Welcome to Mara House – A Place Like No Other
When I first imagined Mara House, I didn’t set out to build a hotel. Actually, I set out to build one apt that ended up becoming a whole floor of a large 4 storey building plus roof top! But as the walls went up, my vision took shape. But I was still not thinking “hotel”. I wanted to create a home — a place where people could feel grounded while discovering Egypt, a place full of beauty, stories, and soul. A place where visitors would be safe from the usual tourist traps and get the real tips and true stories.
Over the years, Mara House has quietly grown into something far more special than I ever envisioned. It’s not just where guests sleep while visiting Luxor — it becomes a part of their Egypt experience. At the end of my 2024 group tour I decided to make some changes to my future group tours. Read why I am offering up to 3 extra nights free at Mara House before the tours begin.
If you’re searching for somewhere real, personal, and meaningful to stay while in Egypt, I invite you to explore what makes Mara House unique.
Tucked into the Heart of Real Egypt
We’re located on Salah al-Din al-Ayoubbi Street — yes, named after the great Saladin of Crusader fame. Unlike the polished hotel zones, our neighborhood is ordinary (in Luxor that translates to “nothing special on the outside, but inside….!), warm, and filled with everyday Egyptian life. Families live here in multigenerational homes, kids play on the streets in the summer, and weddings are often celebrated right outside our door. In the early mornings, the call to prayer marks the start of a new day.
Many of our guests tell me this was one of the unexpected highlights of their stay — the quiet joy of seeing how people here really live.
A Home Steeped in Stories and Memory
Walk through our big, ornate iron doors, and you step into a different world — one that blends Egyptian, Turkish, and Ottoman influences with a deep sense of history. You’ll find photographs, antiques, fabrics, and stories tucked into every corner. One of my proudest features of Mara House is our downstairs bar, where the walls are covered with one of the largest private collections of images of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty — from Muhammad Ali Pasha himself all the way to the present-day descendants. This collection grew from a personal discovery that connected my own family history to this royal lineage — a twist I never expected when I began building in a street named after Saladin.
Whether you’re a lover of history, the out-of-the-ordinary, or just human stories — there is something powerful about being surrounded by this dynasty’s faces and legacies – and this project is not finished yet.
More Than a Room – Suites That Feel Like Home
At Mara House, I didn’t want you to just “book a room.” Every guest suite includes a bedroom, bathroom, and your own private sitting room with a balcony — a space to breathe, unwind, and be yourself. Our Family Suites offer two or three bedrooms, ideal for families or friends traveling together.
Our guests often say it’s the first time on their holiday that they really felt at ease — like they had come home. And for me, Egypt is my home, a home I am happy to share with you, even if only for a short time.
The Salahadeen Feast – Our Signature Dining Experience
One of the things we’re best known for is our in-house restaurant and the “Salahadeen Feast.” This experience is something my son Stephen and his wife Sara created together, and it’s one of the things that brought Mara House to the top of TripAdvisor for many years. Though we’re no longer open to the public, our Feast remains a highlight for in-house guests only — and we often vary the dishes for those who want to enjoy it more than once during their stay.
Chef Amr, who also manages the house, learned to cook from his mother — and you can taste that love and authenticity in every dish. We use fresh, seasonal ingredients, and the Feast is served in three elegant courses, featuring 15 traditional dishes that celebrate the richness of Egyptian and Arabian cuisine.
Our Rooftop Terrace – A Hidden Oasis
After a long day exploring Luxor’s ancient wonders, there’s no better place to rest than our rooftop. It’s a quiet space where you can watch the stars come out EVERY night. In 2027, we’ll have a front-row view of the total solar eclipse from up here — and I can’t think of a better spot to witness it.
Who Stays at Mara House?
Our guests are independent travelers, families, retirees, digital nomads, slow travel lovers, — people who want more than just a checklist of tourist sites. They want connection, insight, good food, relaxation and peace. They want the freedom to explore Egypt at their own pace, with support and real hospitality behind them.
Some book the whole house for family reunions, private group tours, or even destination weddings. Others come for healing, rest, or inspiration. I’ve seen lifelong friendships made over breakfast here — and that means more to me than any review ever could.
More Than a Hotel — A Living Story
You can see Mara House evolve through the years in our photo history (working on making it live on the site soon), browse our suite photos online, or smile through the guest photo gallery that fill another of our pages. I also keep a guestbook of the reviews we’ve received over the years — a testament to the many lives that have passed through our doors. We consistently ranked in the top 3 on TripAdvisor for Luxor until 2024, when Egypt’s American market slowed — but the spirit of Mara House hasn’t changed. We’re still here, and we’re ready to welcome you.
Want to Stay With Us?
This isn’t a hotel chain. This is my home. And if you stay here, I’ll do my best to make it feel like yours too.
More Essential Guides
Meet Mara
Hi, I’m Mara — the heart behind Mara House Luxor.
Over twenty years ago, I came to Egypt on an ordinary tour. It was enjoyable… but while it was not a deep, soul-stirring journey, I felt like I had come home. So I returned — and over time I created the kind of memorable experiences for you that I should have had first time.
What makes me different?
I don’t just want you to see Egypt — I want you to feel it, but even I am still learning. Through my blog and in person, I tell the stories behind the stones, so you can imagine the real people who once lived here, walked these temple floors, and shaped this extraordinary land. No made-up tales, no polished-over legends — just truth, heart, and a little magic.
Together with my small Egyptian team, I create honest, personal, unforgettable journeys — whether you’re here for a few days at Mara House or travelling across the country with us.
If you’d like help planning a meaningful and worry-free stay in Egypt, just drop me an email — I respond personally:
📧 maraegypt@gmail.com
The highlight of our Egyptian trip!
My family and I loved staying at Mara House. Amr is a fantastic chef and manager who looked after us very well and we enjoyed his cooking. It was a wonderful Egyptian holiday for us, and we highly recommend staying at Mara house. The house is beautifully decorated and the dining room is especially gorgeous!
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!
What a great find!!!! Hospitality, hsopitality and a little bit more!
What a superb find in Luxor for a family (2 adults and 2 teenagers) to explore the local sights. As soon as we arrived, we met the incredibly hospitable Amr and He provided tea on arrival. The apartment was incredibly clean and well presented, and unique with a more traditional feel. The beds were extremely comfortable (which is major plus for us!), and the linens were soft and plentiful. Breakfast was amazing, with a wide variety of local cuisine. A short walk into the main tourist areas through local streets all added up to an amazing experience. If we were to visit Luxor again in the future, we would definitely choose Mara House.
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
Thanks for an amazing stay!
Wow! An oasis! A charming little hotel more like a bend and breakfast. Spacious and comfortable rooms like a step back in time. Amr and Aylie take great care of you tending to your every need. The Salahadeen feast has to be experienced. So delicious! Mo is an amazing tour guide. Very knowledgeable, keeps you away from the crowds. Mara has great recommendations for tours. Highly recommend!!
Travelled as family in Nov 2023. Reviewed on Tripadvisor
Step back in Time
For an authentic experience, leave the modern hotels behind and enjoy the charm of an Ottoman-styled, private house with rich brocades and oriental furnishings. Modern plumbing and a/c, fridge, kettle and sink keep one in the 21st century (CE!).
Manager Amr is a great chef and attentive to culinary tastes. Enjoy the roof deck in the cooler months.
Mara and Amr arranged great tours for me.
All must be paid for up front and in cash. Bring lots!
I had a great stay in Mara House.
Travelled solo. Reviewed on TripAdvisor
Best place
Just got back from a fabulous stay at Mara House. Our two bedroom suite was spacious and comfortable. The loaded bar was a pleasant surprise, especially with the reasonable prices’
So you really at home, if you want see the real Egypt and experience the local
Date of stay: August 2023 Trip type: Travelled with family. Reviewed on TripAdvisor
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 🙂👌
Wonderful stay for one night. Super helpful and responsive hosts even though the main person was injured. We managed with what’s app and the young guy who was there was really attentive despite the language barrier. Nothing was too much trouble. He kindly ordered a taxi for us and later re-sent it to pick us up. Breakfast was great too. Mara was very helpful even before we arrived with lots of tips. Highly recommended.
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
Fantastic Guest House
My wife and I, both in our 70’s, stayed here for 5 days in Luxor with tour arrangements handled by Mara and her team for Aswan and Cairo. I was surprised by some recent negative reviews but understand that some people might have unrealistic expectations of a guest house in the third world. We feel the tradeoffs in exchange for the benefits surpassed our expectation, even without considering the low price for our stay. We have travelled extensively in Asia over the years and plan our trips far in advance in order to achieve the best possible experience. Mara was willing to put up with my frequent emails full of questions.
The suite was huge with a separate sitting room and bedroom, both full of antiques. Our wifi worked perfectly. We had a frig in the room. The bathroom is typical for a guest house and is as described on the web site. We had plenty of hot water and the shower drained onto the perfectly sloped floor and was dry and clean within 3-5 minutes. We always bring our own soap, shampoo, and tissues on trips which we have found needed at guest houses even in Europe.
Food was excellent. Breakfasts were enough for two meals. We expressed interest in local foods so Amr prepared different foul and soft Egyptian cheeses for us daily. Each day we had a sampling of local pastries, fresh bread and in season fruits. A vegetarian feast was served at our request one evening, and we had the best koshary of our trip one day for lunch. Most of our dinners were taken in local restaurants. Transportation was arranged for us which came on time and was always ready for us when we were ready to depart. Amr even accompanied us shopping, to places we chose, without being dragged to the large group tour stores with their inflated prices and commissions as is typical of Egypt. He also went with us on a caleche tour as well as a felucca trip to make sure everything went smoothly.
We felt that we had been welcomed into a private home, with children interacting with us and avoided the sterile atmosphere of a hotel.
We chose Mara specifically because we felt that her relationships with local guides and transport would be vastly superior to random guides arranged by a large hotel. We were not disappointed. We spent two days on the west bank, one on the east, and another on a trip to Abydos and Dendera, all accompanied by her inhouse guide Mo.
Mo accompanied us to Aswan stopping at Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo on the way. We spent three additional days with him in Aswan. He even called us twice to check on us after we got to Cairo.
Tours in Cairo were arranged through Mara as well. She even set up an expeditor to get us through the airport in Cairo on arrival and departure smoothly, much faster than we could have managed on our own-also typical of third world travel.
I think that those with negative reviews might have had unrealistic expectations. We felt that we had a great experience at a low price.
Travelled as couple in May 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.
Very comfortable with extra hospitality
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
Hiiiii! Home away from Home in Luxor!
It was a pleasant surprise, fun, and the food was delicious! If you want to have an experience not in city center with an Egyptian family. This place is perfect. And it’s immaculate too!
Amir and his family became our friends. Every single thing we needed or wanted was there for because of Amir! He was the best!!!!! We even went shopping with him in town.
However, if you want to spend time with Mara bc you are interested in the mystical, mysterious part of Om Setty make sure she is there. She is not often there. That was my one disappointment.
Travelled as couple Feb 2023 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
Charming hotel and great hospitality
My family and I recently stayed at Mara House and all the credit of our enjoyable stay goes to Amr. Amr, who did everything from taking our bags up three flights of stairs, made us hot tea to welcome us, ordered pizza for our lunch, arranged a taxi to take us to the sites we wanted to see, and, with his wife, made us an amazing dinner and breakfast, is really what made Mara House worth the visit.
I will admit that I had trepidations prior to arriving at Mara House. Mara, the owner, does not come off the best during text exchanges and made me curious as to how she has managed to stay in the hospitality business. I was genuinely worried about how our stay was going to go and if we were to be treated well once we arrived.
Thankfully, Amr more than made up for any hesitation that I had and truly made us feel welcome and taken care of.
As for Mara House itself, it is a very charming place albeit not in the best location. We stayed in many different hotels during our Egypt trip, including The Fairmont in Cairo and The Four Seasons in Alexandria, however Mara House definitely stands out as a unique and wonderful memory in our travels. I would highly recommend staying there, especially for those who enjoy more intimate experiences in their travels.
Travelled with family Dec 2022 Reviewed on TripAdvisor Jan 2023
This is the PLACE to stay to be welcome and personal and not being just one more tourist in Luxor
AMAZING, words cannot describe how welcome and cosy my family felt while staying at Mara House!. The site is a true oasis in the middle of Luxor, and I am not only talking about the house itself but also about the cherished service we were provided by Amr and his family who is the house manager; we never felt like one more guest in hotel chain but rather we felt like friends or family invited to stay and it that way you get a perspective of how Egyptians live by staying in a real Egyptian house rather than a hotel. With that in mind Mara House is not for you if you are looking for a big hotel chain with restaurants, buffet, swimming pool, luxury, lots of tourists, big reception desk and people working around in suits; Mara House is about being independent, free spirits, and have different points of view of Egypt; and YES you should order The Salahadeen Feast dinner because I can guarantee you that it will be the best meal you will have in your Egyptian vacation because it is cooked with love like your granny will do and it taste delicious.
Apart from staying at Mara House we also booked our entire Egypt tours with her, from Cairo to Luxor, including the Nile Cruise and some add on sites we wanted to see; Mara did a pristine job on coordinating everything and providing information along the way (both at the time of booking but also when we were in Egypt) and despite we had an issue with a driver pick up at the airport in Cairo; Mara quickly corrected it and even reimburse us for that pick up without having to ask her to do it.
I would truthy recommend Mara and her team for your Egyptian adventures.
Travelled with family Dec 2022. Reviewed on TripAdvsor
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.
I am 63 years old and Egypt has been on my bucket list for long time. We only had 12 days to see as many sites in Egypt as possible so we made the decision to hire Mara and her team in Luxor and we were very very happy we did. Her team (Mohamad and Mohamad) made the most of our time there and toured us through all the most important sites with their knowledge, ease and grace. Mohamad’s tours were informative and comfortable and adapted to our particular interests. I highly recommend Mara’s team’s tour services!
In regards to her hotel, it was as expected – very nice. Mara’s manager, Amr, accommodated all our special requests and he even arranged and joined us on a feluca sailboat ride on the Nile. The one downside of her hotel is it is located probably 15 minutes walking distance from downtown. Amr solved that problem with several $1-2 taxi rides with his favorite taxi person.
Travelled Oct 2022. Reviewed on TripAdvisor Nov 2022
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.
If you’re coming to Luxor do yourself a favor and stay at Mara’s. Beautiful property, wonderful staff, delicious food. We had a seamless pick up from the airport (including a return trip to pick up lost luggage that Amr helped track down), on time pick up each day and an enthusiastic and knowledgable guide.
Amr and his family are fantastic hosts, kindly asking about our day and welcoming us into the space. Food was incredible.
My favorite day was the second, with the trip to Dendera. While the ride was long, it was comfortable and intriguing to see what life in Egypt is like outside of Cairo and Luxor proper. On my last day I had 12 hours in Cairo before flying out and Mara arranged a whirlwind visit to the pyramids, sphinx and Cairo Museum. Our guide had a PhD in Hieroglyphics and was extremely valuable in navigating all three locations.
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.
I chose Mara House because of her helpful and informative blog. I found Mara herself to be equally helpful and informative at all stages of my travel planning. She knows Egypt well and was invaluable at helping us to prioritise what we could do during our short stay.
For us, the highlight of the trip was Cairo. Mara’s guide Suzy was excellent–knowledgeable, friendly, and overall a complete delight. She helped us negotiate our camel ride at Giza and buy things at the grocery store without getting ripped off, and she directed us to restaurants with prices printed on the menus so we didn’t have to negotiate the price of dinner. She made visiting Cairo completely hassle-free, which was just wonderful for us.
We also enjoyed staying at Hotel Steigenberger in Cairo, which booked through Mara. She was able to match the price of booking.com but threw in free breakfast for the 5 of us (and the breakfast was excellent!).
In Luxor itself, we had a nice stay too. Mara House is a B&B off the beaten path. Our room was very spacious–more room than we needed for our family of 5, which was a surprise and delight. Amr was friendly and hospitable and a great home cook. We were surprised to have our sleep disturbed at dawn by the call to prayer, but in retrospect we shouldn’t have been–that’s just life in an Islamic country! I think we would have preferred to stay closer to downtown Luxor, but again, in the context of a comprehensive travel solution that included a chauffeur for anywhere we wanted to go, it was not a deal-breaker.
Mohamed, our guide in Luxor, was also very knowledgeable and personable, and did his job as a tour guide well. However, I found him less assertive than Suzy at protecting us from the hassle of street vendors and unwanted “helpers” at various points along the way (especially on the Valley of Kings tour). I think Mohamed is empathetically looking out for the livelihoods of the people whose economic circumstances are regrettably not great by not denying them opportunities to earn tips–and I understand and even respect that (even though it feels a bit like emotional extortion to have to tip for a service that was neither desired nor useful). But I was a bit disappointed at the level of hassle for me while touring Luxor, especially after a perfect trip to Cairo with Suzy.
But all in all, I would recommend Mara House as a travel agency as well as a B&B. We had a great trip and the level of hassle was lower than it would have been without the presence of our guides and drivers in both destinations. And I very much appreciated Mara’s help as a travel planner–she saved me from several potential pitfalls and guided me towards a vacation we will always remember
Traveled as family of 5 Feb 2022. Reviewed on Tripadvisor April 2022
Booked 3 nights in Luxor and 3 nights in Cairo with tours
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
A great place to stay!
I have recently stayed at Mara House in Luxor Egypt and thoroughly enjoyed my time here!
I opted for a three night stay and the three day tour of Luxor.
The accommodations are incredible! The room really blew me away. It doesn’t feel like a hotel, it feels like someone’s home. The location is in a residential area but a short walk to downtown Luxor and the Nile. The staff are amazing. Amr, the property manager, literally went above and beyond to make sure the trip was perfect. I cannot speak more highly of someone who just wanted to actually make my stay nice! The room is immaculate, the showers are awesome, air conditioning is cols, internet is fast, and the breakfast was delicious.
Staying at Mara House was was highlight of my trip. Definitely recommend.
– Reviewed on TripAdvisor 14 Oct 2021 – booked Luxor 3 Nights Package
Words cannot describe how awesome Mara is. I am a seasoned solo traveler and never hired a guided tour, it’s not my thing. Until I found Mara.
I carefully plan my trips and I have never had major issues, but when I started researching the Egypt leg of my Middle East and Africa trip, I realized I may need to cave in and go on some sort of tour. Some sort… I didn’t want to go on these inflexible tours that did not leave me any time to wander by myself.
I started asking around, a friend of mine recommended me a tour guide that she said was “fantastic”. I asked him for quotes, he was promising me a great hotel but doing further research I was told that the hotel was in an area not up to North American standards (this is not exactly what the Egyptian person I consulted said but let’s leave it at that). In addition every service you think you are entitled to, as spelled out in your country’s Constitution or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in my case, is extra and this includes the use of toilet paper.
I then decided to ditch the guided tour and do it by myself, that is when I came across Mara’s web page. Her blogs helped me realize that I really needed help if I didn’t want to end up getting into a brawl over money in a foreign country. Her level of detail is second to none, for instance, when I got to the Cairo hotel, a suitcase lock and a box of antibiotics for gut bacteria were waiting for me. Her guides are deeply knowledgeable, respectful people and you are treated like a human being, not like cattle going in and out of a bus. Mara was extremely flexible with the schedule of tours, activities, time off to myself, arrival and departure times, etc… so many things to mention! Her house in Luxor is so beautiful and Amr’s cooking so incredible that I regret not having eaten enough, it was ridiculously hot in July after all. One day I will go back just for the cooking.
I could probably go on and on about Mara but at this point I am probably losing you, so I am getting to the deal maker for me. Mara’s service includes EVERYTHING, except for tips, and this should not come as a surprise if you read her blog about tips, which regretfully I did not, and it is on me. She goes above and beyond by paying extra to her tour guides so they do not make you waste an afternoon shopping at a bazaar in exchange for commissions, something that every tour guide does and would have bothered me. You can go to the bazaar by yourself if you want to, Mara’s tours leave a fair bit of time for you to do as you please if that is your preference. Don’t get me wrong, it is not the cheapest way to go but definitely the most money-wise one.
Sorry folks, getting to the end now. If you truly want to live the Egyptian experience within North American standards, Mara is your person. Her house is located in a Luxor neighbourhood, not in the five star hotels strip, and that is what I loved about it. The house has all the comforts: very spacious suites, comfortable beds, A/C, extremely clean and beautifully decorated. The cooking is sublime, I still dream about the food I could not eat because it was 46 degrees in the shade.
One last observation: if you suffer the hot weather avoid Egypt in July – August at all costs, unless you want to have the temples and tour guides all to yourself. Sometimes tolerating a bit of heat has its rewards.
Best of luck on your trip to Egypt and I hope you have as much of a blast as I did! If you don’t, there is an “I told you so” with your name on it. 🙂
Traveled solo July2019. Reviewed on TripAdvisor June 2020. Booked Luxor 3 Nights Package plus Cairo 3 Nights Package
Wonderful Egypt Vacation thru Mara House
I typically like to book events on my own for my trips. I was researching Egypt and realized that trying to get myself around was not going to be easy. As I searched online, I found Mara. I worked with her for several weeks to setup a 10 day visit to Cairo and Luxor. After many e-mails we basically came up with here standard tour….lol.
Mara and her setup guy / fixer in Cairo, Ahmed, made the entire time go very smoothly. Every day for the 5 days we were in Cairo, Ahmed met us at our hotel with the guide for the day and made sure everything was going well. The 5th day he gave us the Medieval Cairo tour himself. That was the day it rained and Cairo was totally flooded. In addition, we were to fly to Luxor that afternoon but no flights flew that day due to a sandstorm in Luxor. Ahmed helped us thru the whole ordeal including booking an extra hotel in Cairo for that night. Because of this problem our itinerary was messed up. Mara stepped in and made changes so that we still could do all the temples, etc. we had planned to do.
Also, this was during the corona virus scare. All of our flights inside and outside of Egypt were cancelled and changed. Ahmed helped to identify a direct flight to the US that got us home before any closure happened from Egypt.
Even will all the tenseness, we had a great visit. I would recommend, if you are doing your bucket list Egypt trip, give Mara a shout. I’m sure you will be happy you did.
