We have travelled a lot but we had never been to Egypt before and we almost booked a big hotel for our 3 nights in Luxor and then I found Desert Paradise on Trip Advisor....and we were so glad we stayed here. It is a hundred times better than staying in an impersonal, bland chain owned hotel room. Our room (room 1) was beautiful. The driver from the hotel, Hamada, met us at the airport and pointed out landmarks to us as he drove us to Desert Paradise. Based on the West bank of Luxor, Desert Paradise Lodge felt much more authentic and more peaceful than the east bank which has more tourists and is more crowded. On arrival we met the owner Ashraf who greeted us at the door and even though it was late at night he still offered us food and drinks if we wanted them served in our room. He kindly sent tea to our room at our request. The room was lovely. Designed in the Nubean style with dome ceilings, lying in bed or sitting in our lounge we could look up in to a beautiful dome of warm coloured brick. A really stunning feature and one that felt authentic. The walls were painted white and doors and window shutters were natural wood. The bed was comfortable with white sheets and pillows. The bathroom was immaculate with a good shower, hot water and large towels. We had a dressing table and mirror and a separate lounge plus another separate area with wardrobes and a fridge. We also had our own balcony which overlooked the lovely gardens. Everything was immaculately clean and really well designed. Breakfast was served in the garden where a covered area to the side features long natural wooden tables and benches with more tables in the open. We had omelettes served in hot griddle pans, yoghurt, fresh juice, tea, bread etc...and we chose the time we wanted to eat. Ashraf (Egyptian)and his business partner Fareda (Swiss) were really friendly and helpful. Ashraf arranged a driver and guide for us to visit the main sites of Luxor over a 2 day period. It was incredibly good value for money and Mohammed our guide spoke excellent English and really knows his history. We don't often use guides but in this instance it was the best thing we did as Mohammed really brought the history and mystery of Luxor to life for us and made it exciting. We absolutely loved our 2 days with him visiting Karnak, Luxor Temple, Habu Temple, Valley Of The Kings and much more and we wish we could have spent another day with him. It was genuinely fantastic and he's easily one of the best guides we have ever spent any time with. We ate lunch in town on one day but we took evening meals and our other lunch at Desert Paradise Lodge because it fitted in better with what we were doing. The food was fantastic with plenty of fresh vegetables, fish, salad etc...and beer or wine if you want to order it. Sitting in the garden in the evening eating dinner was also so much nicer than sitting in a big restaurant. Fareda cares for lots of animals that she has rescued locally and some of the income from Desert Paradise is donated to the welfare of sick and rescued animals. We would love to go back to Desert Paradise Lodge one day and I have already recommended it to many of my friends and family. This is a far more beautiful and spacious place to stay than a boring hotel and you will be made very welcome in gorgeous and peaceful surroundings. We saw a lot in Luxor in 2 days because we followed the advice of Ashraf and booked his driver and guide. Without this invaluable service we would have wasted time and money and not seen as much as we would have wanted to. Our only regret is that we only had 2 full days; if you have the time it is definitely worth spending at least 3 full days in Luxor before heading towards your next destination in Egypt. I wish we could have spent a week at Desert Paradise Lodge! They are planning to open a private flat within the grounds very soon for people to rent on a longer term basis fully equipped with its own kitchen etc.

Based on the many very good reviews in Tripadvisor, I choose the Desert Paradise Lodge to celebrate a special birthday of my wife. I was definitely not disappointed! All that has been written in previous reviews is true. This place is a heaven of peace and service is very personal.
The owner Ashraf is a perfect and reliable host. Every day he will sit with you to discuss plans for the day and give you good advice. Reservations and email are taken care of by the neighbour Fareda, a Swiss lady who loves animals. She will answer all your questions. Prices are very reasonable.
The lodge is situated at the west bank in a quiet place. Transportation is wonderfully arranged, because the lodge has its own driver Mohammed who will pick you up at the airport and will drive you to the various sights in a new comfortable minibus.
We stayed in room # 1 which has a little balcony overlooking the pretty garden, a perfect place to read a book. Every room (there are 9 rooms in total) has a separate sitting and bedroom, a clean bathroom with hot water and a walk-in closet with a fridge. But room #1, one floor up, is special with two lovely domes having little windows in it, a very nice sight when you awake in the morning. The room was kept clean and bed linen and towels were changed daily.
In the morning we enjoyed a tasteful breakfast with a sizzling hot omelette in the garden served by friendly Abdul and Ahmed. Since we decided to go out for excursions during half the day and relax the other half, we usually had lunch and always had dinner at the lodge. Unfortunately, it was still too cold to use the swimming pool, but there are many places in the garden and on the roof terraces where you can enjoy the sun or sit in the shade. Dinner is in Egyptian style and truly delicious!
Because of the revolution there are less tourists than usual. However, I can assure you that there is no danger whatsoever in Luxor. There were moments that we had the famous monuments of the necropolis at the west bank all for ourselves! There is so much to see that you will need weeks to explore each temple and tomb. Do not miss the excursion to Dendera to visit the best preserved temple of Egypt dedicated to Hathor. The countryside of the Nile valley is very beautiful and the traditional way of living of the farmers is like going back in time.
This was my third visit to Luxor (and my fifth to Egypt) but we will be back some day. And for sure, we will stay in the Desert Paradise Lodge where you are treated like a special guest.

