights to Abu Simbel. I'd emphasize that Mara did not put together a package for us (the onus was always on us to finalise arrangements), but as independent travellers, her advice was absolutely invaluable. On the basis of our discussion with her, we ended up leaving the next day, so it's clear she doesn't let her own commercial interests get in the way of providing her customers with the best advice.

The place is spotless, the staff are friendly and helpful, and there's a great restaurant. One thing I'd recommend to other travellers is to pay attention when venturing out from Mara House for the first time. In the event you are walking back or have the misfortune to have a taxi driver who hasn't heard of the place, it can be hard to find the place unless you took note of its location."

Perfect to see Luxor and Mara's advice on which temples to see was spot on

"This is a fantastic alternative to a hotel, you get plenty of room seperate lounge/kitchenette that is perfect for a stay.

Mara can advise on temples and local places to eat, I went with a friend and we had some of the best food on those two nights.

Very welcoming like a home from home."

Mara House is very well

"The stay at Mara was very well. We crossed an excellent sejour in this guest house which looks like a small palace of the thousand one at nights. Rooms are very pleasant and the decoration is a good mixture of style egyptien and European. Mara is very helpful and can organize you exits towards sites. It is a pity the restaurant is closed, because the cooking was to be famous..."

Very good and friendly service

"Our daughter fell ill while we were in Egypt and we needed a different antibiotic from the one which the Egyptian doctor had prescribed a few days earlier. We were supposed to be leaving early that morning at 8am for our day tour to the Valley of the Kings and other places. As the pharmacy only opened at 10am, Mara very kindly went and got the antibiotics for us when it opened and had it brought out to us (in a cooler bag, as we requested) in the Valley of the Kings which was some distance away. This was key for us as we were able to continue our tour without disruption and our daughter got the necessary medication and was also able to tour the tombs with us in the Valley of the Kings.

Mara was very friendly and definitely did her best to accommodate our requests. She would often give us her friendly tips and insights into temples in Luxor.

Dinner at the house was very good and we only wished it was available every night. Also very useful to have WiFi in the downstairs sitting area.

Comfortable rooms although the airconditioning could be a bit noisy and too cold if the bedroom door was shut completely. We had an upper floor flat that was spacious, with 2 bedrooms and it was nice having that space when you have children."

A brilliant alternative to big hotels!

"Mara is a fund of practical advice and support. She will spare no energy in solving her guests problems and helping them to get the most out of their trip. We loved our room - very large and full of Egyptian character. Breakfast was terrific.

The location is a bit of a hike from the Nile but Mara provides a map and written info including what to pay the taxi driver, etc. We printed some of Mara's blogs which were really helpful especially amounts to tip throughout Egypt, arrival visas, etc. We would highly recommend Mara House and we are booked to go back ourselves."

Priceworth and adequate hotel with excellent tour arrangement services

"Mara helped us to plan our visit to Luxor, West Bank, Abydos, and Dendera in a very flexible and optimum way, and made our long week-end a very good memory."

We booked this hotel based on Tripadvisor feedback. If you are going to Luxor so should you. Great place and great owner

"We booked this hotel after reading lots of reviews on Tripadvisor - and they were all pretty much right. The suites are very roomy and comfortable, air conditioning in bedroom was good.

And the minibar was a delight - the first time I have ever bought things in this way and not felt ripped off.

Plenty to eat for breakfast - and very varied, changed each day. We would suggest eating in your room rather than the roof. More relaxing and less flies.

Sadly Mara's restaurant wasn't open (she hopes to open in January once she has a licence), but she did cook one night. If you get a chance to eat an egyptian meal - grab it. we did, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Some earlier feedback has commented on the location. Best thing we can suggest is look at a map before you book. Its about 10 minutes walk behind the station - through an shopping, residential, working area. Fascinating, and always safe. We coped in over 40 degree heat, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and talking to the children all of whom wanted to say hello.

The staff ('Mara's boys') were always smiling, always helpful, and always attentive. If you stay there, they deserve a large tip when you leave!