PHENOMENAL
Wow what a lovely place Mara house is. Very easy to communicate with Mara who offered loads of advice to get the best from our stay. We had already booked all tours for our trip around Egypt so we didn’t use her travel services but I’m sure they would be great if the organisation and professionalism of her staff is any indication.
When we arrived, Amr noticed I used a walking stick and immediately offered us a lower floor room ( had booked room 8 on the top floor), which I thought was a very insightful gesture. As I have no problems with stairs we stuck with the original which was lovely. Sitting room, huge bedroom, wet room ( common in Egypt) and balcony. Amr is super helpful and showed us round the neighbourhood including how to get to the souk. Luxor is easy to navigate and Mara house is very well located, about 10 mins from the station and 15 from the souk.
We loved the neighbourhood. If you want to see real Luxor and not some carbon copy hotel on the tourist strip, then stay here. It’s real life – kids playing in the street and women making bread on their doorstep. The locals are friendly and when they greet you with a ‘welcome’ you know that they are being genuine and not trying to sell you something. It’s so refreshing in Egypt to not be hassled for a taxi/horse carriage/boat trip every time you step out of the door!
We ate in the hotel each night because after walking around Luxor all day we were simply too tired to go out again. And why would you when Amr prepares the most delicious meals for such a reasonable price. There is also beer and wine available to complement your meal.
Totally recommend Mara house. We certainly wouldn’t stay anywhere else if we come back to Luxor.
Traveled as couple. Feb 2020. Reviewed on TripAdvisor 2 March 2020.
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
If you are interested in more than the usual tour offerings to Egypt, do not look past Mara. She organises excellent tours out of Cairo as well as Luxor where Mara House is located. We did the Gayer Anderson House and Medieval Cairo walking tour. It wasn’t easy to find a tour that visited the former, and our guide Ahmed brought the stories of this amazing house to life. If you have an interest in Islamic architecture and art this gem of a house museum is truly a ‘must see’. All our guides organised through Mara were knowledgeable, with added inclusions built in such as the Solar Boat at Giza and Mummy room at the Egyptian Museum. Her tours might not be the cheapest but we found them to be excellent value for the standard of guiding provided.
Booking directly with Mara was easy, all replies were prompt and I found her blog to be an excellent resource for planning our first trip to Egypt. Mara House itself is in a residential part of Luxor but getting into town was easily arranged with taxis. Yes, the road outside is unpaved, yes it is in a local street with all the colour and noise that goes with it (bring ear plugs for the morning call to prayer) – however the welcome from Amr and the team is warm and genuine. Our room was large and spotlessly clean. The roof top garden would be a pleasant in the winter sun although we did not have time to use it.
If you are an independently minded traveller, looking for something outside of the usual tour offerings, I would not hesitate in recommending Mara and her capable team. We were very well looked after for our first trip to this amazing country.
Reviewed on TripAdvisor 22 Feb 2020 Cairo Holidays 3 Nights and Luxor Holidays 3 Nights packages
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 – Luxor 3 night package plus extra tours/nights
Me and my son were in Egypt Jan 5th to 19th for a liveaboard diving trip in Red Sea on “Emperor Echo”. On arrival to Cairo we were met by Ahmed tour guide, and spent 3 days doing tours with him. He was a great knowledgeable and intelligent guide. Flight to Luxor, and overnight stay in Mara House. In a morning 6 hours car ride to Marsa Alam. 7 days liveaboard diving. Met by Mara’s driver and transferred back to Luxor. Spent 3 nights in amazing HOUSE ( one has to see it to understand and appreciate the beauty of it!). We lived in 2 bedroom apartment. Housekeeper Amr was the nicest person we met on our trip. His cooking skills were amazing. Tour guide Mohamed showed us all the best of Luxor Temples for 3 days. All above accomodations were done before via emails conversations with Mara personally. She gave us plenty of valuable tips on whatever to expect on during the whole trip. Mara’s website is also very informative. I am and my son Martin are very happy we arranged all above activities with “Mara’s House”. Greatly recommended!
Reviewed on TripAdvisor 5 Feb 2020. Cairo package and Luxor Package
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!
We can’t thank Mara (for arranging) and Mo (for guiding) enough. We wanted to see a lot and we had a limited amount of time. Mo was so thorough and patient with us. He was such a wealth of knowledge and really made these ancient sites come to life. We would absolutely recommend any tour Mara is offering and would also highly recommend Mo as your guide. Thank you so much for making our time in Luxor so memorable!
Booked Tours in Luxor and Tours in Cairo
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 Tours in Luxor
Hi Mara,
Thank you for checking in and we really enjoyed our travels in Egypt. It was made truly special by you and your team!
My wife, Anjali, had this childhood dream of visiting the pyramids and Abu Simbel and I made her dream come true ably assisted by your excellent and professional team.
We were saved from all the hagglings which come associated with touristy places. Your team members made sure we were well informed and saved from anyone over charging us.
Mohammed I who guided us in Cairo was amazing and knowledgeable. Mohammed ll who guided us in Luxor and Aswan is truly remarkable and a treasure trove full of knowledge about everything. We spent the Maximum time with him and miss him already.
A special mention for all the drivers who drove us around in Cairo, Luxor-Aswan and Abu Simbel. They are RockStars!! Safe, smiling and humble guys!
I loved dealing with you Mara and cannot recommend you enough.
Keep in touch and keep doing the excellent work you all are doing!! Kudos!
Kindest Regards
Letter from Guest 8 Jan 2020
My husband and I just got back from Egypt and we had a wonderful time staying with Mara House during our time in Luxor. We took up her 3 day Luxor package (you can find the details on her website) which we found to be a great deal.
PRE-TRIP EXPERIENCE
Mara was very responsive to my emails, and she also helped to answer questions I had about the rest of Egypt e.g. the situation regarding protests in Cairo. She was also very accommodating in holding my preferred dates until I could confirm my availability.
On arrival to Luxor, although she was out of Luxor and busy with her group tour with other guests, she still made the effort to check-in on us during our stay, which we really welcomed.
ACCOMMODATION
(a) Room comfort
The room we got was HUGE. We got a spacious living area attached to the bathroom, and an equally spacious bedroom. Our room was beautifully decorated and reminded me so much of home. Everything is also very clean.
The bathroon is a wet bathroom with no shower partition but this didn’t bother us because we are Asian and many Asian countries have this sort of bathroom design. The bathroom uses a water heater that pre-heats a fixed volume of water when switched on, so you have to wait 30 minutes before using it, but the water is nice and hot once it is ready. If you indulge for too long the hot water will run out and you will need to wait for it to heat up again, but the amount that is heated each time is honestly sufficient for a normal length shower for one person (and even sufficient for two people if you don’t indulge).
The bedroom has both air-conditioning and a fan that is available for use. Wifi was hard to access as we were at the very top floor of the house but since we had a local sim card with plenty of mobile data, we didn’t mind this.
The comforts of this accommodation aren’t meant to match the luxuries of a 5 star hotel, so I think it will be very unfair to expect it to be of the same standard as that of a 5 star hotel.
(b) Location
Mara House is located in a residential area away from the main tourist belt. The airport is quite close at about 20 minutes drive away, and Luxor train station is at an easy walking distance.
We enjoyed a walk to the train station to explore the fruits and vegetable market and we were not hassled by anyone along the way; it is safe and a great look at local life. If we had more time in Luxor, I would have liked to walk all the way to Luxor temple and enjoy the beautiful promenade along the Nile.
Also, I wouldn’t call the streets outside Mara’s House ugly. I think they have a very quaint charm to them (in fact I think the street can be very pretty with its colours–have a look at my picture if you’ll like). This is REAL Egypt. If you do not like how real Egypt looks then you will probably have to stick strictly to the tourist belt and luxury hotels for the sanitized version of the country.
You might want to bring earplugs just in case, as the locals had a wedding party on one of the nights here, so it got quite noisy. But for the rest of our time here it was very peaceful and quiet. You will hear the call to prayer in the early morning, but we went back to sleep easily enough once it ended.
(c) Hospitality & Food
Although Mara was not around, Amr and his team still provided amazing hospitality in looking after us. Bottled water is complimentary and the snacks and drinks provided for sale are as good as local prices (way cheaper than back home, and also without any trouble of bargaining or facing any hassling).
You’ll get a good taste of Egyptian fare here and this was actually some of the best Egyptian food we’ve had on our trip. Everything is hygienic as well and we had zero stomach troubles during our stay. I have attached a photo of the Salahadeen feast we enjoyed as part of our package.
On our last day we wanted to get some souvenirs before returning to Cairo, so Amr actually took us out personally at night to the money changer first as we needed some EGP, then he took us to a trusted store and reminded us to bargain very hard 😉
TOUR PACKAGE
We took up Mara’s 3 day Luxor Package which covered one half day visit to Karnak temple and Luxor temple, one full day visit to Abydos and Dendera, and one full day visit to the best sights of the West Bank (e.g. Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepshut, Medinet Habu, Tomb of the Nobles and Tomb of the Workers).
There is a packed lunch provided for the long day to Abydos & Dendera (we had tuna mayo sandwiches with chips, chocolate croissant snacks, and water–simple, but good enough for me!). For the tour of the west bank we stopped at a restaurant overlooking the Nile and the food here was really good!
We had a great time on tour with Mohammed, and while visiting the Valley of the Kings it was revealed to us by other tour guides that “we were very lucky to have him because he was their professor”!!! I liked how his explanations were simple enough for the normal tourist who was not crazy about Ancient Egyptian lore e.g. my husband, while at the same time I could go a bit more crazy asking about every single detail I saw on the walls…
Note: Do NOT miss Dendera!!! It is mindblowingly beautiful. I have attached a photo of its beautifully first hypostyle hall with its restored colours.
CONCLUSION
Mara House served all our needs perfectly and was a home away from home for a country that could get a little difficult at times even for seasoned travellers like my husband and I.
I feel the need to mention that my husband and I are usually independent travellers and we did try visiting several sites in Egypt on our own without a guide… but going with a guide really makes a huge difference to your understanding and appreciation of the sites especially those from Ancient Egypt. For example, in the Temple of Philae in Aswan we were absolutely clueless as to what we were looking at even though I had found some information online as a reference of things to look out for. So I fully recommend going on tour with a good guide to the sites in Egypt as much as possible.
Lastly, I’ll like to mention that finding a host / tour provider that you can trust in Egypt is absolutely essential in keeping your trip pleasant.
As an example of how things can go sour very quickly, we unfortunately booked a horse riding day trip in Cairo that worked in “Egyptian ways” e.g. the tour ended up unlike what was marketed on their website; the guide didn’t bring us to a place where we had already paid entrance fee and then claimed to the owner it was a miscommunication issue due to language; the guide badgered us mid-tour for MORE tips when we already gave him 10USD at the start (as was requested by the owner to solve the problem of no change), the 3 hour ride became just 2 hours…
Thankfully we had none of that #@#$ during our stay with Mara. No feelings of being shortchanged or cheated, no feelings of being hassled for tips during your tour or being told your tips are not enough, and really just genuine, SINCERE hospitality, so that you can remember your trip and all the amazing sites you’ve seen with fond memories forever!!!!
Thank you, Mara, Amr, Mohammed, and the rest of the team with Mara House Luxor!
Travelled Nov 2019 – Couple. Luxor Holidays 3 nights – 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
I would highly recommend Mara House. Mara was very helpful in organising my stay and tailoring tour options to suit the time I had available. She was also very accommodating, allowing me to return to the room after my day of touring and rest and shower before my flight in the early hours of the following morning. The house itself is beautifully decorated and comfortable, and I really appreciated the fact that it wasn’t on the ‘tourist strip’.
The tour itself was brilliant. Mohammed was very knowledgable and friendly and made my tour of the Valley of the Kings and associated sites, plus Luxor Temple well worth the visit! Ahmed the driver was also wonderful.
Overall I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Mara House to anyone visiting Luxor
Traveled solo July 2019 Individualised itinerary. Reviewed on TripAdvisor.
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
This is a private house turned hotel. Its owner, Mara, is a woman from County Cork Ireland who came
to Egypt looking for a new life. What she and her family and staff have created is a home fit and
outfitted for a sheik! She has used Egyptian aesthetic, furnishings and feel to make an amazing place to
stay while in Luxor.
She offers full packages on her website including meals, event tickets and a tour
guide. If you find her online, her suggestions on what to pack, dealing with the heat, etc you will find a
treasure trove.
The rooms are suites. I stayed in #2 which is a queensized bed with a sitting are plus a real sitting area with
a mini-bar, sink and counter. Everything is made, done and completed with commitment to making the
guest feel comfortable and welcome.
The staff, headed by Amr, his wife and three year old son, is superb. He is the host and chef and is
miraculous. His meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner are wonderful and served with grace.
Mohamed is the house guide. He is knowledgeable, speaks excellent English and shows you everything
at the antiquity sites, will take you down the Nile if you choose that package (I’m sitting on the boat
waiting to start the journey from Luxor to Aswan), and does not try to take you shopping.
Mara House uses three different drivers who will take you safely from place to place.
I give this house not a five star rating, but twelve.
Jean, USA traveled solo June 2019. This review was submitted to TripAdvisor but has not appeared there. 3 night Luxor Holidays plus 4 nights Nile Cruise with Mara House.
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
On my second stay at Mara House, my friends and I chose the 3 day package. This allowed us to relax, sheltering from the sun, while Amr arranged all our necessities. Great food and knowledgeable guides. Mara House has the feel of a home away from home.
Traveled with friends April 2019. Reviewed on TripAdvisor and Google Maps. Booked Luxor Holidays 3 Nights Package
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
Treatment Second to None
“My husband and son and I just returned from a Spring Break trip to Luxor and Cairo. In Luxor, we stayed for four days and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Best points:
1) Mara communicated with my husband and was infinitely patient and generous with her recommendations of suggested activities prior to us leaving for Egypt.
2) While Mara was on a cruise with a group, she left Amr, the chef and house manager, to tend to us. He is capable, kind, and accommodating — perhaps single-handedly offering us the best service possible. Amr arranged taxi cabs for us, coordinated with Mohammed our tour guide, accompanied us on a falucca ride, cooked us unbelievable food (barely flinching when we said the word “vegan”), did our laundry, and probably a dozen other things for which we will always be grateful.
In short, our time in Luxor would never have been so delightful without Mara House. While Mara House isn’t (like) a hotel — and who wants that anyway? — it was clean and comfortable and we felt like family. Highly recommend.”
RGVD, Washington DC, USA. April 2019. Traveled as family. Reviewed on TripAdvisor. Luxor Holidays 3 night package
We had an incredible stay at Mara House Luxor last month……. what amazing hospitality. The dinner feast was one of the highlights of our trip, and the accommodation – a spacious apartment with atmospheric decor in an atmospheric Luxor neighborhood – was miles better than your typical hotel room. Mara and her team also looked after our daily tours in both Luxor and Cairo. There is no way we could have prepared and organized such a seamless visit on our own. It was truly a vacation we will never forget. Thank you!
Booked Cairo Holidays 3 Nights Package and Luxor Holidays 3 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.
We had an incredible stay at Mara House Luxor last month……. what amazing hospitality. The dinner feast was one of the highlights of our trip, and the accommodation – a spacious apartment with atmospheric decor in an atmospheric Luxor neighborhood – was miles better than your typical hotel room. Mara and her team also looked after our daily tours in both Luxor and Cairo. There is no way we could have prepared and organized such a seamless visit on our own. It was truly a vacation we will never forget. Thank you!
Booked Luxor Holidays 3 Nights Package and Tours in Cairo
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
This was our first trip to Egypt, and it was fantastic! My wife & I stayed with Egyptian relatives in Cairo & Alexandria at beginning & end of trip, with a 3-night stay at Mara House in Luxor tucked in the middle – and the feeling of being taken care of by family was seamless!
Mara makes it easy to set-up via email, Amr welcomes you into your beautiful home away from home (and cooks excellent meals), and Mohammed is the scholarly cousin who guides you professionally through Egypt’s wonderful ancient history! We’ll be back.
Mac Whipple USA, Traveled as couple Jan 2019. Luxor 3 nights package
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. .
Very professional hotel and tour company that will make sure your tour of Egypt is well organized, safe and efficient. We gained deep knowledge of the history and culture of ancient Egypt from our excellent guide, Moh. And Amr who runs the hotel is an extremely nice guy who also makes excellent food – in fact the best food that we ate on our entire trip! Thank you Mara House for the great experience.
Greg Pritchard USA – traveled as couple. Luxor 3 night package Reviewed on google maps.
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
Brilliant, seemless service and gorgeous rooms. Mara House offers a different experience to the giant soulless hotels along the waterfront. Mara’s staff are caring and personable, and have an attention to detail that is a breath of fresh air in Africa.
I booked the Luxor package which includes accommodation, transport, and a guide for three days, including a day trip to Dendera and Abydos. I left extremely satisfied. I’ll be back to do their cruise to Aswan for sure.
Travelled Solo Dec 2018 – reviewed on google maps. Luxor Holidays 3 night package
We (three people) have just spent 8 days in Cairo and Alexandria, organised for us by Mara. Everything worked well, from the pick-up at Cairo airport in the middle of the night, to our return there at the end of our trip.
We had a driver, minibus and guide for the whole time. Our driver, Imed, was pleasant and helpful and always punctual. Mohamed Hedar, our guide, was excellent. We learned a lot from him, he was good company, and he really went the extra mile to show us anything he thought might be interesting.
We took all of Mara’s Cairo tours plus a number of special requests of our own.
The overnight in Alexandria was well worth doing. There is a lot to see there, and we were glad that we had not just taken a day trip from Cairo.
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Egypt and certainly plan to return. We shall not hesitate to ask Mara to organise our next trip.
Travelled Nov 2018 – UK. Tours in Cairo – 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
5 stars just isn’t enough for Mara House! An absolutely beautiful house with amazing decor situated in a cute Egyptian street which will give you a good feel of local life as well.
Mara organized a trip to the Temples which were spectacular, the finest in Egypt. The trip was stress free and the guide was brilliant explaining everything.
The room was very specious and spotless clean. The staff were excellent & always on hand to help! And the feast.. WOW! Thanks a million Mara & the staff at Mara House for an unforgettable stay.
Traveled solo – Co. Kerry, Ireland – Nov 2018 – reviewed on Google Maps
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
Mara House provided the perfect experience for my first time and my Dad’s second time in Egypt. It was the best combination of culture and style. We were able to see how Egyptians truly live without being blinded by tourism.
Our guide was wonderful and the planning of our schedule made everything easier to experience.
The Feast was amazing and the chicken was fantastic. Amr was the best host imaginable and we will forever recommend Mara House.
Thank you for everything!
G & B S., Seattle Wa., USA 11 Oct 2018 (Mara House Guestbook) Luxor Holidays package
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
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
Dear Mara, Amr and Ahmed,
Thank you so much for your hospitality! We could not have picked better hosts for our time in Egypt. Thank you for sharing your love for this beautiful country with us.
The Salahadeen Feast was, hands-down, the best meal we have had in Egypt!!! Everyone needs to try this once in their lives. Wish we could hire Amr as our personal Chef forever! 🙂
A & K , Canada/Singapore. 25 Aug 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 9 nights package
We are so thankful to have found Mara House. Amr has made us feel so welcome and we have never had such amazing food. I can’t wait to bring our children to Luxor one day. Thank you for making our Egypt experience so perfect!
D & J Family USA (Mara House Guestbook) 21 July 2018 Luxor 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
Such wonderful hosts…and delicious food!!
Our accommodation in Luxor was lovely. It was basic 3 star, but it was clean, comfortable and decorated in classic Egyptian furnishings. From the moment of our arrival we basked in the feeling of being taken care of in this cute and traditional little B&B.
Ahmed, the manager, was a charming man who loves his work and clearly is fantastic at it! His happy presence and thoughtfulness made our stay in Luxor a delight. The extremely talented chef, Amr, made every breakfast a culinary treat, and the traditional dinner he created for us on our last evening was superb. The owner, Mara, was away so we did not get a chance to meet her, but she had been fantastic with her communications via email and all assistance with our travel preparations.
The guide provided with the tours we booked, Mohamed, was knowledgeable and friendly, and we learnt a lot about the amazing places he took us to. Mara also arranged our Nile cruise and Mohamed accompanied us on this, as well.
We had a wonderful time in our 3 nights in Luxor, but if we visited again, we would spend more nights and do things at a more leisurely pace. Luxor Holidays package
All around excellent experience!!
We spent 4 days at Mara House and enjoyed their 3 days of tours. All communication in advance was prompt and clear. Everything promised was delivered as stated.
The small apartment was well decorated and had all amenities. Including free bottled drinking water! They make the little things count at Mara House and will fulfill any special request.
It was so easy to go out to dinner each night with the use of the horse and carriage and fun too!
Ahmed the hotel manager did a great job in making us feel welcome. The 3 days of tours were certainly busy but we had enough time to visit each place in a relaxing manner. Mohamed our guide knew all the history and details of each site and was happy to answer all questions.
Thanks for making our visit to Luxor a smashing success!!!!
Visitied April 2018. Travelled as a couple. Reviewed on TripAdvisor but subsequently deleted by TripAdvisor
My wife and I had booked a cruise from Singapore to the Middle East and when we realised that Cairo is only 3 hours flying time from our last cruise port we thought why not visit. Well I am glad we did because our visit to Egypt was the unexpected highlight of our trip! Mara’s pre-trip information was excellent and her team in Cairo were the best. Fatma met us at the airport on arrival and her driver transported us to the comfortable Steigenberger Hotel in the heart of the city. Fatma had already visited the hotel and negotiated a great room on our behalf. Fatma stayed with us through the check in procedure to make sure the process was smoothly handled and this set the tone for the rest of our visit to Cairo. Fatma is a very knowledgable guide as well as a very nice person. Nothing was too much trouble as she expertly guided us through the unbelievable history of Cairo. Together with the assistance of Reham, an expert Egyptologist we were provided with fascinating insights to the pyramids and later at the Egyptian museum. This was a very memorable trip for us and we can unreservedly recommend Mara and her team (particularly Fatma) for a private tour of Cairo.
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.
