6 Best Hotels in Aswan and Lake Nasser, Egypt

Sprawling across the northern portion of Elephantine Island, the Mövenpick offers uber-comfortable rooms decorated in bold geometric patterns and rusty desert tones. The otherwise low-rise hotelscape is dominated by an odd tower that looks like it could be for air traffic control but actually houses Panorama, a wraparound restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows that display some of Aswan's best sunset views. A LE350 day pass allows nonguests access to the pool and restaurants.

Opened in 1899, the Old Cataract is one of Egypt's grandest hotels, well known for its scene-setting role in Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile (you can even stay in her suite for a whopping US$8,000 a night). An impressive roll call of famous folk have overnighted here, including Winston Churchill (who also has a dedicated suite), Tsar Nicolas II, Princess Diana, and Jimmy Carter. 

Occupying a promontory above Aswan, the Basma has an artsy vibe and is accented with murals, stained glass, and sculptures, many made by local artists.

The Obelisk sits in the center of it all—smack-dab on the waterfront and a quick walk to many restaurants and shops. Garden-view rooms have a terrace and are set among shrubs and flower beds. Nile-side rooms give up the terrace for water-level views.

Nubian-style bungalows are scattered around a verdant garden replete with waterfalls and a swimming pool right at the edge of Lake Nasser. The whitewashed walls and faux-stone details are of another era, but rooms are clean and comfortable.

The high-ceilinged reception area, complete with olive and maroon columns and carvings of Abu Simbel and Philae, makes the Tolip look like a neo-pharaonic temple on the northern reaches of the Corniche. The rooms don't quite live up to the lobby's lofty promise, but this hotel is a great place for families looking for an entertaining alternative to the temples: try on-site tennis, bowling, billiards, and more.