After a full day of sightseeing in Aswan, a member of our group was able to talk our guide, Sayed, into taking us to see the Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote her popular novel Death on the Nile. So after our Nubian Village excursion, we took a small boat and docked next to the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel and walked up to its impressive terrace to have a drink. Sayed amused us when he was talking about the history of the hotel and all the guests who had stayed there. He asked if we knew of Agatha Christie and the book she wrote while there. Of course, we all laughed, that’s why we’re here!
We were honored and surprised when the concierge invited us inside the hotel and gave us a quick tour, showing us the beautiful dining hall and taking us inside the Winston Churchill suite which costs upwards of $5000/night. This historic hotel is so beautiful, it’s worthy of a bucket list. If we ever make it back to Aswan, I’ll be saving up to stay here!
We were so fortunate to be able to have a drink on the terrace with our new friends as we enjoyed the view of the sun setting over the Nile. It was the perfect way to wrap up our Nile River cruise, so we were glad we asked Sayed to take us! If you’re traveling with a tour operator, don’t be afraid to ask for custom excursion options. They’ll be more than happy to accommodate.