Perfect Experience
My son (18) and I stayed there last week and had a wonderful time. With the tourism downturn we were the only guests and Ahmed basically treated us like family. The hotel is kind of classical Egyptian with beautiful public rooms where you have breakfast or the feast on the last night. The room was a one bedroom suite with two single beds which suited us beautifully. Nicely provisioned fridge as well (appreciated the beers at around $1.60 each).
The availability of a horse and carriage to get you around town is great – the streets are torn up locally due to gas main installations and the carriage is way more comfortable than any car or the Mara House van. Also very cheap – but please give the guy a good tip! The Nile sailing is great fun as well.
The tour guide, Mohamed, was excellent as well – lots of knowledge and an interesting guy to talk to. The tours are great – though the one to Abidos is a lot of time in the van – take a book or some music or both for that day. Mohamed also does a god job helping to fight off the folks trying to sell you stuff and is good for advising on who to tip (which is pretty important). All is all the whole package is superb value for money and will give you a great experience – but the little additions like Ahmed getting you to good reliable restaurants locally (the Indian place is really good) and Mohamed knowing where to go for lunch on the Valley of the Kings day is also special.
Finally – Ahmed – thanks again for getting us to your coffee house for the Liverpool Man City game. That was a truly special night (for us Liverpool fans anyway – which seems to define the whole of Egypt these days!).
Reviewed on TripAdvsor 15 April 2018 – stayed April 2018
I Was Treated Like a VIP
Visiting cities vastly different from one’s own, especially when traveling solo, can lead to a sense of imbalance, so it’s important to stay somewhere comfortable and safe. Upon my arrival in Egypt, Mara House was that place for me. Hungry, stressed, and exhausted when I arrived, I realized quickly I was in excellent hands with Ahmed, the manager, who helped me get oriented and called a taxi to take me to a nearby restaurant. Later, after a hot shower, I settled into my cushy, comfortable bed and enjoyed a great night’s sleep. The following morning, after a delicious breakfast, I felt completely renewed, energized, and ready to enjoy the splendor of Luxor’s temples.
I’ve looked at some of the negative reviews and noticed they fall into two categories: Those who misunderstood something/ didn’t read information sent to them, and those who expect the street and facilities to be like home. Yes, the neighborhood looks very different from my own: Well-off Egyptians spend money on extravagances inside their homes and keep the outside very modest-looking. But the area is safe and provides the chance to see how Egyptians live. For me that made it more special. If you aren’t looking for that kind of authenticity, a chain hotel might better suit your needs, but you’ll be missing out on the unique charm, outstanding customer service, and excellent food at Mara House.
The facilities and service exceeded my expectations in a number of ways. I normally travel far more modestly, but prices in Egypt are currently so reasonable I was able to afford more. The house is beautiful, spacious, and impeccably clean, and my suite felt luxurious. I was treated like a VIP. Ahmed was incredibly kind and responsive to any question or request. And one evening, after a long day of sightseeing, I enjoyed one of Amr’s sumptuous dinner feasts; Cleopatra herself never ate so well!
Other touches I appreciated: The bottled water (a must for visitors) and snacks in the kitchen area of my suite cost the actual prices one would pay in an Egyptian shop instead of the usual 3-4 times as much. Also, Mara’s binder of practical information (in your room) is very helpful. She really does think of all the details so you don’t have to.
If you are considering traveling to Egypt, DO IT! It is a safe and friendly country, and you will be amazed by all the temples. It was the most fascinating trip I’ve ever taken. And while in Luxor, do yourself a favor and stay at Mara House.
Room Tip: The call to prayer is part of the Egyptian experience, but it may wake you at an ungodly hour! Bring earplugs.
Stayed: March 2018, travelled solo – reviewed on TripAdvisor 09.04.18
I want to thank Mara for the wonderful trip that we just finished. My daughter and I just left Cairo a day ago and already we miss it! We truly had the greatest experience of ur lives. The people, the culture, the city and even the traffic (lol) are all a marvel. I’m so happy that I found Mara online. I am 100% positive that without her service we would not have had the experience that we did. Our trip ran extremely well and smooth. Prior to leaving the USA I probably emailed Mara ten times with questions. And, I literally got a reply in seconds, no matter the time of day. It was that personal attention that made me feel very comfortable that this was a legitimate program. She gave us great instructions on how to get through the airport and find Fatma, our assistant. Fatma was waiting for us in a sea of people, with a big smile and warm welcome. Our driver was there and the next the we knew we were off to the hotel. The hotel was great. It was very safe, pretty, clean and the staff were all amazingly helpful and attentive. Fatma was extremely easy to speak to. Her English was fantastic and she immediately enlightened us about the area and what would transpire over the week while we were there. She was awesome! The next two days we were met by Mohammed, he was a wealth of information. In addition, to the traditional tours that Mara has on her website, we loved the fact that when we wanted to do other things, like a felucca ride, Fatma set the whole thing up for us, made sure we didn’t get price gouged, met up with us and took us for the boat ride. This kind of personal attention was priceless! The drivers were wonderful, the minivans were extremely clean, in great condition and air-conditioned. On a scale from one to ten I would give this experience a 100! everything went according to plan, it was easy, and smooth. In all honesty there is no better way to see Cairo than to use this service. I met someone on the plane ride back to the USA, who loved Cairo but was extremely unhappy since she didn’t have a guide service. She was constantly over paying and without an professional egyptologist, like Mohammed to fill you in on the history of Egypt she said she left not really understanding the things she was looking out. But that was not our experience at all. Great Trip! I completely recommend it!
Cozy, beautifully decorated, clean & excellent service!
I first inquired about staying at Mara House via email one week prior to my anticipated visit. Mara sent a prompt email response which included options for day trips to temples. The entire package price was affordable and to my surprise included a driver and tour guide to the temples, a sunset cruise on the Nile, and a fabulous dinner on my last night!
My 3 awesome nights at Mara House were made unforgettable by Ahmed, the hotel manager, the driver Ahmed, and the tour guide, Mohamed. Breakfast and the final dinner on my last night was great and the chef accommodated my vegetarian diet. I received impeccable service in a cozy, clean, and beautifully decorated hotel!
Thank you Mara!
Reviewed on TripAdvisor
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 different hotel experience with top notch service
This was quite different for us, in the sense that we were the only people in the hotel. So my daughter and I had a large family room, but with only one bedroom. It has a huge living area with a fridge and sink. It’s very clean and well maintained and while the bathroom is different than most Westerners are used to (no shower stall), it is scrupulously clean, no mold, nothing. No elevator so be prepared to get a leg work-out on the stairs.
The location is in a residential neighborhood. No, you can’t just walk to restaurants or shops and yes, there is major construction all around (including the city which was ripping up streets to replace gas lines, nothing the hotel had any control over) but while the views from the roof top terrace might not have been stellar it was lovely up there in the sun.
The breakfast is basic but fresh and prepared whenever you want it. 7:00, 10:30, complete flexibility. We found this hotel through a package. We got 3 nights and 3 days and it included tours on each day, a carriage ride, boat ride, etc. The best part was the flexibility. Because we were leaving at midnight on day 4, they completely arranged the tour so that we didn’t end up having a whole day with nothing to do and made another suggestion to keep us busy. There was no pressure to follow the schedule, it was completely at our desire.
We had the same guide for all three days. His name was Mohammed (not sure last name) and he was great. He spoke perfect English, was pleasant and knowledgeable and it was great to have the same guide with only 2 of us (1 extra the last day but not an issue) and I would highly recommend him. He also didn’t try to force us to take extra tours on the side for more money, was very helpful in letting us know who we had to tip where and how to avoid tipping if we didn’t want assistance and never once pressured us to stop at a tourist shop or buy anything. It was refreshing to have a guide who was focused on guiding and not getting a cut from a friend’s shop.
Our main driver was Ahmed Modi. He had a taxi and except for one big tour out of town, was our driver for all tours and when we wanted to go out in the evening for dinner. He spoke great English, was charming, always made sure we got where we were going, we were again never “suggested” we go to X or Y, and went out of his way to help us out. It was like having a personal driver and while you are not downtown, it is fairly inexpensive to take a taxi there.
The crown jewel though was Ahmed, the manager of the hotel for lack of a better word. When we would return from dinner or a tour they would phone and tell him we were coming and it was like having your mom waiting for you at the door. He arranged everything for us, made sure we knew what was going on, ordered food for us when we were too tired to go out, my daughter sprained her ankle on the second last day and he went to the pharmacy and got her cream to ease the pain, he was just a really pleasant fellow who spoke perfect English. He was just tops with customer service.
So if you like typical anonymous hotels (I usually do) and want to stay right on the Nile or right in the heart of the action (such as it is, Luxor is a small town) this is probably not for you, but if you like to feel that you are not just a number on a tour and arrangements taken care of for you, it’s ideal. We were two women traveling and it was nice to not have to deal with some of the less savory sides of things (not that we don’t have extensive experience traveling together and solo – but Egypt is a completely different environment). So if you are looking for a slightly more non-commercial experience and it was really a great price for hotel with all tours included.
Reviewed on TripAdvisor – travelled Jan 2018 – Family.
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.
Absolutely outstanding travel experience!
I traveled to Egypt recently with my parents who I can honestly say would not have set foot in the country were it not for Mara and her wonderful staff.
From allaying our initial nervousness and providing us with a detailed itinerary for a day in Cairo and 3 in Luxor, to detailed travel advice, professional & knowledgeable guides and gorgeous accommodation, we didn’t have to worry about a single thing, and loved every minute of our time in this incredible country.
Mara House is so beautifully decorated, the rooms are huge and very clean and comfortable, and the Feast is a fantastic experience. I wish we could have stayed longer!
The tours (we did the Giza plateau in Cairo, and the West Bank and Luxor/Karnak temples in Luxor) were all fantastic, and we can’t speak highly enough of the guides.
Special mention must be made of Ahmed, the manager at Mara House – we were late arriving at Mara House after a missed connection, and Ahmed went above and beyond helping us navigate a detour to Aswan and a train journey to Luxor so that we didn’t miss out on our planned tour! Thanks so much Ahmed, we’re so grateful for your help.
In summary, don’t do Egypt without stopping at Mara House; these guys are absolute professionals with a passion for sharing the wonders of their fascinating & beautiful country.
Four nights at Mara House and other tour content mostly organised through Mara – 24 Nov 2017 –
This boutique hotel is located on a very Egyptian side street in Luxor but from the threshold one is inside a delightful Mara’s version of the Cretan Woman’s House in Cairo. My rooms (bedroom, shower/toilet/kitchenette/extended lounge area) were huge for a solo traveller, clean and well presented. Wonderful hospitality and organisation by Ahmed. Very good quality food and recommendations. Mara made my visit to Egypt an enjoyable, educational and enriching experience. People with mobility issues may find the stairs interesting.
Solo Traveller – Nov 2017 – reviewed on TripAdvisor. Booked Tours in Cairo and Luxor Holidays packages
Best experience
Being two females travelling alone to Egypt, my friend and I had all the typical words of caution before setting off on our journey.
We did the 10 days in Egypt through Mara House and I cant imagine seeing it any other way! Every step of the way was so well thought out and meticulous. Starting with the communication before leaving with Mara. She had everything so well documented that you knew what to expect every step of the way. Every single transport had a professional and on time driver. Each and every guide was so knowledgable, personable and down to earth. This is huge considering you will be spending a substantial amount of time with these individuals.
Mara House itself is absolutely beautiful! From the decor to the spacious rooms, you really felt welcomed and comfortable. The cook is AMAZING, our breakfasts were always perfect and the Salahadeen Feast was to DIE for! The manager of Mara House is such an amazing human. Mara really picked the perfect people to run things for her.
You can trust that if you do this tour you will be well taken care of. Go see Egypt and experience it for all of its beauty and gracious people!
Travelled with friends – Oct 2017 – Egypt Holidays package – Reviewed on TripAdvisor
Spectacular Experience!
My husband and I just spent three days and nights with Mara House in Luxor. We can’t say enough wonderful things about the staff, the rooms and the location. Each room is its own large apartment/suite with a sitting room, balcony, kitchenette, a wet room bath, very comfy beds, laundry services, and AC. Also provided is very fast Wi-Fi!
Because Mara House curates the experience for you with the best Luxor has to offer, they helped us with transportation (we had the best drivers!), hooked us up with a guide (Mohammad was fabulous!!) and every morning Mara House manager Ahmed was there to meet us with a HUGE and delicious breakfast and get us ready for our day, and every evening he was there to help us find the best restaurants Luxor has to offer! He was so amazingly thoughtful as well. We’d mentioned how much we’d loved one of the cheeses provided at breakfast and like magic a couple of boxes showed up in our room for us to take back to the USA with us! He was so very thoughtful! We also were lucky enough to experience their full Egyptian dinner as well. This was by far and away the best meal we’d had while we were in Egypt.
Don’t hesitate. If you’re in Luxor, this is the place to stay! I can’t give Mara House and the staff enough stars!
Travelled as a couple – October 2017 – Booked Luxor Holidays package. Reviewed on TripAdvisor
We did a bit of everything with Mara House and it went incredibly well.
The house is beautiful. The rooms are large (apartment like). The space is clean and comfortable. The wifi internet is fast for Luxor. The team is caring, speaks great English, and is always available.
We went on tours in Luxor (and across Egypt) all organized by the Mara House team. They’ve vetted the best guides who know the ins and outs and will even get you behind the scenes). The guides are experts on the history, the temples, the tombs and will fill you in on the local approach to life. We went on a boat ride – awesome, enjoyed a feast at Mara House – also awesome, rode on a horse-drawn carriage – perfect, had our laundry done – fast and excellent, and had breakfast provided each morning – delicious.
The team is exceptional. They made the visit incredibly easy and covered us from airport arrival to departure and everything in-between. If you’ve got questions, they’ve got answers and we were incredibly informed which made our visit easy, fun, relaxing and educational.
Mara House is a great place to stay. We had an extraordinarly experience.
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.
Once in a Lifetime Trip Perfected
I traveled to Egypt with two women in June 2017 and completed the Mara House Luxor package. Looking back, I wish I had used Mara House services for my entire time in Egypt! It was absolutely wonderful to have everything taken care of in a culturally sensitive way, allowing for explorations of the true uniqueness of Egypt without falling into tourist hypes.
Upon landing in Luxor, we were greeted at the airport by someone from Mara House clearly holding a sign so we knew where to go–exactly as Mara had instructed in her email. (As a type A individual, I greatly appreciated Mara’s detailed communication). We were driven to Mara House, which seemed more on the local side of town–something myself and my group were grateful for; we wanted to experience more of the “true” side of Egypt. Ahmed greeted us at the door–I cannot stress how wonderful Ahmed was in his attentiveness and respectfulness for our every need, going out of his way to assist in personalizing our trip and helping in any way possible. When we were guided to our suite (as we had more than two in our group), my travel companion gasped out loud because of how ecstatic she was with the room–a complete difference from our made up hotel room. It was luxury in what our minds was a dream of Egypt: traditional furnishings, pillows, tapestries, etc. This is exactly what I wanted for my once-in-a-lifetime trip to Egypt!
There is little time to catch your breath, as you are quickly whisked off to begin touring of temples in the early afternoon of the arrival day. Our tour guide was Mohamed for the three days, as well as accompaniment with a driver–Mohamed explained there is typically a driver because many individuals do not want to drive in Egypt because of how hectic the streets are! (very true) The first day was filled with Karnak and Luxor temples–iconic sights which were largely empty. This was true for two reasons 1) it was the off season during summer, but 2) the tourism industry in Egypt has suffered greatly since 2011 and is still recovering. While this has to do with many individuals not feeling Egypt is safe to travel to, this is false. We did not feel unsafe during our time in Egypt; the people even went out of the way to ensure our safety, sometimes giving us accompanied police escorts. The second and third days were filled with seeing sights I have only read about–such as the Valley of the Kings/Queens and Abydos Temple.
Mohamed explained what we would see in detail within the tombs prior to us going in them because of tours could not be given within the tombs. I personally appreciated our guide’s tips throughout our time with how to respond when locals approach us and how to properly behave in a culturally sensitive way. Although seeing so many sights was at times exhausting, our time was paced in such as way that we never felt overwhelmed. Further, as the tour was essentially personalized one-on-one, we were able to make certain requests, ask questions, and not feel rushed. At many of the sights, a large tour group would arrive and leave in far less time than we were at a sight. I was happy for the time we could choose to do what we wanted without pressure to move on.
On our departure from Luxor to Cairo, Ahmed and Mara’s team truly went above and beyond to provide us with exceptional service. We had an extended layover in Cairo before moving on to our next destination, approximately 12 hours. Instead of having us sit in the airport, Ahmed arranged for us to be met by a driver and tour guide from the Mara team to show us around some of the sights in Cairo we had missed in our time there earlier. This service was a fraction of the cost I had been attempting to research for finding somewhere to store our bags so we could explore the city–and included taxing around. We also got to meet Fatima, Mara’s tour guide in Cairo–who was just was wonderful and knowledgeable as Mohamed in Luxor.
I cannot stress how amazing my time in Luxor was. If I ever go back to Egypt again, I certainly plan on doing the extended 10 day trip which covers Aswan, Cairo, and Luxor. I was hesitant to do all of Egypt this way because I consider it incredibly important to personalize travel and be able to learn about the true history and culture of a country. However, after such a wonderful time with Mara House and team, one which fulfills those goals I have for travel, I highly recommend using these services to make the most out of a beautiful experience!
Reviewed on TripAdvisor Aug 2017. Traveled with friends. Luxor Holidays 3 nights package
This is a great little place to stay and love the people – Aug 2017, Jimmie F, Prattville, Alabama.
Marie Vaughan really cares about her people and the people who stay with her. She has a blog that reflects all her happy customers. I plan to return again next year and spend time with her because she will take me anywhere that is safe to go and will help me to have a great time.
Traveled as couple. Reviewed on TripAdvisor Aug 2017.
June 28 to July 1, 2017.
Mara House and Ahmed made me feel very welcome. It’s a beautifully appointed hotel (more like someone’s home) and from the moment you are greeted at the door by Ahmed and his colleague Amr (I spelled his name incorrectly…my apologies) you feel welcome and safe.
Ahmed helped me in small ways (eg. got me toothpaste) and in more complicated ways eg. he lined up for 40 minutes at the train station to buy my train tickets to and from Cairo and Alexandria. He didn’t have to; I didn’t ask him to; but he volunteered to it which shows the quality of the man and level of customer care of Mara House.
My guide, Mohamed, was exceptional in his knowledge and willingness to share his country’s history and culture. The drivers I had were good. No problems at all.
I never did meet Mara, but my interactions with her via the Internet were always exceptionally professional.
If I was to ever return to Luxor I would not hesitate to use Mara House again…
Hospitality Personified
June 28 to July 1, 2017.
Mara House and Ahmed made me feel very welcome. It’s a beautifully appointed hotel
(more like someone’s home) and from the moment you are greeted at the door by Ahmed and his colleague Amr (I spelled his name incorrectly…my apologies) you feel welcome and safe.
Ahmed helped me in small ways (eg. got me toothpaste) and in more complicated ways eg. he lined up for 40 minutes at the train station to buy my train tickets to and from Cairo and Alexandria. He didn’t have to; I didn’t ask him to; but he volunteered to it which shows the quality of the man and level of customer care of Mara House.
My guide, Mohamed, was exceptional in his knowledge and willingness to share his country’s history and culture. The drivers I had were good. No problems at all.
I never did meet Mara, but my interactions with her via the Internet were always exceptionally professional.
If I was to ever return to Luxor I would not hesitate to use Mara House again…
Reviewed on TripAdvisor July 2017 – Luxor Holidays 3 night package
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!
Well we are back from our trip in April and sort of settled down.
Fantastic trip organised by the Mara House team in Cairo and Luxor. Australian family of 4 with 2 boys under 12. Fantastic tours in Cairo and Luxor.
We toured in April and were kept fully up to date and directions for pick ups from airports and how to get through them as well.
Mara House was fantastic. My wife was eyeing off the furniture. Great location and great staff. Tour guides were fantastic, Fatima made our Cairo trip excellent.
Thanks guys it was the best trip we have ever done and would like to come back sooner rather than later. Cannot recommend Mara Tours enough.
We had the pleasure of staying 3 nights at Mara house in March, 2017. From airport pick-up to airport drop off,things went perfectly! Mohammed was wonderful and a great host. The food at breakfast was plentiful. The accommodations were more than adequate and the A/C worked! All the tours were lovely as well. They arranged a great dinner at a local restaurant which was delicious! We did a sunset cruise, a day in Dendera and the Valley of the Kings. One day I was too sick to join my husband and stayed back in the house. After a rest, Moh’d took me to the local museum in the horse carriage, got me some medications and kept me company. It was terrific! A wonderful respite from the usual hotels….You won’t be sorry if you stay with Mara!
Great Experience
The idea of going to Egypt scares a lot of people these days, but Mara house provided a wonderful and safe experience at a reasonable price. Mara house is a boutique hotel in Luxor that caters to foreigners and acts as a travel agent, booking trusted private drivers and guides for the duration of your stay. They also provide information on how to navigate Egyptian social interactions on your own.
Our experience: the accommodations were second to none (in Egypt), the staff was fantastic, and the trip went very smoothly. We didn’t love our guides in Luxor, but we’ve seen much worse, and my guess is that they were actually the best available. We did, however, LOVE Ahmed Dahab, our guide in Cairo (ironically, this was the first time Mara house had used him). I actually taught high school world history, so my questions tend to be advanced, and Ahmed was very able to understand the precise nature of my questions and respond to them very intelligently (he had a master’s in Egyptology). I highly recommend Mara house and Ahmed to anyone.
Travelled as couple – May 2017 – Used the Egypt Holidays 9 nights package
Absolutely Brilliant
We were hesitant about going to Egypt however Mara put all our doubts aside. Her organisation was brilliant. The guides, Communication, accommodation, food and transport exceeded our expectations. We are now in the middle of a four month middle East and Europe holiday and by far Egypt has been the very best. These people could not do enough for us and we really appreciated the extra care and concern they showed to give us a great time. I cannot recommend this organisation more highly. This is a great team that works together to give you an excellent holiday. We felt safe in Egypt the entire time. You are in good hands with Mara house
Reviewed on TripAdvisor May 2017. Couple – Luxor Holidays package and Tours in Cairo
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.