And finally Mara. Earlier reviews made her sound larger than life, and perhaps she was a little. We'll leave her to explain her love of egypt and egyptology to you - suffice to say that she was there to greet us warmly when we arrived, answered all our questions, was full of useful information, and always had a cup of tea to offer you when you arrived back at the hotel. On her advice we booked the Abydos and Dendara trip, and a car/driver for the day to see the Valley of the Kings and other West Bank sites. Both good value - no hastle, no unnecessary stops at the driver's cousin's shop etc.

All those earlier reviews were pretty accurate. we can't all be wrong. If you are going to Luxor stay at the Mara House - if we go again, we will."

Mara can customize your visit to Luxor as good if not better than any tour operator

"From the minute we walked in the door we were made feel extremely welcome. Mara had a welcome package which detailed the going rates for different activities and also how much to tip which was extremely helpful. If you want she can plan your stay making sure you see all the essential sights in and around Luxor. Couldn't rate her help and organization highly enough."

a pleasant change from big hotels

"Mara's House is a bit off the beaten track but makes a pleasant change from big corporate hotel chains . Each room is actually a mini appartment- living room and separate bedroom - with tasteful simple decorations in keeping with Egypt. A small kitchenette and big fridge are also handy. The one thing not really up with the rest is the shower room/toilet which is basic to say the least and is on Mara's to do list!

The main benefit of staying with Mara, apart from the more personalised feel, is that she has a good network of contacts so tours , taxis and things like that can be arranged with confidence. Also, she sells beer , water and snacks at their Egyptian prices rather than the ludicrous multiples of the bigger hotels.

Mara , being of Irish origin, is also able to have long discussions with you about the wonders of Egypt and their links with other parts of Western Europe - good over a nice cup of mint tea or a beer."

Mara's House is without a doubt the best place to stay in Luxor

"Mara's house is one of the best places we have ever stayed in hour history of travels. Generally a place to stay is just that - a place to drop your gear and spend the night. Mara's House is very different - it was part of our experience. It is a unique place with a unique caretaker that really goes out of her way to make your visit memorable. Mara is part historian, part host, part chef, part tour guide and part trip plannner. If you really want to experience Egypt and Luxor in a way that is truly memorable, take our advice and stay at Mara's House - you will not be disappointed."

My stay at Mara House Luxor
"I have just returned from an amazing holiday in Egypt. I stayed at Mara House in Luxor for two nights and I must say it was a wonderful place to stay (a home away from home). Mara and her staff were so helpful and accommodating she allowed us early check in, late check out, complimentary tea/coffee, loads of advice/guidance on how to get the best from our holiday.

If we needed a taxi it was called immediately (at no extra charge) all these little things made out holiday extra special. I could see that Mara House is not just another hotel in Luxor, It is a meeting place for travellers and advice centre and above all a sanctuary away from all the noise and madness which is part of Egypt.

Finally, I just can't wait to return and want to thank Mara and her staff for making our holiday a wonderful experience to treasure in the long winter ahead."

good for travelers with young children

"I and my wife traveled with our two small kids (3 &1 yr old) in September, when it was unbearably hot. However, thanks to Mara and her wonderful staff, our family enjoyed their hospitality, useful advice, and flexibility to my family and could spend the intriguing time in Luxor and brought a wonderful memory from there.

Mara prepared very useful and practical advice for serious travelers who want to feel the real sense of ancient civilization in Luxor. She is a wonderful story teller about history and culture.

The facility is cozy with fine decoration, attached with a restaurant which offers wonderful Egyptian meals. If you hesitate to visit Luxor because of your small accompanies, just contact Mara. She will find a solution for you.

Just a minor suggestion. It could have been better if we had more choices or variety in breakfast and lunch prepared by the House when we took a tour."

Fabulous, didn't want to leave

"Mara House was excellent - partly the spare but beautiful appointed rooms, and mostly the expert advice and support of its proprietor, Mara.

She proffered advice as to where to eat, where to purchase chandeliers like the ones throughout her hotel (alas the store did not have them in stock), and with her passion for Egyptian antiquities and the fascinating alternative theories possible around them, excellent advice as to where to go for tours. I had very little time there - 2 full days and 1 one night - but her recommendation to go to see the temples Abydos & Dandera was dead on.

