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MARA HOUSE LUXOR
  • EGYPT TRAVEL ADVICE from Mara
  • MARA HOUSE LUXORExpand
    • Luxor Holidays – 3 night package deal
    • The Salahadeen Feast
    • Compare Mara House to 3 Top Tour Companies
    • Guests’ Photo Gallery – Mara House Luxor
    • Mara House Luxor – Hotel Gallery
    • Guest Book
  • TOURS in EGYPTExpand
    • TOURS IN LUXORExpand
      • Abydos and Dendera tour
      • Karnak Temple Tour
      • Luxor Temple Tour
      • Luxor Holidays – 3 night package deal
      • Luxor & Aswan
      • West Bank Tour – Valley of Kings etc.Expand
        • Medinet Habu: The Pharaoh’s Bargain with Chaos
    • TOURS IN CAIROExpand
      • PRIVATE ACCESS to the GREAT PYRAMID of GIZA
      • Abdeen Palace
      • Antiquities Museum at Tahrir Sq.
      • Cairo Basic Tour – 3 Nights
      • Coptic Cairo, Cave Church & Garbage City
      • Gayer Anderson Houses
      • Giza Plateau
      • Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
      • Ibn Tulun Medieval Mosque
      • Islamic Museum
      • Medieval Cairo
      • Saladin Citadel, Sultan Hassan and Rifaii Mosques
      • Saqqara 7-Step Pyramid & Serapeum
    • SMALL GROUP TOURS WITH MARAExpand
      • Family Tour of Egypt – A Child’s Eye View of Ancient Egypt
      • Egypt Tour with Mara – A Journey Beyond the Ordinary
    • First-Time in Egypt? Here’s the Perfect 7-Day Itinerary for You
    • Egypt – 9 nights incl Nile Cruise
    • 2027 Eclipse: The Hero’s Journey — and Yours
    • Insider Advice – Hidden Pitfalls in Tour Websites
  • TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVELExpand
    • PRIVATE ACCESS to the GREAT PYRAMID of GIZA – A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
    • Sacred Journey of Remembering Along Egypt’s Chakras
  • NOMADS! – Mara House: Your Home in Egypt
  • EGYPT HISTORY & CULTUREExpand
    • Egyptian Rulers & Legends
    • Cairo History & Heritage
    • Luxor History & Heritage
    • Gods of Egypt
    • Muhammad Ali Dynasty
  • Who is Mara?
  • Mara’s Blog
  • Contact Mara
MARA HOUSE LUXOR

Egypt travel mistakes

Frustrated tourist holding a phone near the Pyramids of Giza, showing disappointment with his travel experience in Egypt
Egypt Travel Planning

Wait. Please Don’t “Budget” Your Dream Trip to Egypt.

ByMara 18/10/202518/10/2025

Budget travel in Egypt isn’t what you think. Cheaper tours and guides often come with hidden costs — from poor hygiene and unreliable logistics to scams and heartbreak. Your dream trip deserves better. Wait, save, and do Egypt the right way.

Read More Wait. Please Don’t “Budget” Your Dream Trip to Egypt.Continue

Egypt Tour Booking Sites: Insider Advice on What to Question & Clarify
Egypt Travel Planning

Egypt Tour Booking Sites: Insider Advice on What to Question & Clarify

ByMara 08/08/202529/09/2025

Discover the insider questions and checks every traveler should make before booking Egypt tours online—don’t get caught out by vague promises or hidden costs.

Read More Egypt Tour Booking Sites: Insider Advice on What to Question & ClarifyContinue

Hand holding a mix of Egyptian pounds and US dollars, showing the best currencies to bring when traveling to Egypt.
Egypt Travel Planning

What is the BEST CURRENCY to Take to EGYPT?

ByMara 03/10/202429/09/2025

3 Sept 2025. Knowing how to pay for things in Egypt is vital if you don’t want to lose money. This goes deeper than a simple answer telling you always use Egyptian or always use ATMs. It’s complicated and to really know the answers you need to dig a little deeper than the usual typical responses given.

Read More What is the BEST CURRENCY to Take to EGYPT?Continue

A group of people standing and sitting on the upper steps of Abydos Temple
Egypt Travel Planning

What Should I Wear in Egypt?

ByMara 07/04/202404/10/2025

Egypt’s climate, culture, and traditions mean smart packing matters. From modesty tips to heat-proof clothing and what to avoid, here’s your ultimate Egypt wardrobe guide.