We saw and did everything that we wanted to see and do in Egypt with Mara and her wonderful team of guides, house hosts and drivers. We felt safe, comfortable, well cared for and well-informed the whole trip. Mara House in Luxor is fun, interesting, elegant and comfortable. The food and service is excellent. Mara was v. helpful in arranging an extra day for us to go to go to Abu Simbal on top of the 9 day itinerary which was excellent. Everyone went over and above to treat us well – it was great that you all round. They are a lovely team providing excellent customer service. The Egyptians are fantastic people, full of life and wonder. What a country! We had a ripper beaudie time from beginning to end and we thank you all very much.
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.
Great tour packages
Like some previous reviewers, 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.
Reviewed on TripAdvisor March 2017 – couple. Luxor Holidays package and Tours in Cairo
I traveled to Egypt solo mid to end of January 2017. I was new to Egypt and wanted my vacation to be nothing short of vacation but also wanted to get the most out of one trip. I was looking for something that’d require very little thinking on my end and where I’d be taken care of with trust in caps. In other words, I was looking for the best of all worlds. Lo and behold, there was EGYPT with MARA. From day zero to flying back home, I felt like I was an Egyptian princess. Mara and her handpicked staff were on top of their game and my itinerary flawless. I came back wanting more and excited to get all of my friends to visit. To highlight, my time in Luxor was a double thumbs up. The property, staff, service, and food at Mara House are expressions of love, and you also get to go to Dendera. The temple you visit there is a treat and treasure – My favorite. Thank you for your hospitality!
Mara House Tours
We did four consecutive days of tours with Mohamed as our guide, all arranged by Mara: Luxor and Karnak temples; the West Bank; Abydos and Dendara and Aswan. These all went very smoothly indeed. Mohamed was an excellent and very knowledgeable guide who exceeded all our expectations. He is obviously very familiar with all of the sites and this enabled us to see far more than we could have seen on our own. He was particularly helpful in allowing us to select tombs to be visited on the West Bank. When we mentioned we would like to try a felucca trip, he immediately arranged this for us. We would not hesitate to use Mohamed again on any future visit to Egypt and our thanks to Mara for setting this up.
I doubted the stay before but when i decided to take the 3 nights package to relieve my planning headache, it was the best decision ever made in Egypt. well planned and i need not worry about anything, even to the extent of getting a train ticket with help of ahmad. Mara house shows me there are genuine locals who are welcoming and proud to talk about their culture and history. I will come back!!!
A fantastic, real Egyptian experience – 30 Dec 2016.,
By staying at Mara House, my family experienced a real Egyptian hotel/apartment. The rooms are very spacious and the decor is full of authentic rugs, lamps and furniture. The staff are very helpful and friendly and the food is amazingly good (make sure you book a dinner because the chef is 5 star trained). Our tours of Luxor were well organised and reasonably priced. Highly recommended
Reviewed on TripAdvisor Dec 2016. Traveled with family Cairo Holidays Package and Luxor Holidays Package
Unexpected Luxury
My wife and I stayed at Mara’s House for an extended vacation and were very pleased with the accommodations. The stairs were a bit challenging but the rooms were very good. The food and service were outstanding. The staff very accommodating. This is an oasis in a typical Luxor neighborhood. We were even visited by camels!
More than I could have ever hoped for!
Mara House was simply amazing! The hotel was stunning and the rooms were just as beautiful. The staff was great. They went above and beyond to make me feel welcomed and comfortable during my stay. The food was amazing. I was hoping to get as much authentic Egyptian cuisine as posible during my stay and I was not disappointed in the least. Overall my stay at Mara House was a dream and I highly recommend anyone traveling to Egypt to stay at Mara House, you will not be disappointed.
Reviewed on TripAdvisor Dec 2016. Traveled with friend with Mara House Group Tours package
We stayed at Mara House for 5 days in November 2016. It was the best hotel we had while in Egypt. Why? From the moment Mara’s staff picked us up at the airport to the moment we checked out, we felt as if they really cared about us. They knew us on a first name basis and always greeted us as we were coming and going. We really liked that Mara House was in a neighborhood where we could go walking every night and enjoy the Egyptian culture. The perk of it being in a more residential area is that you can walk the streets without the hassle of all the touts. We had many people approach us on the local streets to welcome us to Luxor and they genuinely wanted to talk to us, not sell us something. The room was clean, big, decorated well, and had good air conditioning. Mara arranged all our tours in Luxor and for our trip to Aswan. We also had her arrange our tours in Cairo. We are very independent travelers who do a lot of research before we travel and are not a big fan of tours…but, in Egypt I recommend having guides. They are inexpensive compared to other countries and they can help with the cultural & language differences.
Superb Experience!
If you’re going to Luxor, it’s worth spending a couple of days at Mara House. You’ll feel like you’re at home among friends! Never felt so safe traveling abroad – if you want to discover the mysteries of Egypt without the pileup of tourists, this is the time to go!
Reviewed on TripAdvisor Nov 2016 Traveled Solo. Luxor Holidays 3 night package
Mara House is simply amazing in every way
Mara House is a truly special place in the world and much more than a place to lay your head. We have travelled to over 35 countries in Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Europe and have not experienced a better staff, guides, food, and accommodation. It is truly a home away from home.
The Saladin Feast is one of the best meals We’ve ever had. The cook, Amr, comes from a background of 5 star hotels and personal chef for Egyptian leaders. The host, Ahmed, is personal, professional, kind, knowledgeable and willing to help out in any way possible to make your stay enjoyable.
Guides Fatma, Manar, and Mohammed are exceptionally knowledgeable (like walking encyclopedias), friendly, kind, and became truly friends. Egyptology is complex and can be overwhelming, but these guys made it entertaining and so much fun to learn the layers upon layers of Egyptian history while visiting the temples and museums.
Go to Egypt and experience the magic of Mara House! You will be amazed.
Reviewed on TripAdvisor Nov 2016 Traveled as couple, Luxor Holidays 3 nights package
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.
A Cool Oasis in Luxor
Mara House is little gem in Luxor. From the warm welcome by Ahmed the manager to the excellent services provided by Amr the chef, the driver and Mohammed the guide to the ancient Egyptian sites in the Luxor region, it was an experience to remember.
The rooms were cool, extremely spacious, comfortable and spotlessly maintained.
I would not hesitate in recommending Mara house as a base to explore the archaeological points of interest in the area.
Used the Luxor Package
Good evening from Egypt Mara!
My goodness….what an incredible place you have here! I could not have been more fortunate and owe you a debt of gratitude! All of the men have taken such good care of me — from the room and meals to the tours. They have been gracious, patient, attentive “handlers” and I could not have asked for more.
The heat has been an issue for me. I have experienced 123 degree F heat in Arizona but that does not compare to this.
Last night my stomach felt queasy and this morning was worse. That combined with the heat I made the decision to cut our long day of touring short. I feel bad but I knew that my feeling poorly would cause more problems if we kept visiting temples. Coming back Ahmed was gracious in getting me the “Mara medicine” and now, at almost 7pm I am beginning to feel better.
So Mara…..I have only one suggestion. Way too much food! I feel embarrassed to only eat an amount that is appropriate for my stomach and then leave so much left. I do not like waste!
You have truly put together a wonderful package for travelers and I will tell everyone I know! Also, you are so very well respected…as we were out and about so many said such positive remarks!
The staff that you have along with drivers and tour guide are all treasures…so very fortunate to have been in their presence!
Thank you again 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
Hi Mara,
Sorry I haven’t got back to you sooner but I was waiting untill the end of the stay to be able to sensibly comment. We are really impressed with your Boutique Hotel – great room size, spotlessly clean, all required facilities (can’t tell you how appreciated constant hot water is !)
Service provided by Ahmed and Amr has been first class- nothing is too much trouble. The meals just got better each time we ate, and were a step ahead of any thing we tried on the street.
I can see the location of the hotel might shock a few novice travellers, but from the moment one stepped inside, all those worries would evaporate.
Really pleased with the 3 day package – it was great value and all the included tours and activities meant that we didn’t have to arrange transport and tickets ourselves.
We leave tomorrow and we will certainly recommend your place to other future travellers- good luck and I really hope future tourist numbers pickup again.
Cheers (Steve from Australia -travelled as a couple – Sept 2016) Cairo Holidays and Luxor Holidays Package
Mara’s House is Wonderful!
We wanted to visit Luxor and found Mara’s House through a friend. I am so glad we did!! Mara helped us plan our 3 days in Luxor and took care of finding is awesome guides and drivers. THEN she asked if we needed help with planning our Cairo stay! She arranged the worlds best guides (Fatma and Manar) for Cairo and we wouldn’t have been able to see all that we did with out them. I seriously think we saw more than possible in 2.5 days because Mara was so organized and helpful!!
Also the food at Mara’s house was AMAZING!! I would highly recommend getting in touch with Mara if you are planning to come to Egypt!!
Traveled with friends – Cairo Holidays & Luxor Holidays Package
(Note from Mara – Kate put this on TripAdvisor but it was deleted and efforts to submit another came to naught.)
Best tour of our entire Middle East trip!
We’d like to thank and recommend Mara’s services for providing a safe, solid, and unforgettable tour of the Giza Plateau, Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, Khan-el Khalili, and the Islamic district of Cairo. Mara was very straightforward and accessible via email as we booked our last-minute tour and thank goodness we did because arranging visits to these amazing sites in Cairo is definitely challenging, even for the more experienced international traveler.
Our guide, Manar, was just precious and is literally one of the most educated and kind tour guides we have EVER been paired with. She knows literally everything about Egyptian history and culture and we felt so safe and spoiled with her the entire time.
We entered the tomb of Khufu’s pyramid, saw the solar boat, Sphinx, and Valley Temple in the morning before the heat really set in. Our driver was very safe and efficient (Cairo traffic/driving is seriously overwhelming) and it was a newer air-conditioned Toyota minibus.
We just loved Manar’s tour of the Islamic district and Khan el-Khalili. Even if you consider yourself a more experienced international traveler, we highly recommend booking through Mara if you are visiting the sites in Cairo. I can honestly say we 100% would have encountered incredibly frustrating situations had we not been with our guide Manar. Now, we have amazing memories of our trip to Egypt without a single hassle! Thanks so much!
Traveled with friends. Reviewed on TripAdvisor July 2016 Tours in Cairo
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.
Incredible Service
All the staff at Mara house really went above and beyond any reasonable expectations for generosity and kindness. Best food we had in Luxor, expert tours, and the chef volunteers to track down an ebony vase at the market for us at a great price. Good Times, Danny
Traveled as couple May 2019 Reviewed on TripAdvisor Luxor Holidays Package
Mara carefully organized every detail of our vacation, airport transfer, 3 tours, flucca picnic at the Nile & a calesh ride around town.
We also had 2 amazing dinners in their restaurant which is a must try!
Rooms are clean, large, suite sized.
Ahmed, the manager and Amr were extremely helpful. Mohamed, the tour guide is well knowledged.
Mara House is a small amazing place hidden outside the usual tourist area, a wonderful experience.
A fantastic place to stay in Luxor
While Mara House is not on the Nile, it is a fabulous place to stay. I was with my sister and we had a comfortable two bedroom suite. The manager Ahmed looked after us so well — he arranged great tours of the Valley of the Kings and Abydos/Dendera as well as a reliable taxi driver and caleche. Strongly recommend a stay in Mara House.
“Discover Luxor with Peace of Mind”
Having visited Cairo and Luxor, I can now relate to and appreciate what Mara writes in her blog. Sadly these are not cities to navigate on one’s own and having Mara organise our tours took off a huge burden. All we did was immerse ourselves in the splendour of ancient Egypt. Mara House is an oasis to return to each day, and Ahmed the manager is a wonderful host. The dinners whipped up by their resident Chef is a delicious sampler of Egyptian cuisine.
TerriChin, Bonn – Stayed February 2016, travelled with friends (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“A fantastic experience money can’t buy”
Mara House is far more than an absolutely fantastic place to stay. With Mara’s guides and driver, I felt absolutely safe and looked after (I travelled as a single female). Her lovely and well-spoken English speaking staff were on hand by SMS and email throughout my entire Egyptian trip. Her drivers and guides have been with her for several years and her guides are Egyptologists. The place is spotless. You get your own sitting room and kitchenette plus a well-stocked fridge. After a busy day sightseeing, free steaming hot cups of tea are brought to you if you send a text or email message downstairs. If you are lucky enough to stay when the cook does a Feast, this was the best meal I had in Egypt and I travelled from Cairo to Aswan. Mara treats her staff well and they love her. With Egyptian tourism quiet, this is a great time to go and everyone is so welcoming. I just had such a wonderful time. All due to Mara House. A very special place.
Cindy73jl – Stayed February 2016, travelled solo – (reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Elegant and Unique with Exceptional Service”
Mara House is exactly what we look for when travelling – a small boutique hotel that caters for guests tired of large hotels and indifferent service who want discreet, professional care from a team who know exactly what they’re doing.
It’s the small things that count, right? Bedrooms are huge, the bed itself heaven; towels were plentiful, the water hot and everything is beautifully appointed with understated luxury. The rooftop terrace was a favourite spot with a cup of (complimentary all day) tea or coffee and the hotel is on a quiet street (not the huge hotel strip where you’re cheek by jowl with everyone else).
The real point of difference with this hotel however was the service. This began before we arrived. The owner, Mara, responded promptly and generously to all email inquiries. No question was too small and her responses were direct, incredibly helpful and aimed at ensuring we had the best experience for us, not anyone else, possible – no waffle, no sales pitch, just generous info and honesty.
Her team is also spot-on, both in the hotel and around Luxor. We’re not ones for guided tours of any kind but decided to give it a go and found it so enriching we kept her guides for the whole time. Do the day-trip to Abydos and Dendara temples if you can – worth every second.
I’ll end by saying come to Egypt, folks. We’re a middle-aged Australian couple from Canberra who just spent a month here and the welcome, security and overall experience was incredible thanks in no small part to Mara.
P.S About that “Mara House” service? We decided to do a last minute day trip from Cairo and emailed Mara for help. She arranged it all over night and we woke up to another seamlessly easy and fabulous day out!
Evie321, Canberra – Stayed January 2016, travelled as a couple (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Mara House in Luxor”
We were picked up as promised at the airport even though our flight had been delayed. This boutique hotel is located on a quiet back street, which is great because of the noise on busy Egyptian streets. Our suite was great and perfect for traveling with our two kids.
Ahmed and Amr were the staff during our stay and they were great. Amr is an amazing cook. Our breakfast had a variety of interesting Egyptian foods. We treated ourselves to dinner and the sauces and soups were outstanding. Definitely have dinner there.
They kept the mini-bar updated which is great since my kids live on snacks.
Our horse carriage driver, Ramadan was a hoot. He let my daughter have a try at driving the carriage.
We stayed for six days in order to get a feel for Luxor. Luxor is some much cleaner and quieter that Cairo. The restaurants were good and of course the temples are unique in the world.
Great place. Great people. Great food.
Steve G – Stayed January 2016, travelled with family (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“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!
Set k – Stayed December 2015, travelled solo (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
Mohamed is an exceptionally knowledgeable egyptologist and communicates wonderfully in idiomatic English. Mahmoud negotiated the daunting Egyptian roads with calm aplomb. We would also say that we felt completely adopted by the staff within minutes of arrival and you can’t really put a price on that feeling.
We will definitely recommend Mara House to any fellow travelers to Luxor.
HalesfromAD, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Stayed December 2015, travelled as a couple (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
Note from Mara – these guests also recommended the Mara House Experience Package as being really good value but TripAdvisor would not publish the review with that recommendation in it.
“An Oasis!”
We were treated like royalty! Our “room” was a multi-room suite with incredible decorations. Wonderful ambiance, not just a hotel room, but an experience.
The hotel is located on a small back street, you get to experience Egypt away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist. quite and safe neighborhood. Staff on call 24/7, breakfast provided, Supper was extra, but worth a lot more that they charged!
They arranged private tours with a driver and guide of Luxor and Cairo for us. Great drivers and guides by the way! It seems like their only goal, at Mara House, is to make the whole experience perfect in every way!
Philip M – Stayed December 2015, travelled as a couple (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“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.
LLRose Sammamish, Washington – Stayed November 2015, travelled solo (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Wonderful stay”
Fantastic stay. Mara coordinated tours for us each day and Ahmed would be waiting at the door for us each evening. The team at the guest house was very attentive – actively asking if they could get us anything or do anything for us. One evening we were out a little longer that Ahmed expected and he called our carriage driver to make sure everything was okay – and of course he was waiting at the door for our return. We were pampered and well taken care of the entire time. Everything felt very authentic down to the room and the snacks in the room. Eat there at least one night so you can enjoy the authentic Egyptian cooking! Rooms were clean, not fancy, but well kept.
Lonin126, Cottontown, Tennessee – Stayed November 2015, travelled as a couple (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
I arranged my day tours in Luxor and Cairo via emails with Mara prior to my arrival in Egypt. It was definitely an easy process and she even recommended an itinerary for me based the dates I was there. The tour guides were great! They were very informative and I had an amazing time there. I would definitely recommend them, especially the tour to Abydos and Dendera. Thanks Mara!
David – November 2015
Candid & Organised –
I actually didn’t stay at Mara’s House, but learned about her through TripAdvisor. She also organizes tours in Egypt and I decided to contact her. I was a bit nervous to go to Egypt on vacation, but Mara provided great insight as she knows the country well and can relate to foreigners as she is from Ireland herself. Her tours are great and she has no hidden fees. The way she writes on her webpage is the same way it happens in real life. I was extremely happy with the tours she organized and the guides she chose for me. Mohammed in Luxor and Abydos/Dendera was fantastic. She organized Cairo, Luxor (East and West Bank), Abydos/Dendera and private taxi to Aswan, and gave recommendations all the time. Mara has a passion for Egypt and for providing great service to customers. Use her for the hotel or the tours. You won’t be disappointed.
P Huerta, New York. Stayed October 2015, travelled solo (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Mara also offers wonderful tours and services”
We had contacted Mara ahead of our trip to get some help with tours and services in Cairo. Things could not have gone more smoothly. We had an awesome driver pick up at Cairo who whisked us through the airport, took care of visa handling in a blink of an eye, money changing and boom, on our way to our hotel. We also did a trip to the pyramids, the Egyptian museum, Memphis & Saqqara. She connected us with a great drive and a careful reliable driver. I’d highly recommend organizing any tour in Luxor or Cairo with Mara. Mohamed Hedar, our guide, was knowledgable, very flexible and reliable.
Lorraine, Oakland, California – Stayed September 2015, travelled as a couple
“The food Armha prepared for us was exceptional and without a doubt the best meal we had in Egypt.”
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 without a doubt the best meal we had in Egypt. We will be recommending Mara house to our friends, and hope to return in the future.
Serena A – Stayed September 2015, travelled as a couple (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Helping to finish a ‘bucket list’ item!”
It had been a childhood dream to visit Egypt but so many things, especially at this time, seemed to say “Don’t go!” However, after reading Mara’s detailed and reassuring essays on every possible topic, I went. My goals were simple: see as many of Luxor’s temples, relax, eat local food, learn about customs. With an efficient manager (Ahmed), awesome chef (Amir), knowledgeable guide (Mohammed), and safe driver (Mamout), I easily fulfilled my dream in safety and comfort. Thank you Mara, you have an amazing team.
Temery – Stayed July 2015, travelled solo (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Mara House comfort and care”
All of Mara’s staff are hand picked to be caring and attentive to the smallest detail for personal service. From the driver waiting for you at the airport to Ahmed at breakfast or a special run to the Germans for incredible ice cream I had a blast! Thank you Mara!
211Cynthiar – Stayed June 2015 (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
Giza Plateau tour through Mara House
I did not stay at Mara House, but arranged a tour of Cairo’s Giza Plain online through Mara, who I found via a web search. I had only given three days’ notice so was expecting to be turned down, but it was no problem and the tour was easily scheduled for a time that was convenient for me. My guide, Mohamed Haider, was excellent and made it a fascinating and fun experience. With a dual degree in history and archaeology he knows his stuff, and he also tied a lot of the historical information to facts about modern Egypt (I won’t give these away, but the tie-ins are fascinating). I had booked a guide because I’d read online that the Pyramids can be difficult to visit due to vendors insistently trying to sell you things, but Mohamed took care of all that and I felt no pressure at all. He also explained the optional ‘extras’ clearly – two different camel rides for different prices, for example – and negotiated with the vendors on my behalf. Mohamed is friendly and relaxed as well as knowledgeable, and I highly recommend both him and the tour as a whole. It is definitely worth it, and not expensive at all for what you get. I also appreciated the nice little touches, like always making sure there was bottled water available – necessary when you’re walking around in the sun and are not used to it. In all, a very professionally-run tour with a great guide – top marks!
– Tildy, England – May 2015 – Travelled Solo.
“Thanks for the wonderful 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!
– Hu85, Cairo – April 2015, travelled solo – (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Great Value, Awesome Hotel”
I just finished a 3 day stay at Mara House and I wanted to take the time to let others know about this incredible hotel. Nestled in a back road away from the normal tourist strip, Mara House provides a unique opportunity to live in an Egyptian residential neighborhood. It is easy to walk to surrounding attractions and restaurants, but when you walk back to the hotel, you’re given a glimse of what life is like for locals. The room was clean, spacious and had hot water. The tours I took with Mara House were comprehensive and entertaining. The breakfast was pretty tasty too! Ahmed was an incredibly interesting person to talk to and made my stay easy!
– mterebese, Chicago, Illinois – April 2015, travelled solo (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Mara House for a perfect holiday”
Mara House is a fantastic place to base yourself so as to explore the area. The rooms are clean tidy and tastefully decorated to an Egyptian theme
The place is very well managed by Ahmed and everyone is looked after by Amr who is a great cook when it comes to authentic Egyptian food.
I was able to engage Mara to show me the sites and it was amazing to be able to tap into her knowledge of the Temples Tombs and general history of the country
The story’s on the walls all made sense after Mara explained them and took you back in time.