I spent some time at Desert Paradise Lodge earlier this year, and recommend it to anyone who would like some peace and quiet away from the mayhem that is the East Bank. The setting is beautiful, the rooms are lovely, and Ashraf and Ferida could not be more helpful or welcoming.

Ashraf, Fareda, and the entire staff made us feel we were truly in paradise during our three-night stay in early January 2012.

From the moment we walked up to the lodge, Ashraf greeted us at the door, confirmed we wanted lunch and gave us options for dinner: chicken, fish, etc. He quickly showed us to our suite and explained that he wanted us to relax and not worry about a thing, there would be plenty of time to explore the lodge and Luxor, he promised. This ended up being a ritual for the remainder of our stay – Ashraf greeting us at the door, emphasizing the importance of happiness and relaxation and taking care of all our meals for us, while also arranging well-priced tours of his beloved hometown and taking care of any extraneous requests. For example, when I asked to go to a bazaar for shopping, he took us to his alabaster factory, set up sheesha for my husband, and gave us an excellent deal on his goods – don’t miss this opportunity to buy some hand-made alabaster goods!

While Luxor is a true treasure chest of Egyptian antiquities, Ashraf’s easy planning made everything feel so relaxed, even though we saw three sites a day! In Ashraf’s hands, we knew we were getting the best of Luxor. A full day tour cost us EGP 350 for two people total plus the cost of admissions to the sites. Given the prices we saw elsewhere through our research, it was certainly a good deal! The price includes your personal car, driver, and your tour guide – Ashraf doesn’t believe in grouping his guests together which worked out really well for us because we were so happy to have one-on-one conversations with our tour guide about everything from Egypt’s history to its current political climate. Ask for Mohammed, an extremely knowledgeable Egyptologist whose passion for his country’s history is obvious in his heartfelt discussions. Extremely soft-spoken, he was a refreshing change to “quack” tour guides who often make things up as they go.

The lodge is beautiful and serene, with a grand view of the mountains, especially from the upper balcony which is open to all guests at all times – this is also the perfect spot to sip some tea and watch the sun set. The courtyard is charming, with grass and trees, lined with a variety of stone statues. The free-of-charge teas and sheesha Ashraf tags on makes you feel you are at home! His entire staff is there to make you as comfortable, happy, and relaxed as possible and they do a fabulous job! Ashraf upgraded us to the honeymoon suite free-of-charge and it was such a treat! The bed was huge and very comfortable, and the extra living area was great for storing our things and taking tea in our private balcony overlooking the courtyard was wonderful. And everything was tip top clean. They made the rooms every morning, including on our check-out day even though we did not pay for that day, not even half board!

The food was excellent! Our favorite breakfast of our Egypt trip! It consisted of buttery, fried egg – so so yummy! Milk, to die for. It was so good!!! And an assortment of many other things: homemade bread, jam, package cheese, yogurt, juice boxes, breakfast cake, and tea/coffee. The lunch was so simple, yet so fresh and delicious – an assortment of fresh vegetables, fried breaded eggplant, French fries, and a different soup each day along with homemade bread! The dinners were elaborate and made at your request each night – whatever meat you are in the mood for, Ashraf will make it for you! Along with the main, there was one prepared starch daily such as rice or pasta as well as bread and soup. And of course, the highlight of all our moments there, the teas and sheesha that followed every dinner!
Other costs: EGP 120 each way for the car transfer to the lodge, EGP 50pp for lunch, EGP 100pp for dinner, beers and wine are not included with the price of your meal. Laundry is available for EGP 1-2 per piece. Our load came back a couple of days later and still damp. It’s certainly great that he makes that service available, but allow yourself plenty of time!

The lodge is fabulous, but Ashraf and his staff make it a truly memorable experience. Go there to be taken care of by experts!

We love you Brother Ashraf and wish you and your staff much success in the coming years and cannot wait until we can return to your paradise home one day soon! With all our love and best wishes, Sumaya & Frank.