# Old Cataract, Aswan Aswan's historic palace, built by Thomas Cook in 1899 on a granite cliff facing Elephantine Island, managed by Mandarin Oriental since May 2026. For travellers who want to sleep inside the history of Nile travel, as a couple or a family. Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/hotels/old-cataract-aswan/ ## The hotel of Nile travellers The Old Cataract takes its name from the First Cataract, the granite rapids that marked the southern frontier of ancient Egypt. Thomas Cook, founder of the first organised travel agency, had it built in 1899 to house the passengers of his Nile cruises and travellers arriving from Cairo by rail. The hotel opened on 8 January 1900 as the Cataract Hotel, with 120 rooms on two floors. In 1902 a third floor added about a hundred rooms, along with a dining room designed by the architect Henri Favarger. The exterior is Victorian; the interior is Moorish, with striped arches, carved woodwork and domes. In 1961 a modern tower rose next door, the New Cataract, which later became the Nile Wing. The guest list tells the story of the century: Tsar Nicholas II, Winston Churchill, Howard Carter, the Egyptologist who discovered Tutankhamun's tomb, and Agatha Christie, who drew inspiration here for *Death on the Nile*, published in 1937. In 1978 John Guillermin shot the film adaptation here, with Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot; the terrace and the Moorish hall appear on screen. From 2008 to 2011 both wings closed for a full restoration. Walls, domes, wooden ceilings and arabesque decoration were consolidated and cleaned. The French designer Sybille de Margerie blended Victorian, Oriental and French styles. The hotel reopened in October 2011 under the Sofitel Legend brand. ## Staying during the transition, 2026 to 2027 The hotel is changing hands. In late 2023, Icon, a subsidiary of the Egyptian developer Talaat Moustafa Group, took 51% of the owning company. Since 1 May 2026 Mandarin Oriental has managed it. The Nile Wing is closed for a full renovation; the whole property is due to be completed in July 2027 and will then become Mandarin Oriental Old Cataract, Aswan, with six dining venues and a spa. Until then, guests stay in the Palace, the historic building, which remains open: 35 rooms and suites, of which 9 rooms and 26 suites. Mandarin Oriental's loyalty programme, Fans of M.O., will apply once the work is finished. For travellers this period has an advantage: you stay in the oldest part, in a house of 35 rooms instead of the 138 before the works. The trade-off is dining reduced to two venues, Al Saraya and the terrace. ## Which room to choose The choice is first about the view. - **Palace rooms** have high ceilings, hand-painted walls, wooden floors and a marble bathroom. Their balcony looks over the tropical gardens. They suit a short stay where your days are spent on the river and at the sites. - **Palace junior suites and suites** come with garden or Nile views, a separate sitting area and a marble bathroom with separate bath and shower. To see the river from your room, this is the category to aim for, with "Nile View" in the name. - **The Agatha Christie Suite** has a lounge, a separate dining room, a study and a balcony over the Nile. - **The Sir Winston Churchill Suite** has hand-carved furniture and a large private terrace facing the river, where you watch the feluccas pass at sunset. The Presidential and Royal suites require a one-night deposit when booking. ## A day facing Elephantine The hotel sits on a pink granite cliff above the river, facing Elephantine Island and the ruins of the Temple of Khnum. The day revolves around the terrace. In the morning, leave early for Philae or the West Bank; a felucca landing is about 180 m away, and central Aswan is within walking distance. In the heat of the day, come back to the infinity pool above the Nile. Al Saraya serves regional specialities and international dishes all day, with Levantine and Mediterranean influences. In the late afternoon, tea is served in the open air, a ritual drawn from the hotel's history, then the riverside terrace serves light dishes facing Elephantine as the sun goes down over the West Bank. ## Sabaro's view **For whom**: travellers who want an address steeped in history, as a couple or a family; Agatha Christie readers. **Strengths**: the setting facing Elephantine, within walking distance of the centre; the terrace and its view; a rating of 9.4/10 on Booking.com from 718 reviews. **Good to know**: until July 2027 only the Palace is open and dining is limited to two venues; entry-level rooms look over the gardens. **Our advice**: for a first stay in Aswan, a Nile-view suite is worth the outlay, as the river view is the heart of the experience; book early for the high season, November to February, since room numbers are reduced during the works. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are children welcome, and on what terms? Yes. Children under 5 generally stay and eat free, with a free cot; children aged 5 to 11 stay free in their parents' room in most categories, with a possible supplement for an extra bed. ### Can you walk to central Aswan? Yes, the town centre is within walking distance, and a felucca landing is about 180 m from the hotel. ### Is the hotel open during the works? Yes. The Palace, the historic 1899 building, remains open with 35 rooms and suites; the Nile Wing, the tower built in 1961, is closed until the renovation is completed, scheduled for July 2027. ### Does the hotel arrange airport transfers? Yes, pick-up and drop-off at Aswan airport are available for an extra charge.