Mara House

Luxor

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Irish Mara has built a house with spacious suites, each decorated in local style and including a sitting area and a clean bathroom. The house is open for guests taking the three-night package, which includes east and west bank tours, a day trip to Abydos and Dendara, and feasts at the house. Full details are on the website.

The modern house, in an un-touristy neighbourhood right behind the train station, can be hard to find – call for instructions or a free transfer. Mara's Salahadeen Restaurant, in the same building, was closed at the time of writing, but when it reopens it will be serving Egyptian home-style feasts for around LE225 per person.

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