Read More What Should I Wear in Egypt?Continue

Egypt Travel Planning

Planning Your Trip to Egypt: Mistakes Tourists Make

ByMara 10/08/202310/08/2025

Planning a trip to Egypt? Avoid the common pitfalls that can turn a dream holiday into a struggle. Here’s what seasoned travellers—and first-timers—often get wrong, and how to make sure your visit is meaningful, relaxed, and unforgettable.

Read More Planning Your Trip to Egypt: Mistakes Tourists MakeContinue

Egypt Travel Planning

19 Things NOT to do in EGYPT as a TOURIST

ByMara 03/06/202309/08/2025

From avoiding crowded places and understanding local customs to staying safe in nightlife and navigating transportation.

Read More 19 Things NOT to do in EGYPT as a TOURISTContinue

Tourist feeling sick in front of the pyramids in Egypt with text overlay saying How to Avoid This
Egypt Travel Planning

Egyptian Tummy Bug – Pharaoh’s Revenge!

ByMara 14/08/201724/10/2025

The saddest thing for me is when a tourist arrives at my door suffering from Egyptian Tummy – the worst part is that it’s not that hard to avoid it when you know how and carry the remedy in your pocket – just in case. There is a local, fast acting remedy and every traveller should buy it on arrival in Egypt.

Read More Egyptian Tummy Bug – Pharaoh’s Revenge!Continue

Mara House Update re solar eclipse tour Mara House — 2027 eclipse

Apologies if you’re waiting for an email from Mara — we’re currently very busy with bookings for the new 2027 solar eclipse tour.

I’m personally working through messages and will reply as soon as I can. Thank you so much for your patience.

— Mara, Mara House

Paula A********* message

Paula – you contacted me 24 Oct via email re private visit in Jan 2026 – please contact me again – my responding email bounced back to me.  –  Mara

Pausing for breath during the climb from the Pit of the Great Pyramid, overwhelmed by the blissful energy of the ascent.

Private Pyramid Visit

Share your Cairo dates and I’ll let you know if I can fit you into a small group for a private visit inside the Great Pyramid, after dark.

maraegypt@gmail.com

No obligation

Recent Posts

  • Wait. Please Don’t “Budget” Your Dream Trip to Egypt. 18/10/2025
  • The Narrow Gate of Destiny: Thutmose III at Megiddo 16/10/2025
  • An Invitation from a Keeper of the Keys 10/10/2025
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Categories

  • Egypt Tours & Experiences (26)
  • Egypt Travel Planning (48)
  • Egyptian History & Culture (33)
  • Living in Egypt: Personal Insights (144)
  • Luxor Travel & Accommodation (26)
  • Mara House Updates & News (12)
  • Recommended Books, Films on Egypt (4)
  • Transformative-Travel-Egypt (52)
Mara - your host at Mara House Luxor standing outside the ornate wrought Iron door of Mara House Luxor
A personal moment at the door of Mara House — Mara seeing guests off with warmth and gratitude
  • EGYPT TRAVEL ADVICE from Mara
  • MARA HOUSE LUXOR
    • Luxor Holidays – 3 night package deal
    • The Salahadeen Feast
    • Compare Mara House to 3 Top Tour Companies
    • Guests’ Photo Gallery – Mara House Luxor
    • Mara House Luxor – Hotel Gallery
    • Guest Book
  • TOURS in EGYPT
    • TOURS IN LUXOR
      • Abydos and Dendera tour
      • Karnak Temple Tour
      • Luxor Temple Tour
      • Luxor Holidays – 3 night package deal
      • Luxor & Aswan
      • West Bank Tour – Valley of Kings etc.
        • Medinet Habu: The Pharaoh’s Bargain with Chaos
    • TOURS IN CAIRO
      • PRIVATE ACCESS to the GREAT PYRAMID of GIZA
      • Abdeen Palace
      • Antiquities Museum at Tahrir Sq.
      • Cairo Basic Tour – 3 Nights
      • Coptic Cairo, Cave Church & Garbage City
      • Gayer Anderson Houses
      • Giza Plateau
      • Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
      • Ibn Tulun Medieval Mosque
      • Islamic Museum
      • Medieval Cairo
      • Saladin Citadel, Sultan Hassan and Rifaii Mosques
      • Saqqara 7-Step Pyramid & Serapeum
    • SMALL GROUP TOURS WITH MARA
      • Family Tour of Egypt – A Child’s Eye View of Ancient Egypt
      • Egypt Tour with Mara – A Journey Beyond the Ordinary
    • First-Time in Egypt? Here’s the Perfect 7-Day Itinerary for You
    • Egypt – 9 nights incl Nile Cruise
    • 2027 Eclipse: The Hero’s Journey — and Yours
    • Insider Advice – Hidden Pitfalls in Tour Websites
  • TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVEL
    • PRIVATE ACCESS to the GREAT PYRAMID of GIZA – A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
    • Sacred Journey of Remembering Along Egypt’s Chakras
  • NOMADS! – Mara House: Your Home in Egypt
  • EGYPT HISTORY & CULTURE
    • Egyptian Rulers & Legends
    • Cairo History & Heritage
    • Luxor History & Heritage
    • Gods of Egypt
    • Muhammad Ali Dynasty
  • Who is Mara?
  • Mara’s Blog
  • Contact Mara
Mara - Mara House Luxor