We cruised the Nile to Komb Ome Temple(don’t miss the crocodiles)then onto Aswan, Phillea and Elephantine Island by Felucca. Then by car to Edfu(Temple of Horus)and back to Luxor
Close by is Karnak and Luxor Temples. A day trip to the Valley of the Kings is special( King Tutenkarmen is back in his Tomb) as is the highlight of the trip a day visiting the pristine Temples of Abydos/ The Osirion
And Dendera Temple while your there just stop and sit for awhile and feel the Magic of the place.
Much thanks to the team at MARA HOUSE
David Leech, Australia – Stayed March 2015, travelled solo (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“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 sonew 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!
– Paula Cline, Vancouver, Canada – Stayed March 2015, travelled as a couple (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Mara House surpassed my expectations!”
I never write reviews but I was so happy with my stay at Mara House that I thought I should share. I happened across Mara House’s Web site when I was researching my itinerary for Egypt. The information on the Web site about Egypt, sight-seeing, and tips for travelers was so helpful that I decided to stay at Mara House. Having been to Egypt now and stayed at Mara House I can attest that everything Mara House’s Web site says is true. The accommodations were clean, nicely-appointed, and comfortable. My room was spacious and had a very convenient refrigerator stocked with items at uninflated prices. Mara House and my room were wonderful respites from the excitement, dust, and heat of Luxor and a day’s sight-seeing (the air conditioner worked great).
Even better than the accommodations was Mara House’s service. The staff were friendly, helpful, and went out of their way to make me comfortable. Example: I arrived around 10:30 at night. When I checked in I asked if they had a map since I like to do my sight-seeing on foot. Not only did they provide a map but they also took me on a half-hour walk at 11:00 at night to show me how to get to downtown Luxor! On the walk, the gentleman explained all kinds of things about the city, e.g. how to buy food at the shops, how much to pay for transportation, how to get in touch with Mara House if I experienced any trouble, etc. I don’t think the staff ever slept or left the lobby because every time I returned to Mara House from my excursions, they were there to open the door even though I had my own key and ask how everything was. They also were up at 4:30 am on the day that I left to make sure I was awake and accompany me to the airport with the driver they arranged.
I am not one for guided tours since I like to find and experience things on my own, but I would recommend you let Mara House arrange for tour guides and drivers for any excursions that take you out of Luxor, like the Valley of the King or the temples at Abydos and Dendera. I discovered that things are not clearly marked or explained and that walking the Valley of the Kings would have taken up too much of my valuable sight-seeing time. Mara House made all my touring easy. I told the staff where I wanted to go and they arranged for a driver and tour guide for both of my day trips. All I had to do was show up in the lobby in the morning and everything was taken care of! The tour guide was friendly and accommodating and took care of buying all the tickets and navigating through the itinerary. Thankfully, the drivers knew their craft well since driving in Egypt is not for the faint-hearted.
I loved everything I did and saw in Egypt, but I would go back just to stay at Mara House again.
– Rudy N, Phoenix, Arizona – Stayed March 2015, travelled solo
“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. –
2807Catherine, Melbourne, Australia – Stayed February 2015, travelled with family – (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Great gem in Luxor”
Mara House was recommended to me by a friend who had used Mohammed, Mara’s excellent guide, the year before. I was not disappointed, the service and responsiveness was great, Mara was really helpful in setting us up with Mohammed as a guide for our two days in Luxor, the accommodation was clean, spacious and quiet. It’s on a backstreet in Luxor in a neighbourhood next to regular Egyptians, which lends the feel of being in the country proper rather than in a tourist enclave. All in all, this is a great place to stay in Luxor that is good value, clean, comfortable with helpful staff and a great tour guide on offer – highly recommended.
– cyclinglamb, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -Stayed February 2015, travelled with friends (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Absolute gem”
Wonderful stay and great if you want to get away from the main tourist scene. I stayed there once before in 2010 and standards remain excellent although as with the rest of Luxor tourist numbers are well down and there was only one other set of guests. In Mara’s absence the hotel was being run buy two young Egyptian chaps who set the bar very high in terms of customer service. Nothing was too much trouble for them whether it was early breakfasts, arranging a bicycle to hire or anything else. Mara had kindly arranged two excellent tours for me before I arrived which came with driver and a very good guide (North to Dendra and South to Philae) and I would recommend both.
The actual hotel is interesting being on the far (non tourist) side of the railways tracks about 8 minutes walk from the station and 20 minutes to Luxor temple. It’s down a quite but safe side street. The location may be a consideration for some people as you are away from the main sites and restaurants but taxis are cheap if needed and Mara house has a couple on call.
The rooms are large with a bedroom and separate living room with fridge and sink. I slept well although you are ‘in range’ of an early morning call to prayer although the same could be said of many places.
In terms of deciding to book the location is the main swing factor given the excellent service can be taken as read. If you are happy to be in a ‘local’ area away from tourists and the centre then this is an excellent option. If you are looking for the 5* experience or simply want a view over the Nile with inbuilt restaurant and room service probably not for you. –
– Odysseus101, London – Stayed February 2015, travelled solo (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“Very good place near egyptian people”
Two weeks in family 2adults and 4 kids at Mara house in good standards. it is little excentred but is compensate by very good service and helpful. Rooms and hotel are nicely decorated by egyptian art.
Thank you very much Mara
Stayed December 2014, travelled with family – Benoits, Lyon, France (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“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.
– George Wilson, Hope, British Columbia, Canada – Stayed Nov & Dec 2014 (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
TOUR ARRANGEMENTS
Mara arranged tours for us in Cairo, Giza and Luxor and it was all great. Very knowledgeable guides, which was what we were after, no trips to papyrus shops, drivers were safe and on time. We saw everything we hoped to see and more. We are a family of 4 and we had a very memorable adventure and learned a lot. It was very helpful to be able to email with Mara beforehand and ask questions about options. I would highly recommend Mara to anyone.
Stayed December 2014, travelled with family – Jennifer K., Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“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 Dendera, 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.
Stayed October 2014, travelled with friends.
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Golapendu, San Francisco
“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.
Stayed March 2014, travelled solo.
Reviewed on TripAdvisor by: MandLuxor, Oxford, United Kingdom
“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
Stayed January 2014, travelled solo.
Reviewed on TripAdvisor by: BDBSouthAfrica, Johannesburg, South Africa.
“A Luxor Gem”
“We had a wonderful stay at Mara House last month, and the real gem is the proprietor Mara Vaughan. Although her place is beautiful, immaculately kept and hospitable, it was Mara who singlehandedly assisted me and my fiancee plan the trip of our lives to Egypt. She was giving and kind, helping me throughout the months leading up to our Dec. 2013 trip there with endless emails and advice. She organized tours in both Luxor and Cairo, and although she does not make a lot of profit on the Cairo tours, I really do believe her motivation is to see others have a wonderful trip to Egypt. She helped me more than she knows, and we had a flawless trip as a result.
On Mara House itself: It is situated close to all the major sites in Luxor, as well as selected restaurants. Upon arrival, we were greeted with welcome tea, and given a lot of information about our stay, surrounding sites and suggestions for activities. Our place was a suite, and was plenty of room for the two of us. The staff were attentive to our needs, including laundry service and tea on demand. The room and bed were very comfortable, and the decor had taste and was thoughtful. Our fridge was stocked with plenty of drinks, wine, snacks, all for a nominal fee, and although we were so busy, the rooftop lounge looked mighty appealing after long days exploring the temples.
Amr, Mara’s assistant, kindly took us around Luxor several nights, arranging taxis and coordinating our trips out to town. He was really essential in making sure our Luxor experience went smoothly, from the minute we got there. The breakfasts were good, and Amr packed me a boxed lunch to explore Abydos and Dendera on my birthday (my fiancee was in bed with “mummy’s revenge), which helped quite a bit. You might want to pack ear plugs or listen to some relaxation music before bed, as the street in front of Mara House tends to get loud, especially on wedding weeks (we happened to hit one down the street).
Mara has a few suggestions for restaurants in the area, including Taste of India and Sofra, the latter being our go to restaurant for several meals. We were disappointed not to be able to eat at Mara House’s restaurant, Salahadeen, but the low volume of tourists dictated it’s closure for now. Ask Amr for the “orientation book,” in which you’ll find all the suggestions Mara has vetted for you to optimize your trip to Luxor.
At no time in Luxor, or Egypt for that matter, did my fiancee and I feel threatened or even uncomfortable at the sign of danger or political volatility that would have prevented us from doing activities or being around certain places. The people of Luxor are kind, giving, professional and desirous of more touristic activity, so go there. You’ll have the experience of your life. And stay with Mara at Mara House.”
Stayed December 2013, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on TripAdvisor by: Jason F.
“Lovely place”
I strongly recommend this hotel. Not only is it a beautiful place, with a delicious and well served breakfast, but also its owner is a lovely person. She organized everything to me in Luxor, tours, transportation, guide, everything. Mara made things easier. I felt like at home. I learned a lot. Visit LUXOR. Go MARA HOUSE!
Aug 2013, travelled solo. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Diego O, Coventry, England.
“Safe at Luxor in Mara House”
I recently visited Egypt and spent a week in Luxor. While there I stayed at Mara House and was very pleased and welcomed. I loved the house and Mara’s service was outstanding. I was there during the month of August and always felt safe and absolutely in no danger whatsoever. It was such an enjoyable place to visit. The temples, the Souk (marketplace) was a great place to find wonderful handcrafted items and great bargains.
Mara’s House was so beautifully furnished and I enjoyed tremendously my breakfast every morning as well as the wealth of information that Mara could provide of Luxor and Egypt in general.
Stayed August 2013, travelled solo.
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Redheaded Lady7, Miami, Florida
“Fantastic stay”
This is a great little place to stay in Luxor. It has character, is interestingly decorated, certainly not one of the sterile 5 star resorts that could be anywhere. It is very welcoming with nice rooms at a great price. It is located minutes from many attractions in Luxor. Mara herself is one of the friendliest people you will meet, and it is her that will go out of her way to make sure you are comfortable, and will give you tips and help you plan your days in Luxor should you need it.
Although the kitchen was closed while I was there, I have heard from several people that they have the best Egyptian food in town. This is definitely the place to go to, and if I ever go back to Luxor this will be the place I stay.
Stayed July 2013, travelled with family.
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Ryan F., Montreal, Canada
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 everything 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 air conditioned 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.
June 2013, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Scubakir, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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.
“Great place, Great people, Great service”
My family of six stayed at Mara House for four nights. I am glad we took the tour package because other tour operators charge more or less the same, and they take you shopping and you probably get suckered into buying some thing or the other. The rooms are large, comfortable and clean with an included sitting area. The breakfast was simple and adequate.
There is an informational booklet in the room that gives you valuable advice and has a price list of items found in the fridge which we found fair and reasonable.
Mara and her crew – Amr the manager, Mohammed the excellent Egyptologist guide, Mahmood our taxi driver (his car can accommodate 6 pax) made us feel at home. Mahmood would change his music from Arabic to Celine Dion all four nights we took his cab to keep us entertained – which was nice of him 🙂 Cost of taxi was about LE 25 per trip. Mara and her team can arrange and take care of anything that you need and this is what sets Mara House apart from the rest. Overall we had a great, great, great time!!
Stayed May 2013, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: SyedCanada, Brampton, Canada
“Way more than we bargained for!”
We arrived at Mara House after travelling throughout the Middle East for over two months. During that time our accommodation had included top hotels, guest houses and serviced apartments. None came close to the treat that awaited us at Mara House in Luxor. Words could never convey the warm personal welcome and generosity that Mara and her staff bestowed on us (and all their guests for that matter).
This is one of Luxor’s greatest gems tucked away in a typical yet unremarkable residential street. The décor of the hotel is rich, eclectic and breathtakingly beautiful. The rooms are spotlessly clean and generous. The food in general is absolutely delicious and the friendly service is unsurpassed. The feast hosted in the Salahadeen Restaurant on the premises is legendary. The food is scrumptious, authentic, exciting and filling. The restaurant itself is a real treat for all the senses over and above the gastronomical.
Nothing is ever too much trouble for Mara or the charming and shy Amr. Mara is amazing and intuitively seems to know and precisely understand what to offer her guests at any time, how to keep a perpetual smile on her guests’ lips and how and when to dispense her awesome Irish wit, humour and wisdom.
All you have to do is ask and Mara and her staff bend over backwards in a timely manner to ensure all is taken care of. Mara’s tour guides, taxi and calesh drivers are so friendly, fun and genuine they make getting around easy and enjoyable. She definitely is the ultimate ‘conscious hostess’. We will never forget the wonderful nine days we spent with Mara and we truly feel we have made a lifelong friend in her. We cannot recommend Mara House in Luxor highly enough!
May 2013, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Ross W., Wollongong, Australia
“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.
Stayed May 2013, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Louise_was_here, London
“A Hidden Gem”
Mara House is ideal when exploring the Luxor area. Large, clean suites which allows room to rest with a cold beer after a day of touring.
Mara will organise tours of all the attractions, with Mohammed, an English speaking Egyptologist if required – we would recommend him, he’s very good. She also arranged Ramadan, the calesh driver (a horse & carriage), who will take you anywhere in Luxor (including the Temple at Karnak). The cost is no more than a taxi, and you will see so much more on the way. Ramadan arranged a felucca trip for us. Mara will also arrange collection and return to the airport. All in all, a great one-stop Luxor experience
Stayed May 2013, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: JohnandMagsSwindon, Swindon.
“a complete experience”
A wonderful experience. Mara is a great owner and she was able to satisfy all our desires. she provived food even if the restaurant was closed, organized a complete tour of luxor and was ready to respond quickly to our every request for change from our arrival to airport to our departure.
The B & B is clean, well furnished, quiet and in a neighborhood of the “real” luxor.
Mara, we hope to see you soon!!
May 2013, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Bruno S., Milan, Italy.
“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.
Stayed April 2013, travelled with family.
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: workandpleasure, Brighton, United Kingdom
“Fantastic Stay!”
When my mother and brother visited from America, I wanted to provide them with a smaller, more “Egyptian” experience than they could get by staying a big hotel chain. Mara House fit the bill perfectly, and we all had a wonderful stay.
Mara and her staff are attentive and always smiling. They were able to arrange everything we needed — transfers from/to the airport, taxi to dinner, etc. We really enjoyed the full dinner one evening, and when we asked for a local restaurant for dinner or cafe for shisha, Mara’s recommendations were spot-on.
The entire hotel is beautifully appointed, comfortable, and VERY clean. While it is off the beaten track in a neighborhood under construction
I will absolutely stay here when I am in Luxor again, and have already recommended it to friends. If you’re looking for a big, generic, American-style hotel — this isn’t the place. However, if you want to feel like you are actually experiencing Egypt — this IS the place.
April 2013, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Misty W., Seattle, Washington
“Trip planning”
I contacted Mara by email regarding our 2 day stay in Luxor prior to a Nile cruise, even though we are not staying at her hotel after visiting her webpage and finding copious helpful information regarding a trip to Egypt. She has arranged airport p/u, 2 full days of tours, and provided excellent information regarding our visit/tours/logistics. Emails were responded to promptly and thoroughly, so I know she read them. While I had been reluctant to visit Egypt, I feel confident we will be well cared for and safe now. See you next month…..
Stayed April 2013, travelled as a couple, Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: IAdivers, IA
Terrific!”
We picked Mara based on the TA reviews (read them – they’re spot on – but expectations will be exceeded!) and on the helpful advice Mara provided via email when we were planning the trip. The three of us (parents and one daughter) were indulged in a three bedroom suite, beautifully decorated. We came on the overnight train from Cairo/Giza, to be met at the station and checked in right away so we could freshen up for the first of two days sight-seeing (Abydos/Dendera the first day, Karnak/Valley of the Kings/Luxor the next).
We picked the room/tour package, which is the best value approach, and Mohammad adjusted the itinerary a bit as our energy flagged the first day. Of course we were spoiled by the attention we could be afforded because of the low tourist numbers – all the more reason for you to visit now – there are really no safety concerns in Luxor or even in Cairo if you are sensible.
Other aspects to highlight: the lovely roof garden; a location that gives you a feel of actually living in the city; chatting with Mara about ancient and modern Egypt. Also, there were not enough guests for Mara to open her restaurant, but she pointed us in the direction of Sofra Restaurant, which was wonderful.
One thought – the driver meeting the train was at the main entrance although we thought we would be smart and go out on the other side of the tracks where Mara House is (and where it is much less frantic). Maybe Mara could make the choice explicit.
Stayed March 2013, travelled with family
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: RayC32, Philadephia, PA
“I loved it!”
This place was for me.
Arriving late at night I was greeted by Mara and I felt right at home. The room was LARGE and superclean, the air conditioner was on, the minibar had great chips and Coke, the bed was huge and comfy… I was happy.
Staying at Mara House you’ll experience Luxor for real, pretty far from the plastic tourist version. Well, not that far, it’s only a ten minute walk from the railway station, and walking home in the evening is an experience in itself. It’s beautiful, it’s dirty, it’s Luxor. You will see some cool things that you will never forget. That’s why I travel.
Mara’s got her own taxi drivers and guides, all of whom are superb in every way (the guide, when going on the West Bank tour and the Abydos/Dendera tour, was especially amazing).
The rooftop terrace is a great place to just hang out, read a book and relax. If you haven’t got any books, Mara’s got a bunch of them for you to enjoy in the lobby. If you need your clothes washed, just leave them in a bag outside your door in the morning and you’ll have them back all clean in the evening. And also, when you come back in the evening after a day in Luxor there will be tea or coffee for you to enjoy, free of charge.
And the room is always superclean.
For a special meal, make sure to try out the Salahadeen restaurant, also run by Mara and her friendly staff, located in the same house.
There’s so much positive things to say, I could go on forever. But you must be aware of some things: the breakfast is simple, the shower might not have the best water pressure or the warmest water (depending on when you shower, you’ll get the hang of it after a while), there will be power cuts, there might be an Arab wedding which will be LOUD, the guys in the mosques will start their chanting of prayers VERY early, the streets and the money are VERY dirty, the vendors might be tough to deal with, people drive like crazy…
However, if you adapt and take it easy, things will be perfectly fine. Mara will provide you with loads of useful info all collected in a binder. Read that and you will love Luxor, just like I did.
I totally enjoyed my stay at Mara House, I really can’t find anything to complain about. Everything that happened was a part of the experience. I even learned to appreciate the early morning prayers from the mosque that woke me up at 05:30 every morning. No problem at all. It was almost like a dreamlike surreal experience after a while.
I loved it. I love Luxor. I will come back and I will stay at Mara House, for sure.
April 2013, travelled solo. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: IndyGrinder, Stockholm, Sweden
“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. Don’t 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 plate 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 don’t hesitate to contact Mara directly as she is always in touch on emails.
Stayed March 2013, travelled as a couple
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Sandrine J., Sydney, Australia
“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.
Stayed February 2013, travelled with family
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Andy H., Bath, United Kingdom
“Perfect place to stay in Luxor”
My husband and I spent 4 nights at Mara’s House. It is a perfect place to be in Luxor. Mara House is a short walk to shops and restaurants.
Mara’s is located in a typical neighborhood and you get the real feel of living in Luxor. Mara and her staff are OUTSTANDING, she is always quick to respond to any and all questions. The entire house is very clean and the entire staff takes pride in that. The fridge is stocked with bottled water.
The staff is friendly and always available to bring you a cup of tea. Zahry is so kind and always greets you with a smile,,,,,thank you Zahry for making our stay enjoyable. We booked all of our airport transfers and sightseeing with Mara. I would reccommend this as well. The drivers were on time and the cars were clean and well care for. Booked Luxor and Karnak Temples, Abydos and Dendera also West Bank of the Nile.
All tours were outstanding and the guides were well versed and very professional….well done by all. Sitting on the roof top talking with Mara about what it is like living in Egypt was very interesting too.
Mara and her staff make you feel very special during the entire stay, I wish we could have stayed longer. Four nights in Luxor at Mara’s House is really not enough.
Stayed March 2013, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: RebeccaA602, Holland, Michigan
“Your practically a local now”
Luxor makes a good base from which to explore pretty much the whole of Upper Egypt – that’s from Abydos to Aswan – and more. Mara House became my little home from home from which I ventured out, mainly across the river to the west bank, where I walked, cycled, motorcycled, bused and taxied all over the place visiting temples and my friends in Qurna, the community of people whose villages ring the ancient Theban necropolis on its eastern flank. (visit http://www.mandoxegypt.wordpress.com for more stories about all that.) One could also ride (horses or camels but that ain’t really my thing)
Whereas West Bank and Qurna is a very much more rural, very quiet experience. Mara House is situated in the Inner City right behind the very busy railway station and just 15minutes walk up El Nozri to Luxor temple and the lively area around the souk where little restaurants like Ali Baba offer has nice food (Egyptian or International) and beer plus one of the best views of any restaurant.
So I lodged my entire two weeks at Mara’s where they looked after me very well. I was in room 4 – one floor up on last time – very nice quiet room – with a large glass topped dinning table on which i could lay out my books and laptop. Very comfortable there.
I also had the opportunity to go on one of the longer day trips to Abydos in the company of Mara, Mohammed and Amr. There should be links to some film of this on the mandoxegypt site or youtube. Journeying to this famous pilgrimage site has long been one of my ambitions. The journey on this new desert road was fantastic – desert scenery all the way then a gem of a temple – with not one but two guides to show me the special bits. We had a lot of fun and even managed to step briefly onto the Osireion, which was dry.
Several hours there wasn’t enough enough and I must go back – if only for more gossip from Mara (but I am a nerd). We then got to Dendara for last two hours – which is best time to see it – more than enough there to keep one busy for the day.
Coming back in rush hour I think on reflection I’d get off at Jazeera on the west back and catch the public ferry over and walk back to Mara’s rather than spend an hour via Luxor Bridge which is quite far upstream. Even so its probably a detour one should make at least once – just to see the bridge and uptown or is it downtown Luxor.
