Sofitel opens region's first Legend hotel in Egypt

The Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan in Egypt has reopened following a three-year renovation of the hotel, which originally launched in 1899.

Located in the Nubian Desert on the banks of the River Nile, the hotel has been restored by French interior designer Sybille de Margerie, who aimed to preserve its original Victorian beauty and also update some of the architecture to combine Victoran, Middle Eastern and French styles.

The property features two wings; firstly the historic Palace, which offers 76 rooms and suites, including the Agatha Christie and the Winston Churchill Suites, named after two of the hotel’s most famous guests.

The Nile Wing offers a contemporary design with 62 rooms and suites, the largest of which is the Agha Khan Suite.

The hotel features four restaurants; 1902, Oriental Kebabgy and Le Palms, restored from the existing Old Cataract, and Al Saraya, a new restaurant overlooking The Nile.

Four bars are also available including The Yasmin Vitamin Bar and Lounge overlooking the pool and gardens, and La Promenade located on the hotel’s rose granite walkway with views of Elephantine Island.

A new addition to the hotel is Sofitel’s So Spa, a 1200m² facility featuring eight treatment rooms, three-room hammam and indoor pool.

Alongside products from Cinq Modes, So Spa also offers Sofitel’s in-house So Exhilarating and So Rejuvenating product lines.

Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan is the third hotel to open under the Sofitel Legend brand, after Metropole Hanoi in Vietnam and the Grand Amsterdam in the Netherlands last year.

All 100-year old establishments, there will only be 10 Legend hotels worldwide.

Three of these will be in Egypt, with the Winter Palace Luxor scheduled to open next summer, followed by the Cecil Alexandria.

The Santa Clara in Colombia and the Palais Jamai in Morocco are also under development.