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 could have been so much better. And so, over time I created the kind of memorable experiences that I should have had. If you want to know more about the face behind the website, stories and business, click on Who is Mara.

You can book everything directly with me via email. I respond to all emails personally: maraegypt@gmail.com

Tags

Abydos Temple (11) Ancient Egypt (17) Cairo History & Heritage (25) Cairo Tours (15) Dendera Temple (6) Egypt cultural etiquette (8) egyptian harem (8) Egyptian Rulers & Legends (42) Egypt Temple Tours (7) Egypt Tours (11) Egypt travel costs (10) Egypt Travel Health (6) Egypt travel mistakes (7) Egypt travel safety tips (7) Egypt Travel Tips (46) Family Egypt Tours (7) family friendly (8) famous women in Egypt (12) Food in Egypt (7) Giza Plateau (6) Gods of Egypt (8) hidden gems (20) history-culture (46) how to plan a trip to Egypt (12) Is Egypt safe (12) living-in-Egypt (33) Luxor History & Heritage (11) Luxor Travel Tips (10) Luxor West Bank (7) Mara House Luxor (11) medieval (6) Muhammad Ali Dynasty (13) Personal Story (14) Pharaonic Egypt (11) Sacred Symbols (7) Small Group Tours (6) Solo Female Safety in Egypt (6) stories-in-stone (12) Temples in Egypt (15) Temples of Luxor (11) TheSevenKeys (9) tourist traps (16) transformative-travel (49) what are the best temples in Egypt? (6) What to Pack for Egypt (8)

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Please note that some pages and posts contain affiliate links to Amazon.  If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Rest assured, I only endorse products I’ve personally used and would recommend to a friend.

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  • EGYPT TRAVEL ADVICE from Mara
  • MARA HOUSE LUXOR
    • Luxor Holidays – 3 night package deal
    • The Salahadeen Feast
    • Compare Mara House to 3 Top Tour Companies
    • Guests’ Photo Gallery – Mara House Luxor
    • Mara House Luxor – Hotel Gallery
    • Guest Book
  • TOURS in EGYPT
    • TOURS IN LUXOR
      • Abydos and Dendera tour
      • Karnak Temple Tour
      • Luxor Temple Tour
      • Luxor Holidays – 3 night package deal
      • Luxor & Aswan
      • West Bank Tour – Valley of Kings etc.
        • Medinet Habu: The Pharaoh’s Bargain with Chaos
    • TOURS IN CAIRO
      • PRIVATE ACCESS to the GREAT PYRAMID of GIZA
      • Abdeen Palace
      • Antiquities Museum at Tahrir Sq.
      • Cairo Basic Tour – 3 Nights
      • Coptic Cairo, Cave Church & Garbage City
      • Gayer Anderson Houses
      • Giza Plateau
      • Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
      • Ibn Tulun Medieval Mosque
      • Islamic Museum
      • Medieval Cairo
      • Saladin Citadel, Sultan Hassan and Rifaii Mosques
      • Saqqara 7-Step Pyramid & Serapeum
    • SMALL GROUP TOURS WITH MARA
      • Family Tour of Egypt – A Child’s Eye View of Ancient Egypt
      • Egypt Tour with Mara – A Journey Beyond the Ordinary
    • First-Time in Egypt? Here’s the Perfect 7-Day Itinerary for You
    • Egypt – 9 nights incl Nile Cruise
    • 2027 Eclipse: The Hero’s Journey — and Yours
    • Insider Advice – Hidden Pitfalls in Tour Websites
  • TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVEL
    • PRIVATE ACCESS to the GREAT PYRAMID of GIZA – A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
    • Sacred Journey of Remembering Along Egypt’s Chakras
  • NOMADS! – Mara House: Your Home in Egypt
  • EGYPT HISTORY & CULTURE
    • Egyptian Rulers & Legends
    • Cairo History & Heritage
    • Luxor History & Heritage
    • Gods of Egypt
    • Muhammad Ali Dynasty
  • Who is Mara?
  • Mara’s Blog
  • Contact Mara