Many thanks to Noor, Asdar and Sahry for looking after me so well in the Hotel. Keeping my room looking so fresh and providing such nice breakfasts every morning and tea whenever I needed it. Coming back late I’d often get a call from Sahry just to make sure I was OK – which is nice really – people in Egypt really do go the extra mile … thank you – hope to see you all on my next expedition.
Stayed February 2013, travelled solo
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: MandLuxor, Oxford, United Kingdom
“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.
Stayed February 2013, travelled with friends
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Kayk1, London, United Kingdom
“Loads and character and great service from Mara”
Mara House has loads of character and was a brilliant change from the faceless 4* hotel we were staying at in Cairo. Roof terrace is a nice place to relax and read, and the rooms are huge.
Mara herself is really friendly and always on hand to help out with a last-minute request for a trip or a guide or whatever, and the centre of Luxor is just a short walk.
Totally recommend.
Stayed February 2013, travelled with family Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Ray M., London, United Kingdom
“Great place to stay in Luxor!”
I loved this place. It’s away from the touristy area in a local neighborhood. You get to see more of real Luxor. Its like a 15 minute walk from the Luxor Temple. Totally safe area. The rooms are huge and so clean. I walk every where usually to get a feel for everything…but if you want they will have a cab or horse carriage there for you in minutes. All around an awesome hotel. With Mara and the staff it’s like staying with family…I honestly felt sad when I had to say good bye.. Hi Mara! 🙂
Stayed February 2013, travelled solo Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: IWannaTravel365, Branson, Missouri
“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!
Kathy Gruver, Santa Barbara, California – Stayed February 2015, travelled solo (Reviewed on TripAdvisor)
“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.
Stayed February 2013, travelled with friends
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: JoyEssex_England, Essex, England.
“So glad we stayed at Mara House”
We – me, my husband and our fifteen-year-old son – just got back from a fantastic week at Mara House.
Full disclosure first: this is not a 5-star luxe hotel with a view of the Nile. If you want that, don’t come here.
If, however, you want to experience a little of what living in Luxor might actually be like, email Mara right now. She’ll answer all your questions quickly and carefully and once you arrive make sure you have a hassle-free trip – no mean feat in a city where hassle is a given.
We were met at the airport and shown our comfortable and spacious triple suite (three bedrooms, sitting room, bathroom, kitchenette) and felt immediately at home. The house is on a residential street the ‘wrong’ side of the railway tracks, but a swift 15-minute caleche ride or 20-30 minute walk to Luxor Temple.
Mara organizes tours of all the main sites and we had pre-booked three of them. Our guide Mohammed escorted us to Luxor and Karnak Temples, to Dendera and Abydos and to the West Bank, taking in the Valley of the Kings, the Tombs of the Noble and of the Workers and the Medinet Habu. They were long days, but good ones. We learned a vast amount and it was all smooth and straightforward. We were met at the hotel, taken to good restaurants for lunch and returned to the Mara House at the end, where we could relax and absorb all that we had seen, whether in the cool of our room or on the roof terrace.
Going out in the evening was a breeze, too. Mara’s team (Zahry and Amr, who doubles up as chef at Mara’s restaurant, Salahadeen) call one of the caleche drivers they use (we were lucky enough to have Ramadan, who was great) to pick you up, take you where you want to go and take you back to the hotel afterwards. T his is a huge plus as it means you don’t get ripped off and you don’t get overly hassled by the dozens of taxi drivers and other caleche drivers looking for business. And you can understand why they might be. Tourist numbers are massively down since the revolution, and Luxor is very, very quiet. But don’t let the political situation put you off. Cairo is 300 hundred miles away and Port Said even further. And most of the people you will come across are polite, funny, kind and if you treat them civilly, even when haggling, will do the same to you.
We’re so glad we went – and so glad we stayed with Mara. We could have stayed in a posh hotel and spent our week in a protected bubble, but this way we got to see a little bit of the real city and to do it in a very easy and pain-free way.
Stayed February 2013, travelled with family
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Hotelsarelovely, South West London
“Great Stay in Luxor”
Our 3 generation extended family spent two nights at Mara House in January and the only problem we had was that we couldn’t stay longer! Mara communicated well with us as we were making our arrangements prior to our visit, and everything came together as we hoped. Her staff, namely Amr and Sahry, were exceptionally attentive and helpful. They were always ready with a cup of tea and good advice. All the arrangements they made for us, from the hot air balloon ride to the tours to the calesh ride through Luxor, worked perfectly.
Our tour guide, Mohammad, was interesting, patient and knowledgeable. The apartments were spacious, comfortable and clean and the rooftop terrace was lovely and relaxing. All nine of us would highly recommend Mara House.
Stayed January 2013, travelled with family Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: MichiganScout, Michigan
“Great Stay – We Were All Sorry to Leave”
Hi I stayed at Mara House for 5 nights in January along with 8 friends. The rooms were huge and beautifully decorated, and they did a great job of organising trips for us during the stay. Above all Mara and the team really made us feel at home and secure.
Stayed January 2013, travelled with friends Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Duncan_Doughnuts, London
“A home away from home”
I was part of a trip of nine who stayed at Mara House in January 2013 and I can’t rate it highly enough if you’re looking for a good-value B&B with excellent service. Even before we arrived, Mara (Irish lady who owns the place) sent us loads of advice and dealt effortlessly with our questions and schedule changes.
Arriving at Mara House is a little bit of a shock, as it’s on a backstreet that (to our untrained Western sensibilities) looks a bit rough – but nothing could be further from the truth. The front door opened to an oasis of tranquility and calm, the people in Luxor are lovely and when we got there, Mara and her staff (Amr and Sahji) bent over backwards to accommodate us.
Mara arranged all our excursions, Amr accompanied us and arranged all the driving and let’s not forget Mohammad, our hotel-appointed tour guide, who opened up a world of understanding at the sites including the Luxor and Karnak temples, Abydos, Dendera and the Valley of The Kings. If you stay with Mara, I thoroughly urge you to take advantage of the full service package they offer for excursions etc – you won’t find a better deal.
On the longer excursions (requiring an early start) they provided packed breakfasts, which were just the ticket. And if you stay here and they offer you Amr’s home-cooked Egyptian feast one evening, make sure you take them up on the offer.
Oh, and of course – the rooms were huge, spotless and comfortable, the service was impeccable and the roof terrace provided a lovely escape from the hubbub below.
If you don’t know what to expect, in the first couple of days the Islamic call to prayer at 5am will jolt you awake – but it doesn’t last long and you will have the same experience if you stay at the most expensive hotels. This is Egyptian culture – embrace it!
Thank you Mara and team – you were an essential part of making Luxor a great experience.
Stayed January 2013, travelled with friends
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Smudgeboy, London.
“Mara House”
I stayed at Mara House with my son for 4 nights in January 2013. The accomodation is in a “genuine” Egyptian neigbourhood away from the other hotels and about 5 minutes from the railway station. The accommodation was a large living room with a large bedroom. Breakfast, which was included in the price, was continental in nature and perfectly fine. Unfortunately time precluded taking some of the tours that Mara organised and unfortunately we were not able to attend the Egyptian feast as the chef was ill on the relevant day.
The biggest plus of Mara house is that the staff (and I will no doubt spell these names wrong) Sahry and his colleague (Amr). They genuinely cared that you had a good experience in Luxor and were always anxious to ensure that the visit was as hassle free as possible. In particular, we had a difficult situation with a calesh driver who upped his fee by a great deal and became very aggressive. Sahry and Amr came out of Mara House at what was 1 am in the morning and spoke with him, arranged a reasonable fee and directed us inside.
Overall I would recommend Mara House. Being in a genuine Egyptian neighbourhood, you really benefit from meeting real Egyptians who are not out to hassle you and we were touched by the acts of kindness shown to us (such as a local giving us a “no obligation” ride on the back of his moped to Mara House when we got slightly lost one night). It is slightly out of the town centre (15 minutes walk to Luxor temple) compared with other hotels and did not have a TV (if this is important to you) etc, but if you are willing to walk or use the fixed rate taxis/calesh that Mara House organises and wish to experience a less touristy side of Luxor, it is perfect.
Stayed January 2013, travelled with family
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: smcm980, London, United Kingdom
“The Perfect Oasis In Luxor”
Over the holidays, I stayed at Mara House with my parents (in their 50’s), my sister (in her 20’s), and my husband (in our 20’s). We were a group of 5 Americans visiting Egypt for the first time. My husband and I live in Kuwait, so we knew a bit of what to expect, but were nervous to take my parents around the Middle East in such a busy country like Egypt. Thus, we booked Mara House.
Mara House made our vacation an absolute dream; we couldn’t ask for a more helpful, friendly, hard working staff. The facilities are spotless and well-maintained. We had a whole “apartment” to ourselves, with breakfast included, at a great price! The beds were the most comfortable beds I’ve slept in the Middle East. Every night was a silent night’s sleep; no honking horns to keep you awake! You arrive to a fully stocked refrigerator of local wine and beer (reasonably priced), chips, candy bars, and water, so you don’t have to stress about finding the nearest bottle shop or corner store at the end of a long day. There were two sitting areas, a television, and a spotless bathroom. Trust me, this place is the cleanest, most organized places I’ve been to in all of the Middle East, and I’ve traveled to many, many places!
Mara House roof top
Not to mention Amr and Sahry (Mara’s righthand men) helped us order felafel, hummus, even pizza every night we didn’t feel like going out. They made us laugh endlessly. They arranged taxis, helped us with directions, recommended things to do, they are natural hosts. We genuinely miss both Amr and Sahry; I have traveled over 20 countries, and never have I been to a B&B where I felt this cared for. We wanted to hire a felucca one day, and had met a man along the Nile who we wanted to book with. Amr and Sahry wanted to make sure we had a good experience, so they called the man on his mobile (we got the guy’s phone number when we met him) to talk to him about his services. They were super concerned about everything we did in Luxor, and wanted to ensure we loved every moment.
If you are looking for a comfortable place to relax, bask in the sun on their beautiful rooftop garden, talk with the friendliest people, and have a helping hand to make sense of the crazy tourism in Egypt, then book with Mara. You won’t regret it.
Need I say it again? The place is spotless. Quiet. Safe. Friendly. Helpful. Great food. Good price.
Mara is a pro at email. She will email you back within 24 hours. (A rarity in Egypt!) Send me a private message if you want to know more or get a feel for what my itinerary was.
Stayed December 2012, travelled with family Reviewed on TripAdvisor by: Kimberly J, Madison Wisconsin.
“Best host you could hope for!”
Stayed at Mara’s House in both Cairo and Luxor. Both Mara and Stephen were most helpful and welcoming to us, and kept us clear of the usual tourist traps that are rife in Egypt. They even recognised our food poisoning symptoms before we did and gave us special ‘Egyptian grade’ medication to prevent the onset, so we owe our whole trip to their helpfulness since it would’ve otherwise have been quite unpleasant.
They helped us organise tours, recommended restaurants, told us the do’s and don’ts and generally gave us a lot of inside info that we would’ve never found out ourselves. Accommodation was clean, tidy, comfortable and good value. Would not stay anywhere else and glad we found them.
You won’t be disappointed!
Nov 2012, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on TripAdvisor by: Aussie-in-the-desert, Perth, Australia
“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 development 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 accommodation. I would gladly book it again and hope to do so in the future.
Stayed November 2012, travelled with friends
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Pat F., Dublin, Ireland
“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!
Stayed November 2012, travelled as a couple
Reviewed on TripAdvisor by: Supermummy, East of England.
“A Real Gem”
We arrived at Mara House early in the morning after an exhausting night train journey from Cairo to Luxor; I myself had contracted what I thought was food poisoning only 7 hours before. Upon arriving, Mara’s staff were more than accommodating by providing us with both tea and medication to sooth the detrimental effects of what I would later learn to be ‘Pharaoh’s Revenge’ (a nasty bacterial bug that mimics the stomach flu). After hearing that I was ill, Mara immediately called to both inform me of the course of action I had to take to rid myself of this bacteria (using Antinal) and to confirm the day trips we had conversed about ahead of time via email. Everyone was incredibly helpful.
I have never been so ‘spoiled’ as I was during the 4 days we spent at Mara House. Our room and the house more than exceeded my expectations. It was obvious that considerable thought had gone into creating a traditional Egyptian atmosphere that felt both welcoming and homey, especially after long day trips. Sahry and Amr, the two male staff members running the place, were the most gracious of hosts. They both are completely devoted to making your time spent at Mara House relaxing and enjoyable. Their cooking was unreal; be sure to indulge in the Egyptian feast.
The West Bank, Karnak/Luxor Temple, Abydos and Dendera, and Aswan Tours were incredible and extremely well organized, providing us with an excellent Egyptologist as a guide to the history associated with each. Well worth the money.
I would recommend Mara House to anyone visiting Luxor. If you’re looking for a place to help create memorable experiences that will last a lifetime, then Mara House is where you’ll want to stay.
Thank you so very much Mara!
Aleisha & Kathleen
Oct 2012, travelled with friends. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: CanadianAG, London, UK
“Great hotel in Luxor”
I stayed the nights of October the 16th and 17th 2012 at Mara House. This hotel is a great place to stay. My room was spacious, nicely furnished and most important to me super clean and neat. The hotel staff was polite, professional and always attentive to my needs. I arrived by plane and her taxi driver was waiting for me at the airport, I used this same driver for trips around town and he was friendly and his fares were economical.
I booked with Mara tours of the Karnak and the Luxor temples one day and a complete tour of the West Bank the next day (highly recommended as this is an expansive area that would be a bit challenging to do independently on a time limited trip). Mara also arranged for me several excellent tours in Cairo, where i had spent four days prior to visiting Luxor. I was totally satisfied with them, my guide was a great friendly young man, Mohammed, that gave me not only an insight into the historical sites we visited but also was great teaching me about contemporary Egyptian culture.
Anyone considering a trip to Luxor (or Cairo) should visit Maria’s website as this is a great source of information.
Stayed October 2012, travelled solo. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Michael C. Davie, Florida
“Superbly comfortable & atmospheric hotel”
Trip Advisor’s reviews of Mara House looked promising, and I found Mara’s website helpful in the early stages of planning this trip. Mara herself was most helpful in the planning stages for the trip, and though she was away when we arrived, she kept in touch by email & continued to offer helpful advice. The highlights of our actual stay in Mara House were: firstly, the impeccable service provided by the staff, particularly Sahry and Amr, who were attentive to every need, and constantly offering help and advice; secondly, the beautiful, spotlessly clean and artistic decor which greatly enhanced the experience of staying there; thirdly, the excellent Salahadeen Feast offered by the restaurant.
Mara offers a good range of trips and activities, but we had booked these through another company so I am unable to comment on this aspect of her service. I would thoroughly recommend the guest house, and can vouch that the staff all take great pride in providing an excellent service.
Oct 2012, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Jackie E, Taurinva, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
“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.
Stayed October 2012, travelled with family, Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: S Rushton, Houston
“Ireland in a Luxor Alley”
Mara is a very unique hostess. Her determination and skills of matriarchal wisdom resound with dogmatic focus. The digs are very clean and, the building as a fortress is very secure. The neighborhood is another story. The House is located away from the hustle and bustle of hotel and history “strip.” The breakfast is above par, and bountiful. You may arrange for tours along the other side of the Nile where the archaeology mainly abounds and, you may take a taxi to Karnak and Luxor Temple complex on the city side… With the affairs current as of 2013, who knows if the water runs, the sewers drain or the power comes on with the flip of a switch…..
Oct 2012, travelled with friends. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: MDFS333, Nashville, Tennessee
“Hidden gem”
We stayed at Mara House about three years ago if not longer and we will return without a doubt. Mara House is clean beautiful relaxed and charming and the owner more helpful than many I have seen before. One of my most beautiful memories of this place was sitting on the roof top terrace with a drink listning to the whistle of the old trains. What perfect nights those were looking up at the moon. Luxor itself is a must so please do go to this hidden gem in the heart of luxor
Stayed September 2012 Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Bettyboop003, England
“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!
Stayed September 2012, travelled with friends. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: H N, Cairo, Egypt
“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.
July 2012, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Dave_Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh
“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 conscious 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
June 2012, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Michelle L, Oxford, United Kingdom
“all the comforts of home”
I arrived in Luxor after a journey across the desert from the Red Sea. My driver called Mara who gave him directions and I was delivered safely to her door where she was awaiting me. I was offered tea and shown to a spacious, clean, tastefully decorated room complete with fridge packed with cold beverages including beer and wine. I relaxed in the roof garden and perused the concise recommended tours of the temples and tombs in the Valley of the Kings recommended by my hostess. Mara not only offers a knowledgable, reliable guide and driver for the western valley sites but also offers a callish (horse and buggy with driver) for trips to local restaurants and nearby temples.
I was in Egypt during the recent presidential elections and it was interesting to hear political discussions regarding the new democracy expectations and hope. I felt quite safe during my visit and the staff had breakfast ready and was always available for questions or requests. A lovely restaurant and fountain have been added at Mara’s and a lounge with a full bar is a comfy place for a sit and a chat. I was a bit anxious being a single woman traveler in Egypt but Mara reviewed safety practices and also advised me on tipping. I felt relaxed and made the most of my three day stay in Luxor thanx to Mara’s expertise and dedicated staff. Two thumbs up!
Carol, Accord, NY June, 2012
Stayed June 2012, travelled solo. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Kayakcarol, Accord, NY
“Don’t Stop Anywhere Else”
We stayed with Mara for two days, one night and could not have chosen better. Her house is beautiful, her staff is fabulous and the attention she gives to your visit is amazing. She provided us with a driver and a plan as we had only a limited amount of time at our disposal. The only disappointment we had was that we had to leave so soon. We were 3 adults and 3 children (10, 7, 4) I highly recommend Mara’s House, you will not be disappointed.
Stayed May 2011, travelled with family Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: DLR22, Colorado Springs, Colorado
“Fantastic choice in Luxor”
Two friends and I traveled to Luxor at the end of May. We debated on which hotel to stay at, and asked Mara numerous questions via email. She was always very quick with her response and provided great insight on what she thought we should do with our time. We ended up choosing her room and tour combination, choosing to see the West Bank as well as Abydos and Dendera, and could not have been more pleased.
Mara arranged a driver to pick us up from the airport (thankfully, as there were some very aggressive taxi drivers there trying to get our business). From there we set off on our first tour with a very knowledgeable guide and driver. The information provided by the guide at each location was great. Due to the huge drop in tourism, we were also able to walk right into many sights that our guide says are normally very packed.
The next day we did the Abydos and Dendera tour, which exceeded expectations. I think Dendera was my favorite site in all of Luxor, so thanks for the suggestion, Mara! During each of our nights, we also saw the Luxor and Karnak temples with transportation arranged by Mara’s staff.
Bottom line with the tours: I thought they provided great information and were a good value for what was included. The ability to combine the airport transfers, room, and tours into one rate was very easy and definitely the best option for us.
Mara House itself is a very clean and lovely boutique hotel, with a really nice rooftop terrace. We were the only guests at the time, and staff truly went out of their way to make sure we had everything we could think of. We stayed in a suite with two bedrooms, 1 bath, a terrace, and kitchen. The mini fridge was well stocked with water and beer, and easily the most reasonable prices I’ve ever seen at a hotel. Coffee and tea are also available at all times.
Mara also provides a book full of information upon arrival, including local restaurant recommendations, tipping guidelines (very helpful!), local attraction information, etc.
RE: security in Egypt at this time, I wanted to mention that we, as 3 women, felt 100% safe at all times. I believe that many times the news may sensationalize things for a great story, and I wouldn’t want to understate anything going on in the country right now, but we never felt like anything happening politically affected our trip in a negative way. Obviously we stayed away from any planned protests, but other than that didn’t take any other special precautions. The Egyptian people are hurting badly because of this drop in tourism, so if you’ve ever wanted to go to Egypt, this is definitely the time to go!
One other note…I believe Mara also has a location in Cairo that I would check out if I returned. We used hotel points for a hotel in Cairo so that it was free, but if I returned, I would definitely check out the accommodations she has to offer before looking elsewhere.
Many thanks to Mara and her staff for a trip of a lifetime!
Stayed May 2012, travelled with friends. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: bedenji, Chicago Illinois
“Top care and service”
First time in Egypt for us. Mara sorted every detail out for us. We chose her Meritaten 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.
Stayed April 2012, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Johnpilk, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
“Excellent Choice”
Just got back from a fabulous stay at Mara House. Our two bedroom suite was spacious and comfortable. The loaded bar was a pleasant surprise, especially with the reasonable prices. Our two tours we did were excellent and the guides were knowledgeable and fun. The staff took great care of us and had excellent suggestions and local people who they went through for services around Luxor. I would definitely recommend this wonderful guest house!
Stayed April 2012, travelled with friends. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: hilcampbell, Istanbul
“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 😀
April 2012, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Caroline W., London, UK
“Mara’s a marvel!”
Stayed at Mara’s House for three nights in early April. We travelled as a family with children aged 13 & 11 yrs.
We arrived early evening & were offered a lovely choice of refreshing hot drinks & Mara soon had us organised with a venue for dinner together with a Calesh ride to get there. Before heading out we freshened up in our suite – very spacious & beautifully decorated with soft furnishings.
The Calesh ride didn’t disappoint & really gave us an insight into the real Luxor. What a wonderful city with so much going on. Our dinner at a Taste of India was wonderful with extra choice for the younger palate! The Calesh driver agreed to come back at a certain time & was ready waiting for us. We had a great nights sleep at Mara’s House ready for day 2.
Day 2 – after a fine continental breakfast we were ready for the day which was organised by Mara. We did the West Bank tour by Mahmoud who was a knowledgeable guide & we covered a lot of ground. All the sites were well worth visiting but we especially loved the Vally of the Kings & Tut’s tomb & mummified body. The trip started at 7.30am & finished around 3pm. Lunch was organised for us at a restaurant near Habu Temple which was lovely.
After freshening up we had dinner @ Mara’s restaurant which was a magnificent Egyptian Feast. (see Salahadeen Restaurant) This meal was by far the best meal we had during our stay in Egypt.