The hotel has a lovely dining area, sitting room/bar, a roof garden. Breakfast is included and served in your room. On some days - and I was lucky enough to sample this before I went to catch my flight - a delicious Egyptian tasting menu is served - and if you like, it can be delivered to your room.

Mara herself is an Irishwoman who has been in Egypt for 8 years, so she knows all the ins-and-outs of Westerners travelling in Egypt, dealing with local inhabitants very keen to sell you something and so forth. Ask her about her life story and her thoughts on ancient Egypt, and she'll be happy to tell you!

All in all a very satisfying stay!"

Best service in Egypt, fantastic place!

"Mara house was the best place we stayed in Egypt. Our room was light, clean and incredibly spacious. Mara was amazingly helpful. She Organised tours for us, provided detailed maps and directions and provided us with a great understanding of the local area and it's attractions.

Mara went above and beyond any service my partner and have ever recieved by helping us when our Egypt air flight to Aswan apparently didn't exist. Egypt air were of no assistance despite the fact we had booked and paid for the flight all they could tell us is they no longer fly to Aswan!

With no idea what to do we called Mara and she came to our rescue by organising a driver to pick us up from the airport and drive us to Aswan. The driver was there within 15 minutes of our call.

Mara house is a great place to stay and I guarantee you will nit be dissappointed!"

The real Luxor

"Several folk have wirtten about Mara's hospitality, her pre-arrival service and advice, her support and friendliness - I can say little more other than agree. I was very pleased to find that I had chosen such a great place to stay. The rooms were pleasantly set up in an Egyptian style that made me feel I had arrived. Mar'as guidance and advice was great, too. Perhpas most of all for me, was the location. I loved living in the "real" luxor and not in some super fancy, high priced hotel that was just like every other hotel in the US or elsewhere. Mara's had warmth and a sense of belonging. I enjoyed walks through the lanes and streets of luxor around Mara's. And when I later needed help, Mara was a great help. I hope that I may return some time soon."

Perfect for our needs

"Was safe, convenient and perfect for our needs.

We did multiple tours arranged by Mara and can recommend these as well - especially the trip to Dendara and Abydos. In terms of sights this was by far the best experience on our 10 day trip to Cairo, Giza, Luxor and Aswan.

As someone wrote it's not the Ritz - but if your read through the reviews you will get a very accurate description of what to expect. "

Like visiting an old friend

"This is not so much a hotel as staying at the house of an old friend. Mara makes the place worth coming to. The hotel is immaculate, with breakfast each day delivered to your door (included). Our room only had air conditioning in the bedroom, and there was no elevator (lift), but this did not detract from the experience. Mara's is not on the main drag, but not too far from the temples. The neighborhood is a little run down, maybe it looked worse because the building across the street had just been demolished, and the place is a little hard to find, but Mara takes care of you. She has tour guides if you want to use them that are honest, no baksheesh and no unwanted "shopping" trips. There is free wireless internet, and although it doesn't reach to some of the rooms, you can go down to the large air conditioned sitting room off the lobby and use the internet (and they will brew you a coffee, tea or karkaday, no charge) It's not the Ritz, but a really great place for travellers."

A rare and special place!

"Upon arrival at Mara House, with its pale pink facade, white tiled steps leading through an impressive glass and wrought iron entry, I knew I had discovered someplace unique. There are not enough superlatives for this exquisite hotel, a veritable oasis in Luxor, located in a quiet residential neighborhood, a short walk from the train station and central Luxor.

Wonderful interior design, very spacious, beautifully decorated rooms, sumptious breakfasts, and, on occasion, special "Egyptian" dinners served on the lovely roof-top garden/terrace await the fortunate guest. Do take advantage of the various excursions, local and further afield, offered by Mara House; not only excellent value, one is assured a totally rewarding and hassle-free experience, as Mara insists on using only the most reputable guides and drivers.

Finally, along with the incredibly warm, welcoming, helpful, hotel staff, there is Mara herself, who truly cares about her guests and will do whatever necessary to ensure the best possible holiday. And one is well-advised to avail themselves of Mara's vast knowledge of Egypt, past and present; it only adds to the delightful experience that is Mara House."

