Review: Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan, Egypt

January 14, 2024

LOCATION

Nestled within the heart of Aswan the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan graces the banks of the Nile with its majestic presence. Being a mere 20 minutes from Aswan Airport by taxi makes it more than convenient for any traveller, and on arrival you’ll be welcomed to sweeping views of Elephantine Island and the Nubian Desert, attributable to the hotel’s prime location perched high atop a cliff overlooking the world’s longest river.

THE CONCEPT OF SOFITEL LEGEND OLD CATARACT ASWAN

As I stepped into the hotel’s foyer the grandeur of it all did not go unnoticed, with every corner of the hotel thoughtfully decorated to present a harmonious blend of Egyptian and French styles. You’ll find a centrepiece table decorated to the nines, trinkets hanging from the corners, and lanterns of various sizes carefully dotted around to subtly hone in on the Arabian backdrop.

The hotel exudes timeless charm and air, and is steeped in rich history, with the buildings themselves telling a story that can only be unravelled as you delve deeper into the palace grounds. This level of sophistication to represent history in the modern day era is the concept of Sofitel Legend Old Cataract. They believe in preserving and showcasing the Victorian Palace in a way that meets the expectation of luxury travellers, without a compromise on the level of luxury that is offered.

ROOMS

The rooms are split between the colonial-era palace, boasting 76 rooms, and the modern tower wing, housing 62 rooms. We stayed in the colonial-era palace, opting for the traditional styled room and I’ll be honest, when I first looked at the photos I was worried the rooms may be a bit dated, but that was far from reality.

Think dark sultry wooden floorings covering the oversized room, coupled with cream, gold and teal drapes bringing an aura of light to the space. At the centre lay a plush king-size bed with an overhanging tapestry, adding to the elegance of the room, and behind the drapes the French-style doors opened up to a large balcony and views of the palace grounds.

However, my favourite feature of the room was the his and hers marble sinks paired with a deep, marble bathtub that invited you to wash away the remnants of a day’s exploration. I absolutely love a freestanding bathtub so this was a great bonus! And of course this was complimented by a curated selection of luxurious and heavenly scented amenities.

If this doesn’t appeal to you, you can stay in the modern tower wing where the rooms are more contemporary in style, but in my opinion, you can stay in contemporary style rooms anywhere in the World, so why not try something different and embrace the traditional charm?

CULINARY DELIGHTS

There are 4 main restaurants on-site, making it easy to never leave the hotel. The Saraya and terrace offers all day dining and a mix of all cuisines. The food was decent but I felt there was a bit too much variety of cuisines, which takes away from mastering the taste of the food. However, the salads were welcomed, especially in the basking heat when you crave something fresh and cooling, so I can’t fault it too much! As an alternative to the Terrace you can also get food during the day by the poolside. The pool area has its own menu with more offerings, including a chicken Shawarma which was delicious.

The Oriental Kebabgy is only open for afternoon tea and dinner and sits on the edge of the hotel grounds, overlooking the River Nile. You’ll find local Egyptian dishes at this restaurant which are bursting with flavour, making it a better choice than the Terrace. They also have an outdoor wood fire grill with someone making fresh Egyptian bread, making the experience even better as nothing beats warm, fresh bread!

However, the hotel’s signature restaurant is the 1902 restaurant which boasts 12 decades of gastronomy with French cuisine paired with fine wines. A grand Arabian dome covers the restaurant, with Arabic-style lights hanging down and each arch accentuated by the traditional Arabic-style murals. Whilst we didn’t dine here, others have reviewed the food to be delicious and a compliment to the French cuisine, even if it came with a high price tag.

Whilst Egypt is a Muslim country, you can still get alcohol at the hotels. There are drinks available at the poolside or one of the four bars on site, but one point to note is that they are extremely expensive, you’re looking at spending $25 for one drink! We didn’t have any alcohol during our time in Egypt and to be honest I wouldn’t have paid that price for a glass of average wine, but Agatha Christie did sip cocktails here once so take from that what you will!

RELAXATION AND REJUVENATION

The pool here is something else! You can take a morning or afternoon dip into the large infinity pool that overlooks the banks of the River Nile, but the best time to soak in the atmosphere is at sunset. It is truly stunning with the sky turning into fiery shades of orange.

If the weather is too much you can always head to the indoor heated pool (Adults only) which dances with the reflections of the mosaic pillars, or you can relax in the jacuzzi or hammam. And if that’s not enough, you can also take advantage of one of the many treatments offered at the spa. For the fitness enthusiasts there’s a gym on site equipped with cross trainers, treadmills, free weights and Technogym Kinesis.

MY TWO CENTS…

The Sofitel Legend Old Cataract promises a truly enchanting retreat, where the embrace of the landscape is as captivating as the luxurious amenities within. The rooms and architectural designs were one of the best we saw in Egypt and the location provided for a perfect and peaceful retreat. This should be the only hotel you look to book if you visit Aswan!

Fun parting fact: King Fouad once entertained here.

INTEL HUB

To book: https://booking.tp.st/8m2sWkMi

Address: Abtal El Tahrir Street, 81511 ASWAN, Egypt

Phone: +20 10 22229071

Price: Starting from GBP 280 per night in low season and GBP 400 in high season, inclusive of breakfast.