Day 3 – another wonderful breakfast & another tour organised by Mara, together with packed lunches. This time we were off to Dendera & Abydos temples again with Mahmoud. Fantastic detail at both sites – you must visit to experience this for yourself! Returning at 4.45pm we freshened up & headed out for dinner to the Fortune Cookie by Calesh ( recommended & organised by Mara) & once again travelled through the markets, streets & hustle & bustle of Luxor.
Day 4 – up at 4am to be greeted by Mara in the hall together with packed breakfast for our next leg of our journey to Cairo.
In summary we chose to stay with Mara because she provided detailed & thoughtful information about Egypt on her website, together with tours in Luxor. Mara House wasn’t just a luxury hotel in the middle of nowhere – it was in the heart of Luxor where you felt part of the real city, where the locals came across as genuinely honest & kind individuals. She provided a personal touch which left you in no doubt, particularly in the current political climate, that she had your safety & well being as a top priority together with helpful tips in order to maximise our stay. If we return we shall definitely go & stay with Mara ( if she’ll have us!?!?!). She is a very special lady!
Stayed April 2012, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Lovies4, London, United Kingdom
“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.
Stayed April 2012, travelled as a couple Reviewed on TripAdvisor by Sean O’Flynn, Salvador, Brazil.
“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.
Stayed April 2012, travelled as a couple Reviewed on TripAdvisor by: epaki, Moscow, Russia
“Mara House – Luxor”
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!
Room Tip: Our Room 2 overlooked the street below. No noise issue at all. It was large like a suite.
Stayed March 2012, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: rsdickson, Vancouver, Canada
“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.
Stayed March 2012, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: figlet, Swansea, MA
“Fabulous Experience”
Our 3 bedroom suite was clean, spacious, and very comfortable. The Egyptian decor was tasteful and welcoming. The staff was friendly and accommodating. Breakfast was plentiful and tasty. Mara provided invaluable guidance regarding tours and transportation. We saw so much more of Luxor because of our location.
One of our favorite experiences was the Egyptian dinner her chef prepared for us one evening. It was a real treat to sample such a feast of 15 local dishes that were all fresh and delicious. A perfect ending to a fabulous day.
The most impressive part of Mara’s house was the secure surroundings and friendly townspeople who welcomed us wherever we went. Never once did we feel threatened. This is one of the main reasons to return to Egypt again and again at Mara’s House.
Stayed March 2012, travelled with family
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: AlexandraDC4C, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
“Many thanks”
Mara is the most helpful people you will find if you want to do a trip to Luxor. She knows her job and does it with a great pleasure and you feel it at your first email exchange.
The place is well located and we enjoyed walking until the Corniche and the Nile. The aera where she is located is full of kind popular Egytians and they welcome you without end.
Her hotel is well done and in an islamic style which is beautiful and more interesting than the standard furniture of big chains…Enjoy it like we did…
François. Stayed March 2012, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Francois800, Cairo, Egypt
“Totally recommended.”
There is one simple solution for the independent traveller to avoid the hassle in Luxor – stay at Mara House. Not only is the property very clean with delightful rooms and eating areas but there is exceptional service. My wife and I were collected from our cruise ship, taken to the railway station and luggage loaded onto the train, had a brilliant caleche tour of the town*, and taken to the airport by a taxi driver known and trusted by Mara House.
Several tours can be organised all of which are of a very reasonable price.
I cannot give enough praise to this establishment.
(* Our caleche driver was Ramadan and we could not have had anyone better.
Stayed March 2012, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Jamieh851, Colchester.
“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.
Stayed February 2012, travelled solo. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: MandLuxor, Oxford, UK
“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.
Stayed February 2012, travelled with family Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: G F Paris, France
“Home away from home”
Mara house is a delight; large rooms, safe neighborhood and friendly people.
It is more like visiting family than being in a hotel – wonderful!
Stayed February 2012, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: John P, San Diego, California
“Mara House: A real good deal”
After staying 3 days in Cairo, we headed to Luxor because we booked the Meritaten package at Mara House, which included 3 nights, tours every day of our stay and free breakfast. Since the moment we arrived we felt welcome, we were offered complimentary tea and coffee through our stay. Mara took the time to tell us the story of how she built her business, which was awesome to hear and helped us appreciate her place so much more. Mara House is located in a typical residential area really close to the train station. We thought it was cool to stay with the locals, plus they were friendly and greeted us, and even gave us directions back to Mara’s House when we got a little lost.
At Mara’s they gave us our own key to our little apartment/suite. The place comes equipped with a kitchen, minibar, Tv, etc. They have free wi-fi (most places charge), just know that internet connection in Egypt is not that good. Mara was also very helpful in telling us how to get to places from our location, we walked everywhere and felt safe. The tours were well organized, on time, and worth every penny! The house also has a restaurant, where we tried an egyptian feast for dinner, and the lounge/bar area is nice to just sit back and read a book. Staying with Mara was like staying with family and I’m really glad we found her. Thank you for making our trip to Luxor, unforgettable!
Stayed February 2012, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: hormellitos, Arizona
“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.
Stayed February 2012, travelled with friends, Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Michael B., Belton, TX
Take your tours through Mara House!”
I recently came back from an amazing trip to Egypt. In my research of things to do and sites to see, I came across Mara’s website and found it to be extremely helpful. We (group of 6) decided to travel by sleeper train from Cairo to Luxor and stay three days there. Mara, via email prior to the trip, helped us decide which tours to take on which days based on our itinerary. We ended up doing the West Bank tour on the day we arrived…Mara House was at the train platform waiting for us when our train pulled up. They took us to our hostel, allowed us to put our luggage away and then headed out for an amazing tour of the West Bank. Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and patient (with a group of 6 all wanting to see and do different things, this is a necessary skill). We also did a tour of Abydos and Dendara with Mara House, neither of which were on my radar screen prior to my discussions with Mara and both of which were absolutely incredible and among the highlights of our trip.
I also feel the need to mention that a couple of people in my group got sucked in by a “guide” in Cairo who was obviously more interested in getting commission than anything else, and he attempted to change our entire itinerary around (and succeeded with two of us). The guide even took it upon himself to contact Mara to cancel our tours…she was wise enough to ask to speak to me to confirm the changes, which of course I did not confirm, and she advised me to speak to my group privately to make sure we understood what the guide was doing. I took her advice, and needless to say, 4 of us ended up “firing” him and continuing along with the initial plans. The 2 of us that chose to follow his lead ended up being stood up for 2 tours in Aswan (which they had paid for in advance) and were generally disappointed with their experience. They also missed our wonderful trip to Abydos and Dendara, and without us even asking, Mara issued a refund for them.
So if all the above doesn’t convince you that Mara House is the best, then I guess you’re on your own. Happy travels. 🙂
Stayed February 2012, travelled with friends. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: mistypo523, Dallas Texas
“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.
Stayed January 2012, travelled with family Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: PlanetValentine, Santa Barbara, California
“Mara House”
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.
Stayed January 2012, travelled solo
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: PeterC168662, Wokigham, United Kingdom
“Recommend Mara House Hotel”
We were in Egypt for 3 weeks in December 2011 and had 3 nights at Mara House Hotel. I had been to Egypt before 15 years ago on a completely organised trip but wanted to go with my partner this time on our own. Mara could not have been more help to us even before we left England and was able to help with other aspects of the trip not just our time in Luxor. Our holiday had been 6 months in the planning and was a grand tour of Egypt including Cairo, Western Desert, Sinai, Luxor, Nile Cruise and Aswan all arranged by us via the internet.
As part of our preparation we were constantly contacting Mara for advise and assistance on things to do, sights to see and local customs to be aware of when out and about. The information we received back from Mara was comprehensive and extremely useful as we found out in Cairo. On arriving at Mara House we were so disappointed to find Mara not there to meet in person and thank, but the polite and helpful Amr more than made up for Mara’s absence. We booked a number of trips in Luxor via Mara including early morning balloon ride (highly recommended by us) followed by West Bank tour and a full day trip to Abydos and Dendara. We paid a greatly reduced price for these trips compared to the tourist operator websites with the balloon ride being almost half price through Mara.
The well stocked mini bar was also refreshingly reasonably priced compared to other places we stayed and the cold beers in the evenings were much appreciated without having to break the bank to pay for them at the end of our stay. Our breakfasts at the hotel were lovely and the packed breakfasts and lunches we received (as part of the cost of the trips) were excellent and completely removed the need to find somewhere to eat while on the day trips. Mara was able to arrange for the tour guide for the West Bank to be able to collect us from the end of our balloon trip so saving us time and making it possible to do both things in one day. As for the hotel, we had extensively researched it via Tripadvisor and Mara’s website and it was really lovely inside.
Despite knowing it was going to be in a residential area we did initially get a bit of a shock when the taxi pulled up outside as it really is in a back street in a completely non tourist part of the town. If you have not been down a back street in an Egyptian city or town you could be a bit surprised at the location. We had not appreciated what a normal Egyptian residential area was like until we stayed at Mara’s but it was all the better for the experience and we were very glad we had not opted for a big hotel in the tourist part of town.
Our room was fantastic and we had paid extra for the suite which was well worth it. We did not feel like we were in a hotel but as if we had our own apartment. Unfortunately we were too busy to really get to enjoy the suite or the roof terrace. Maybe next time we will arrange for a more relaxed stay with less day trips now that we have done the main attractions. We timed our walk back into town and Luxor Temple and it took a leisurely 15 minutes only. Once you cross under the train station tunnel you are then in the tourist area and start to get pestered by the hawkers and traders but by then you are only a few minutes from Luxor Temple etc so thats to be expected.
Hassle from hawkers and traders etc is a fact of life in the tourist areas of Luxor and other cities and site areas in Egypt and can be very annoying. We found once we came back across the railway line into the Mara side of town the attention we received was due to the friendliness of the people especially the children and all they wanted was for us to say ‘Hello’ back to them and shake their hands although they did ask us for pens for them to do their school work with. Bring any pens lying around the house with you as they are a much appreciated handout to the children around Mara’s hotel and in other parts of Egypt away from the tourist areas.
We will definitely be doing another Luxor to Aswan cruise in the future and intend on staying at Mara’s Hotel again whilst in Luxor. This is not a luxury 5 star hotel but a really lovely place to stay with real personality and was more like staying with friends who were giving you your own time and space than staying in a hotel. I cannot recommend Mara House Hotel more highly for the independant traveller wanting something different from the sterile tourist hotels.
Stayed December 2011, travelled as a couple
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Sue Q, London, United Kingdom
“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.
Stayed December 2011, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Istanbuljoy, Adelaide, Australia
“Ah, Egypt!”
My family and I visited Egypt for eight days during December and had the most wonderful time. We not only stayed at Mara House in Luxor but also Mara’s apartment in Cairo. I would highly recommend both if you want to experience a more honest, colourful and friendly Egypt.
I am so very glad we did not opt to stay in hotels because we would not have met the local grocers, bakers, carpenters (who offered my son their toilet when they saw him “dancing” past their shopfront) and the children who always had a smile and greeting for us (especially in Luxor). I truly feel we had a home away from home in both places and that was a relief and a joy after our days out and about, especially in noisy, dirty, fascinating Cairo.
The apartment in Cairo was huge, secure and in an excellent location. We walked to Tahrir Square on New Year’s Eve, enticed out the door at 10pm with our two children because of the palpable excitement on the streets (we were watching from the balcony). There was a concert on and we mixed with many families and young people. Not once did we feel unsafe.
We were able to organise airport transfers at the travel office across the road, buy water and supplies at the local supermarket minutes away, walk to Attaba Market, walk to the local’s food market and enjoyed shopping on Talaat Harb, also very close by. My children bought icecream and loved getting the popcorn from the street vendors.
We also walked to the Antiquities Museum (about 15 minutes from the apartment) which was one of my favourite parts of the trip. Seeing mummies, statues, scripts and treasures up close, the things previously confined to books and film for me, was truly wonderful and magical. We were close enough to walk to the famous Cafe Riche, described by Economist Magazine as “the café at the heart of revolutionary Cairo.”
Our trip out to Giza to see the pyramids and the Sphinx was enriching and we were able to enjoy it because of the advice from Mara about which taxi to hail, how to gain a fair price, and how to ask them to stay and wait for you. The amount of hassle tourists encounter is extraordinary and there is never an obvious path to take. Having some idea before you start helps you keep your wits.
Our day trips to Abydos and Dendera and the West Bank’s Valley of the Kings were marvelous and also another favourite for me. Our guide (organised by Mara and her manager Amr) was brilliant and as I delve into my books and watch Egyptian documentaries at home here in Australia I can imagine myself back inside a temple, gazing at Coptic graffiti, hieroglyphics, carved and painted pictures of gods and kings. Incredible.
The kids loved the calesh ride around Luxor and our boat trip on the Nile to Banana Island. I enjoyed trying sheesha, flavoured with rockmelon! The Luxor Temple was just a short walk away and enjoyable to visit. For authentic meals and a good atmosphere try Sofra Restaurant. We went four times because we enjoyed it so much. Also a short walk from Mara House.
On many occasions I found Egypt to be quite perplexing, At times I hated it and then I would come back to the haven of Mara House, go to bed and wake up and want more. Or we would get hassled and intimidated and then someone would be genuinely nice to us. Or we would try and pause, take in what we were seeing and it was truly indescribable and extraordinary.
Years ago a friend of mine went to mid-Africa and when I used to ask her what Africa was like she would laugh and say, ah, Africa. She loved it but I never understood what she meant. Because a part of her was undecided almost. Now I know. Ah, Egypt!
I found myself trying to follow the rules and gliding along in the chaos, only to apply the same rules in another situation and then offend someone. Ah! Frustrating! And I was never quite sure of the rules for women. Should I barter alongside my husband, take control or defer to him? Who knows. I dressed modestly but wondered if I should have worn a scarf (especially on our walk from the Citadel through Old Cairo) or if that would have been pretentious and over the top.
Mara House’s manager Amr was a wonderful guide and companion for my family in Luxor. He was also the one who met us at the front door at 1am (!) in Cairo, showed us around the apartment and gave us our maps and instructions. He was also in Luxor when we arrived there four days later. Amr and his staff did a wonderful job of welcoming us and helping us to get the most out of our trip.
Amr and Karim were just gorgeous with my boys when we were at Mara House. They sat down and drew with them, showed them all the plants on the roof terrace and were always so welcoming and attentive when we would arrive back at Mara House after a day out.
I wish we had more time in Egypt. Next time I want to visit the Red Sea and cruise to Aswan. I would even tackle Cairo again! My nine-year-old son has just said he wants to come back and stay one day. And he said he wants to stay here again because he wants to “see the people again”. I thought he’d say the mummies and treasure!
A word of advice for prospective visitors to Egypt. If you are watching media reports about Egypt with apprehension please do not let it stop you from visiting. Email Mara and she will be more than happy to update you, as she did me. I had sent her an email after hearing about more riots in Tahrir and was then sent an email and a link to her blog which had a wonderful account of actual life on the streets as well as accompanying pictures. It put me at ease.
I found the atmosphere in Egypt optimistic yet cautious. People know it will take time for change. They are not euphoric but quietly hopeful. The media for whatever reason does not depict this. On one evening there was a peaceful gathering for the people who had been murdered by the army at Tahrir, with family and friends holding a candle in memory of their loved ones. No confrontation though. No hostility. I am sure it did not make it to the international news feeds.
I also have to disclose something. I write as if I met Mara but she was enjoying a well-earned holiday with family in Ireland. Having said that, I feel like I know Mara and have met her after speaking on the phone, sharing emails and reading about her on these forums!
I would like to think that my family may one day visit Egypt and Mara(‘s) House(s) again!
Stayed December 2011, travelled with family
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Kellie_Morle, Sydney, Australia
“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 !!!
December 2010. Family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by cazp59,Los Angeles, California
“Fantastic Place to Stay in Luxor”
Really a great place to stay with a great staff. When I arrived the first night and was in a rush, one of the staff was kind enough to ride his bike to get me something to eat and put together the meal and borught it to my room. Everyone who worked there was so helpful and kind that I can’t say enough good things about them (including Mara herself).
Although the house is located away from the main tourist area of Luxor it is not too far away from the city center. The neighborhood is not beautiful, but shows real Egyptian daily life and the neighbors are genuinely friendly as opposed to the calache drivers near the temple.
The rooms are quite large, well furnished and a good value for money as are the tours that Mara or the staff can help you arrange. If you are going to Luxor and looking for a comfortable place to stay that is more interesting than a normal hotel, I would highly recommend Mara House.
Stayed December 2011, travelled solo Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Mattin Paris, Paris, France
“Very friendly and individual”
We had a great visit – good location in a residential area – nothing mass-produced about the hotel at all. The staff were extremely kind and helpful, including arranging trips to the key sites.
Stayed December 2011, travelled as a couple
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Laura B., Khartoum, Sudan
“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!
Stayed December 2011, travelled with friends
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: mandermu, Nashville, Tennesse
“Adventures in Egypt”
After an eventful and tiring (but amazing ) few days in Cairo we arrived early in the morning after the night train from Cairo to Luxor. Thankfully Mara had arranged for her driver to meet us so we were whisked straight to the hotel and a quick check in to our wonderful room for a much needed lie in.
Throughout the trip the attention and care given to us and ensuring that we had a great experience in Luxor was fantastic and really genuine (even with all the extra needs we brought with us..lost passport, found passport, transport passport from Cairo, passport cancelled…). But it all worked out well in the end and Mara helped us get to our next destination in Dahab. The tours were great, and since it wasn’t busy at the time my friend and I had a private tour at no extra cost. A great chance to ask and learn anything we wanted to know about Egyptian history. The advice give on this and what to see was also spot on.
What more can i say, wonderful Egyptian breakfasts, cold beer in the fridge at market prices and beautiful rooms. Thanks for a wonderful stay and we’ll definitely come back!
Nov 2011, travelled with friends. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Erica P., London, UK
“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
Stayed November 2011, travelled with friends Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: hilarymunro Edinburgh, United Kingdom
“Happy to have been at Mara’s house.”
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!
Nov 2011, travelled on business. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Paddy221666, Toronto
“Great accommodation, great hostess”
I stayed at Mara House for 5 nights in November 2011 on account of the good reviews on TripAdvisor. It was a great experience. Mara is a gracious hostess who quickly responded to my inquiries, provided sightseeing suggestions, and organized airport pick-up/drop-off/day tours. Her modern house is beautifully decorated and the exceedingly comfortable rooms has all the modern amenities making it a joy to come back to at the end of the dusty and hot sightseeing day. The guests get a nice breakfast to start the day.
The house is located in the residential area behind the train station with friendly locals. Luxor Temple and the train station are both walk-able from Mara House. I book 2 day tours as part of the accommodation package to visit West Bank sights and Abydos/Dendara temples in air-conditioned mini van with a knowledgeable guide. Mara offers great tips on how to deal with the touts paddling things to the tourists. I read a lot about how annoying they can be, but did not find them to be particularly persistent if I smile, said no, and walk away.
As a female traveler walking around alone, I never felt unsafe or pestered, but that may have something to do with the fact that I tried to dress like a local woman. Local people are exceedingly friendly and helpful. El-Zaeem (the popular local fast food joint, short walking distance from Luxor Temple) was my favorite place where I bought take-out food every day and sat in the square in front of Luxor Temple entrance to enjoy my take-out food while watching the sun setting on Luxor Temple and local kids playing on the square. I would highly recommend Luxor and Mara House to female travelers and solo travelers. The comfortable accommodation and the thoughtful guidance from Mara would make your trip memorable too. Caution: those who with repertory problems like mine need to bring along prescription strength medication. Luxor is in dusty desert region.
Stayed November 2011, travelled solo
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Ashley SFCA, San Francisco, California
“Personal service”
I am indebted to Mara for helping to sort out our sleeper train tickets upon which our whole trip hinged. Having made enquires on our behalf at the station prior to our arrival, she accompanied us there immediately we arrived from the airport and made sure we were attended to. If you are looking for someone with whom you can have a conversation prior to departure to help organise your trip and personal attention then book with Mara. For me this alone was worth the cost of the room.
Stayed October 2011, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: kpod2 Birmingham, United Kingdom
“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.
Stayed October 2011, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Bjorn_yl Umea, Sweden
“The best guest house in Luxor”
We stayed in Luxor for four nights in Mara House. Luxor is an overwhelming experience and I think we would have been completely lost had we not stayed with Mara House. If you are an independent traveller looking to really experience Egypt I cannot recommend Mara House strongly enough.
From the moment our flight landed at Luxor airport, Mara was looking out for us. She had arranged to have her driver meet us at the airport, and look after the transfer. (We later saw her racing off to the railway station to meet other guests coming by train.) When we were checked in and settled, Mara sat down with us and asked about the “style” of Luxor experience we were looking for. Did we want the experience of Ancient Egypt? Were we looking to for contemporary religious history or ancient astronauts? Or simply to experience modern day Egypt? And according to our answers she recommend a range of tours and sites to visit. She took an overwhelming array of choice and crystallised it down to a manageable itinerary for us.
Mara’s advise ranged from “how do deal with touts on the street” to “which were the best restaurants“. She even helped us when stomach illness struck. It honestly felt like staying with an old friend, rather than a commercial hotel.
We stayed in a 3 bedroom apartment on the second floor, with a balcony overlooking the street. The apartment was attractively furnished and set out. Every day we would awake with the distant sounds of Egyptian suburban life: the donkey pulling the gas cylinders through the street, or the call to prayer. It was exotic – but safe.
On the second night, one of her neighbours celebrated a wedding. As we walked down the street, the neighbours would smile and beckoning us into the festivities! The only reason we didn’t go inside was a shortage of time – if we had had weeks to stay we would have loved to have joined the fun.
Each morning and evening we would meet with Mara and her team, and the other travellers in the common areas and compare notes. Where are you going today? What did you enjoy? What was that temple like? Where did you eat yesterday? It was an easy way to share intelligence and to make friends. More than once we ended out on improvised excursions with other guests. It was all very cool.
We did two tours through Mara – the West Bank and the Abydos/Dendara tour. In each case the guide was excellent, and shielded us from the local hassle. The driver was safe and professional, but still Egyptian and delightfully charming.
Mara’s house is the opposite of an anonymous modern hotel. And if you want impersonal anonymity, then Mara’s place is not for you. But if you are looking for a friendly guest house with personalised advice and guidance, then I cannot recommend Mara House enough.
