In the Footsteps of Kings and Heads of State 
- Treat yourself to a day trip to the historic Old Winter Palace Hotel
- Experience the atmosphere of British high society at this top-class Victorian hotel
- Enjoy drinks and snacks in the hotel’s incomparable gardens, for example at the ‘1886’ garden bar – named after the year construction began
- Upon special request, it is possible to tour the Royal Suite – among others, Prince William and his wife Kate most recently stayed there
- Can also be combined with a visit to the Valley of the Kings and other temples (e.g., the Karnak and Luxor Temples
Introducing…
- Mahmoud Sayed, nick ‘Sheemy’, 46 years old
- Born in southern Egypt, married, 3 children
- Official tour guide and operator throughout Egypt since 2006
- Linguistic genius with excellent English skills, has studied English literature, among other subjects
- Deep unterstanding of customer relationships
- Well-established intercultural and organizational skills
A luxurious landmark restored to its former glory 
In 1989, after a Nile cruise, I had the pleasure of spending a week at the venerable Old Winter Palace Hotel, which was still under Egyptian management at the time. The hotel was built at the end of the 19th century by Leon Monestier in the colonial style of the Belle Époque and opened in 1907.
The Sofitel Group took over the hotel in 1990 and, following its renovation, restored this historic landmark to its former glory, infusing it with French charm. It had long been a cherished wish of mine to revisit the ‘new Winter Palace’ during my most recent stay in Luxor.
By purchasing a dining voucher worth 1,000 Egyptian pounds per person (approx. 18€), my travel companions Dietmar and Suleiman, along with myself, were able to immerse ourselves in the world of royal high society and enjoy the elegant ambiance of this hotel.
Highlight of the tour was undoubtedly the visit to the Royal Suite, where, in addition to Prince William and his wife Kate, other public figures – such as former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt – have stayed.
Once a two-year renovation project, which began in May 2026, is complete, the Winter Palace will welcome its guests as a 7-star hotel. I will certainly visit the hotel again in 2028, and I’m already excited about it.
Until then, I recommend a visit to the equally famous Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan, where Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill, among others, spent their winters.
Feel free to reach out to me via the contact form if I can assist you with a future visit to these hotels. Of course, Sheemy and his network can also assist you with tours in Aswan, Luxor, and the surrounding area.