Restful in Luxor!

"We were travelling for the first time to Egypt and are normally Marriott people. However there were no Marriotts in Luxor so we went to the trusty Trip Advisors forum...and did we score. When we started to search for lodging one location kept coming up with amazing reviews and that was Mara House.

We starting emailing Mara with our travel times and she did the rest. She was able to provide a driver to meet us at the airport and any other time we might have needed one. She also had day trips to the various temples and sites that she was able to recommend. The tour guide that was provided was incredible and very well versed in English. (To be a legitimate tour guide in Egypt they must attend the University for 4 years and get their degree).

Mara's staff is very helpful and accommodating. Her staff are very hard working, due to the high standards that Mara has set. This even goes for the drivers and the tour guides...all are very professional while being very friendly and helpful.

The rooms are very spacious and the breakfast provided is wonderful. It gets you ready for a full day of sightseeing.

While you are there, don't miss out of the stories that Mara has about the history. It is a MUST!"

Superb

"In the sometimes intimidating Luxor, Mara House is an oasis. Mara is a delight to meet, the rooms are clean and wonderfully decorated, and the breakfast is very nicely done. Couldn't recommend it more highly."

Western Sanctuary in Luxor

"My husband and I just got back from Egypt and It was a great trip. By the time we got to Luxor, we were seeking rest after being sick for two days. Mara house provided that for us by having beautiful clean rooms. She also said we could order in from mc donalds and pizza hut and we definately took her up on that offer. Breakfast is included and its delicious. Air conditioning in rooms as well. Rooms are huge, hot water works, everything is super clean. Mara helped us get in touch with our tour guide and provided us with sheets as to how to deal with taxis around luxor. Even though the hotel is located off the beaten path - its worth it. Most people in Luxor know of it as well."

great place to stay

"Staying at Mara House is the most comfortable and secure experience when travelled to Egypt. My husband and I spent a lot of time at Mara's well decorated living room, for breakfast, for waiting before dinner and late night bar.....

it's wonderful! Can't wait to go back again!"

Best hotel in Egypt

"Really. The owners are native English speakers; we came to the hotel at about 11 p.m. having no reservation, and they have found for us beautiful large room. Next morning Mara - the owner of the hotel -- saved our trip. We were unable to get train tickets -- we had to move on the next day to Cairo but at the local ticket office they said that all the trains are 'full up' for the next 10 days and there was no choice for the foreigner to get from Luxor to Cairo. Mara asked one person of her staff to help us, and this wizard-looking gentlemen went to the train station and brought us the tickets.
At the hall of the hotel there are lots of albums with the views of Luxor; people of the hotel can recommend the must-see and must-not-see places.
Actually, this hotel was the best and the most beautiful place in the whole Egypt."

Would not stay anywhere else in Luxor

"My girlfriend and I are traveling for one year so we use tripadvisor a lot to find places to stay. When the number 1 ranking is in an affordable range we usually try to book it. Sometimes, unfortunately, we've been disappointed with the number one ranking. Mara house however, was not one of those times. Our room was massive (biggest on our trip so far), and completely spotless. The shower was hot and the breakfast was good. The staff were all very friendly and attended to all your needs. The best thing about Mara house though is Mara herself. She is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Egypt. The tour and the egyptologist she recommended for us was fantastic (Abydos and Dendara). We normally do not partake in tours but we were really happy we did this one (and no they don't take you to all those stupid shops or factories that tour groups are usually taken to). If you want to learn about the mysteries of Egypt, Mara is the person to talk to and we wouldn't stay anywhere else in Luxor.."

Home away from home!

"Had a delightful stay at Mara House. When one of us got very sick, we were so grateful for Mara's sage advice about battling mummy tummy. The room was incredible - kitchenette, two bedrooms, living area and balcony and it was a pleasant surprise to be in a neighborhood as opposed to a tourist district. Enjoyed the Saladin's feast one evening and it was a real treat .

Can't say enough about Mara and her staff who took great care of us in Luxor. If you do book this hotel, print out the directions and take them with you. As the website cautions, it's not well known to drivers/guides."