Stayed October 2011, travelled as a couple
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by:
michael9699
Reading, United Kingdom
“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.
Stayed October 2011, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: EllaBoekeman, London, United Kingdom
“Lovely Place to stay in Luxor”
Mara’s House is lovely and you get personal attention from the idiosyncratic and attentive Mara. These are big advantages. To address what other’s have (negatively) mentioned: it _is_ a little far out and when you arrive you _do_ feel…gosh, why am I staying here? BUT the truth is it’s a very easy 10-15 minute walk from the center of Luxor (which turned out to be really inconsequential to me) and the fact that it’s not right in the tourist district is actually refreshing. The advantages…specifically the quality of the rooms which are lovely…far outweigh the negatives (or at least they did for me). Mara is extremely helpful (another major advantage) in helping first time visitors negotiate the tourist options of Luxor…for instance Valley of the Kings and which tombs to see from the list that is open. The guides you can get through Mara, I found to be good. It’s true, Mara’s House is a little on the expensive side and especially in the current Egyptian situation where tourist trade is at a low, you might be able to get better deals elsewhere…but I found staying there lovely, and would whole heartedly recommend it.
Stayed July 2011, travelled solo Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: NigelROC
“Fantastic and Authentic “Home Away from Home” – Highly Recommended”
We stayed for 3 nights at Mara House and every moment of the visit was brilliant, commencing with Mara’s warm welcome on our arrival at 3.00am in the morning!!
Mara House is in a residential area which was perfect for us as we wanted to experience the “real” Luxor, not just from a hotel! Our 2 bedroom suite was incredibly spacious, immaculately clean and very comfortable. The fridge was packed with drinks and snacks (and not at usual mini-bar prices!) and the rooms decorated very tastefully in the Egyptian style (but with air conditioning and fans!).
The staff were all really friendly, welcoming, and committed to ensuring we had a fantastic experience. Nothing was ever too much trouble.
Mara had recommended an itinerary for the three days of our stay to ensure that we made the most of our time. On all of the tours we were driven in an airconditioned minivan by Mahmoud who was a very experienced and reliable driver. Our Egyptologist guide was Mohammed who was not only incredibly knowledgable, but interesting and entertaining as well. The knowledge which Mohammed imparted to us was invaluable and added a whole new dimension to the experience – far more than we could have gained visiting the sites by ourselves. We toured the West Bank, Aswan, Karnak and Luxor Temples, as well as Abydos and Dendera – a lot to pack into 3 days but well worth it!
Mara herself is an absolute delight and we thoroughly enjoyed our chats with her as she is a fountain of knowledge and incredibly helpful – both through her website and the tips and advice she imparted.
I would highly recommend Mara House to anyone travelling to Luxor and looking for an authentic and magical experience.
Stayed July 2011, travelled with family
Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: Susi58 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
“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.
Stayed June 2011 Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: kmkz
“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!
Stayed May 2011, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: strawberrykiwijello, Canada
“Good Place”
Mara house was great. Rooms were fine. Breakfast adequate. On site sevice manager was helpful. Used their local driver. who was a bit more expensive, but worth it. Recommended.
P2C
Stayed May 2011, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: P2C, Kingston
“Mara was knowledgeable, helpful and kind. A lovely person.”
As soon as I entered Mara House Luxor, I Immediately felt welcomed and comfortable away from the crowds and the heat and the busy details of travelling in a foreign country. Mara provided clean and relaxing accomodations at a good price and was very helpful in guiding us to the sights that we wanted to see and in a manner that would make the visits best for us. She was very acommodating and listened to our concerns and helped us to make the most of our time in Luxor. I loved the valley of the Kings, Abydos and Denderra and Hatshepsut’s temple, as she knew I would since she planned the days especially for us. The guide she recommended and the driver she arranged were exactly what we needed to appreciate the beautiful cultural treasures around Luxor.
Stayed September 2010, travelled with friends Reviewed on Tripadvisor by: OrlandoCarl, Orlando
“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.
Stayed May 2011, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by markandsharryn, adelaide
“You Will Love The Residential Experience!”
I stayed at Mara House in March 2011 with my husband, sister and brother in law. We all agreed it was our favorite hotel during our 2 week trip to Egypt, Jordan and Dubai. The reason – it is in a residential neighborhood, not in a touristy area of the city. We arrived at night (Mara scheduled the airport pick up – arrived from Cairo) and I was a little hesitant at first – lots of construction, dirt (what you end up LOVING about Egypt). But the moment we headed out to walk to Luxor Temple we immediately knew this was a fantastic experience. The people are amazing – all the kids came up to talk to us, shopkeepers gave us the usual exuberant “welcome to Egypt!”, people invited us in for tea. Every where else we stayed at Marriott’s and had a more sanitized cultural experience. At Mara House you are able to get a better feel for Egyptian life. We stayed in room 7; a 3 bedroom apartment with a kitchen. The room was great, no complaints at all.
My husband never did get the ‘wet room’ bathroom concept and continuously went in with socks after someone had taken a shower. The staff was very helpful and accomodating (brought breakfast to our room the day we checked out, since we wouldn’t have time to eat in the main room). We took Mara’s restaurant advice each night – our favorite was Safra (easy walk to and from the hotel). We also used her arranged tour to the West Bank. May have been a little pricey, but no ‘shopping’, air conditioned van, guide – we were very pleased. We did the East Bank on our own. I would highly recommend Mara House when in Luxor – the neighborhood experience will be one of the highlights of your trip!!!
Stayed March 2011, travelled as a couple Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Denver2Globe, Denver
“As close as possible to Egyptian life”
First of all I’d like to thank Mara for keeping us updated re events in Egypt. If it wasn’t for her updates we would’ve missed on the most beautiful experience! We absolutely loved our stay and Luxor was the place where we started feeling truly relaxed and safe. It all can be attributed to the setup, location and staff of Mara House.
At first we were disappointed to come to Luxor to find out that Mara herself was in Ireland, but this disappointment lasted only a few minutes. The guys who were in charge of the hotel, Azez and Amr, were incredibly helpful, thoughtful, professional, polite, friendly. I guess you can see that we liked them 🙂 Also Mara has a very detail guide to the city, customs, etc that was invaluable to us. So her absence wasn’t a problem after all.
The rooms are so tastefully decorated in the Egyptian manner, they are spacious, immaculately clean and comfortable. The showers were clean and spacious too, we read that some people didn’t like the setup (wet rooms), but as we knew what to expect it was no issue at all.
I am a light sleeper, so mullahs were waking me up with their prayer calls, but otherwise it was nice and quiet.
We loved that the house is in the midst of an Egyptian suburb, we chose to walk to the center and back every day and enjoyed the interactions with the local people. We even ventured into eating from streets stalls, etc, it was a great experience that we would’ve missed if we stayed elsewhere.
We took advantage of tours that Mara facilitates. Enjoyed the trip to Abydos and Dendara. Also saw a sunrise from a hot air balloon.
We are extremely happy with the stay, not only we enjoyed Luxor, but we became totally relaxed and started enjoying our trip to the full extend. Thanks Mara, Azez and Amr
April 2011, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on TripAdvisor by NowCallAusraliaHome, Melbourne
“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.
Stayed April 2011, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on TripAdvisor by mikeynom, London
“An amazing experience”
We stayed at Mara House for one night in April 2011 whilst on holiday in Hurghada. Mara arranged pretty much everything for us from a mini-bus to pick us up from our resort, to providing a guide for our trip to the West Bank. Staying overnight in Luxor gave us the opportunity to see as much as possible of the real Egypt. We were made to feel so welcome, we felt like we were at home.
The family room we were allocated was huge and extremely comfortable, there was even a mini-bar provided so you can purchase drinks. We were recommended an Egyptian restaurant to eat dinner and the manager arranged a taxi for us.
We visited the Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Nobles and the Valley of the Workers (Deir El Medina) along with Hatshepsut’s Temple, the temple at Medinet Habu and the Colossi of Memnon. We wouldn’t have seen so many sights if this hadn’t been arranged for us by Mara.
For anyone visiting Luxor, I would recommend staying at Mara House for the most amazing experience ever.
Stayed April 2011, travelled with family. Reviewed on TripAdvisor by shazza4024, Bristol, UK
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.
Stayed April 2011, travelled with family Reviewed on TripAdvisor by sdr1, Birmingham, UK
“Amazing experience at Mara House”
Luxor was empty at the time of our stay, but I have a feeling that treating the customers as welcome guests is standard at Mara House. The staff was incredibly friendly and was very attentive to our every need. Incredibly helpful with transport around Luxor, though it is only about a 10 minute walk to the Nile. The rooms are clean and very tastefully decorated. The water is hot and the pressure is excellent. Free tea and coffee is pretty standard in most lodging in Egypt but I never get sick of it. The tours arranged through Mara House were informative and comfortable, as well as reasonably priced. I would highly recommend Mara House to anyone traveling to the area. We had a wonderful time in and around Luxor. The lack of tourists made us feel as though we were at Disney World and had the opportunity to skip to the front of every line. Don’t be worried about visiting Egypt – this is the perfect time!
Stayed March 2011, Reviewed on Tripadvisor by blushresponse, Cairo.
“Great room and helpful staff”
We travelled to Egypt in such a special period (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 provides 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.
Feb 2011, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Luca_Luo Shanghai, China
“Best hotel in luxor”
Mara house was an amazing find for my wife and I, we both thoroughly enjoyed our stay there. We took tours to Abydos & Dendra as well as the west bank, on both occasions the tour guide was excellent as well as the tour bus and lunches. The staff were very attentive and friendly and the room was spacious, tastefully decorated and meticulously clean. I would recommend this hotel to anyone planning a trip to Luxor. Staying at Mara house made our trip even more special.
February 2011, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by monkey_abroad, London
“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.
Stayed January 2011, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Sarkin, Sydney, Aus.
“Caring, helpful, and knowledgeable Mara”
My father and I stayed at Mara at during the worst time in recent Egypt history: the beginning of the popular revolt against the Mubarak regime. The streets were not always safe but Mara was able to recommend the best activities for us during our stay. With her contacts, she knew when the best time for sightseeing was, and when was the best time to go to town to enjoy the souk and sample local cuisine. Her staff is very kind, friendly and exceptionally for Egypt: very efficient.
Our trip was cut short due to political unrest but my father and I already plan our trip back. Mara House will be our first choice when we will be back in Luxor.
Stayed January 2011. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Khata62, Montreal, Canada
“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.
Jan 2011, travelled as a couple, Reviewed on Tripadvisor by babycondor, Melbourne, Australia
“Great value place to stay”
We had an apartment at Mara House for two nights. It was comfortable, spacious and beautifully furnished. We really felt that we had arrived at somewhere special. The price was less per person than we would spend on most B&B’s in the UK. It was also nice and quiet at night despite being quite close to the centre of Luxor, very convenient for the train station. Mara was very helpful and arranged teas, taxis and trips, as well as a special dinner of Egyptian dishes that was served in our room. The minibar was very well stocked with reasonably priced drinks.
Jan 2011, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Gaynor06, Flamborough, UK
“Unique experience in Luxor”
We stayed at Mara House in January, 2011 with our two sons. Mara was able to provide us with the local knowledge that enabled us to maximise our visit. She always had time to talk to us and share her extensive knowledge of the region. Her staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. Located over the railway line and away from the Nile, it is about a 10 minute walk to central Luxor. Once you get your bearings, it is easy to find. You are living away from the majority of tourists and you have a clear sense of living among the locals. We recommend Mara’s taxi services, which were charged at a fixed price. We would highly recommend Mara House. As a family, we thoroughly enjoyed our Luxor experience.
Jan 2011, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by McKinnon4, Melbourne, Australia
“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!!!
January 2011, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Pysilvia, Melbourne, Australia
“It is wonderful staying with someone who knows Luxor as well as Mara”
Mara’s House in Luxor provided a perfect base for our family to enjoy the marvellous and intriguing city of Luxor. Mara offered us excellent and frank advice regarding how to plan our days to get the most out of our holiday, and organised a wonderful guide for us. The room was very clean and all the staff were exceedingly pleasant. Mara was also extremely accommodating when one of our party was unable to attend the trip at the last minute. I would recommend this accommodation without hesitation and wish Mara and Steve all the best with their endeavours in the future.
Jan 2011, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Claire_H_from_Sydney, Oxford, UK
“Cozy guesthouse in a fascinating place”
Mara House was a great place to stay with our 8-year-old twins. We had a “family apartment” – two bedrooms with a HUGE living room, so the kids could go to bed, and we could still stay up (and read guidebooks!). There was more than enough room for the kids to build their “tomb”, inspired by the sights, adorned with various purchases from the bazaar.
The rooms are decorated beautifully, and are welcoming to come back to. Mara and her staff are wonderful.
One of the many things we loved about Mara House is the fact that Mara will arrange a taxi/car to take you to any of the sights, at a quite cheap price (and you can get a boxed lunch, if you like). She truly does care that you have a good time, as opposed to getting one more dollar, which makes a huge difference. She’s also an amazing resource. We had a great time.
We really enjoyed the location. It was perfect for us – a 10-minute walk from Luxor Temple, but just a little bit off the beaten path, so you get a bit more of a sense of the “real Egypt”, but you are still quite, well, cosseted!
We also very much liked the roof terrace (especially with a drink from the mini-bar)!
Highly to be recommended!
Jan 2011, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by AK252, Brussels, Belgium
“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
Jan 2011, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by sojourner1941, Massachusetts
“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….
Jan 2011, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Fran1333, Washington DC, District of Columbia
“Exceptional service”
We really enjoyed our stay at Mara House. The rooms are a great size, we had a good sleep each night as it’s very quiet and it’s brilliant value for money. In terms of location we really liked being out of the main tourist area and found it to be a really easy walk to the station (allowing us to see where the locals live) and on then on to some of the sights in Luxor but if you need to go further, taxis are cheap.
Our travel requirements were a little different to most as we were traveling with our 4 month old son. Mara gave us great advice on tours and how to get about and see things that were suitable to do with a baby. She was so helpful when we arrived and throughout our stay, organising delivery of meals on a couple of nights so we could stay in and our baby could sleep, as well as giving us a kettle to use in the room for boiling water/sterilising bottles etc. and having our breakfast brought up to our room on one day when our baby was having a nap. The information book Mara gave us on arrival is full of great information to make your stay in Luxor (and Egypt overall) as easy and enjoyable as possible. We thought the tour we booked through Mara (to Abydos and Dendara) was very reasonably priced and it give us peace of mind as we are aware of the scams that can face tourists booking tours in Egypt.
Mara offers a level of service that is really exceptional and this made our stay in Luxor, and Egypt in general, very memorable. Whenever we returned to Mara House, Mara was there offering a tea or coffee which was promptly brought to our room. Mara even offered to be available over the phone if we needed any advice when we were in Cairo. I would have no hesitation recommending Mara House to anyone but it would particularly suit people who want to avoid the homogeneous experience you get in a bigger hotel.
Stayed December 2010, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by rachkLondon
“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.
Stayed December 2010, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by mauranie, Como
“A true taste of Egypt with Irish hospitality”
A warm welcome from the start. We were immediately made comfortable in our exotic and very spacious, comfortable rooms. Mara believes in the personal touch and gave us her full attention and the benefit of her vast experience in Luxor. Meals other than breakfast (which my two boys – 13 and 11, loved) were not available but Mara suggested we could order a take out when we wanted and even did the ordering for us. Teas/coffees are available on request – a very civilised touch! The staff at Mara House are helpful and friendly and not a bit solicitous (unlike so many other locals) which makes returning to Mara House each evening feel like coming home.
Stayed December 2010, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by teamCollier, Abu Dhabi
“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.
Stayed November 2010, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by annier80, London
“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!
Dec 2010, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by johninjoberg, Johannesburg, SA.
“Outstanding!”
Following the excellent reviews, I decided to book a room for 2 nights during the Xmas break. I travelled with my wife and my sons aged 24, 21 and 16. What we got was beyond our expectations. First Mara is such a nice person always available to advise her customers on how to make the most of Luxor and its surroundings. We did the tour to Abydos and Dendera and that was worth the long drive. One of my sons suffered from a stomach bug and Mara gave him the tablets to cure his problem. Her staff is very helpful too. As far as the room is concerned it was more like a flat with 3 bedrooms, a bathroom, a lounge and a dining area. There was as well a fridge and a sink. After a long day out we could relax on the roof terrace which offers a fantastic view of Luxor especially at night. Breakfast which offers Egyptan products was great. As far as the location is concerned I was pleased Mara House is located in a residential area. It’s only a 10 min walk from the train station and while walking you come to see the real Egyptian way of life with the different workshops (mechanics, baker, laundry etc..) set in the streets. The people are very friendly and we didn’t come across a single person begging for money. It’s a very safe environment. So a fantastic experience and we will come back to Mara House to do the West bank Tour with Mara’s guide.
Stayed December 2010, travelled with family. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Marqc, Brussels, Belgium
“Warm, welcoming, a familiar face”
We arrived at Mara’s house and immediately felt relaxed. It’s a lovely house and the suite was so beautifully clean and furnished.
Mara was a welcomed relief – nothing against Egyptians but it is nice to communicate with a someone also from your neck of the woods (Irish) as there is no language barrier or feeling of being sold something.
We appreciated Mara’s advice on our day of exploring. And take away menus! as we arrived very late!
She provides an exceptional service. I want to go back to Luxor and stay a week to really explore and would definitely look at going back to Mara’s.
Top Tip – bring ear plugs – that call to prayer at 5ish am – it way too early for my liking!
Stayed December 2010, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by nihnih, London, UK
“A warm welcome and a haven after intensive sightseeing”
As others have said before, Mara is a wonderful hostess in Luxor – full of great tips on how to get the most out of your trip to the Nile Valley. We were very glad to have found her accommodation and found all her advice reliable and helpful.
Stayed December 2010, couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by MaGabriel, London,
“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.
Nov 2010, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by BlueskiesnCA,
“A 5 star stay!!”
We stayed at Mara House for two nights at the beginning of our holiday in Egypt and it was by far the best hotel that we experienced on the trip (easily outclassing the supposed 5-star hotels and 5-star Nile cruise ship).
Mara was extremely helpful, both before we arrived and during our stay, arranging a driver to meet us at the airport and providing advice on the best things to do and excellent local knowledge.
We enjoyed our stay that much. that we tried to book another couple of nights on our return from Aswan, but sadly Mara House was full.
Nov 2010, Couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by candm2009, Perth, Australia
“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.
Sept 2010, travelled as a couple. Reviewed on Tripadvisor by websofwarmley, Bristol
Mara House and Mara Were Absolutely Wonderful!
Having visited Egypt for the first time two years ago as part of a tour group, we were a bit apprehensive about coming back with another couple all on our own. Thank goodness we found Mara and Mara House on the TripAdvisor website.
Mara House deserves its number one TripAdvisor ranking. From the moment we arrived, Mara made us feel safe and secure, and we had an absolutely wonderful week in Luxor. I can’t recommend Mara House highly enough.
It is beautifully decorated, and Mara, Stephen, Sarah and all the staff were just wonderful. Mara House is spotlessly clean. The rooms are actually suites. We had a large sitting room that had a kitchen area with a sink and a well-stocked small refrigerator. Breakfast was brought to us each morning.
Our large bedroom was lovely, and our bed was more comfortable than our own at home! On the top floor there is a rooftop terrace with many plants and lounges for relaxing. The ground floor has a lounge and full bar on one side, where hotel guests often chat and have drinks before dinner, and on the other side is the magnificent Salahadeen Restaurant.
The evening dinners at Mara’s Salahadeen Restaurant were feasts indeed, with the meal consisting of two delicious soups, followed by a dozen or so different Egyptian dishes that were absolutely amazing in their delicacy and tastefulness. The dinner ends with a delightful Egyptian desert served with hibiscus tea. The ambience of the restaurant was outstanding with its beautiful décor, fountain in the center, and the excellent service and food.
Mara is indeed to be congratulated for having the number one ranked hotel in Luxor on the TripAdvisor website, especially as Mara House has only been open for a few years. After staying in Mara House I understand why.
Having traveled all over the world in my profession as a university professor and scientist, I must say that Mara House is one of the nicest, most pleasant hotels that I have ever known. I give Mara and Mara House my highest praise.
Travelled with friends Jan 2010. TravelingBotanyProf, Massachussets Reviewed on TripAdvisor Feb 2010
I want to thank Mara for the wonderful trip that we just finished. My daughter and I just left Cairo a day ago and already we miss it! We truly had the greatest experience of ur lives. The people, the culture, the city and even the traffic (lol) are all a marvel. I’m so happy that I found Mara online. I am 100% positive that without her service we would not have had the experience that we did. Our trip ran extremely well and smooth. Prior to leaving the USA I probably emailed Mara ten times with questions. And, I literally got a reply in seconds, no matter the time of day. It was that personal attention that made me feel very comfortable that this was a legitimate program. She gave us great instructions on how to get through the airport and find Fatma, our assistant. Fatma was waiting for us in a sea of people, with a big smile and warm welcome.
Our driver was there and the next the we knew we were off to the hotel. The hotel was great. It was very safe, pretty, clean and the staff were all amazingly helpful and attentive. Fatma was extremely easy to speak to. Her English was fantastic and she immediately enlightened us about the area and what would transpire over the week while we were there. She was awesome! The next two days we were met by Mohammed, he was a wealth of information. In addition, to the traditional tours that Mara has on her website, we loved the fact that when we wanted to do other things, like a felucca ride, Fatma set the whole thing up for us, made sure we didn’t get price gouged, met up with us and took us for the boat ride. This kind of personal attention was priceless! The drivers were wonderful, the minivans were extremely clean, in great condition and air-conditioned.
On a scale from one to ten I would give this experience a 100! everything went according to plan, it was easy, and smooth. In all honesty there is no better way to see Cairo than to use this service. I met someone on the plane ride back to the USA, who loved Cairo but was extremely unhappy since she didn’t have a guide service. She was constantly over paying and without an professional egyptologist, like Mohammed to fill you in on the history of Egypt she said she left not really understanding the things she was looking out. But that was not our experience at all. Great Trip! I completely recommend it!