Kato Dool Wellness Resort

During our time in Egypt we have stayed at some luxurious hotels, including the Mena House in Egypt at the foot of the pyramids and the Hilton Luxor on the banks of the Nile. But I can sincerely tell you that the Kato Dool Wellness Resort was, by a wide margin, the best lodging experience we had in the country. I mean this sincerely. If you are an older person, have some limitations on your mobility, or are opposed to a little rustic flair, this may not be the place for you; however if you are an adaptable adventure-seeker I feel there is no other place you should stay in Aswan. Prior to arrival we received messages via WhatsApp from a member of the staff informing us that the hotel was having its “soft opening” and that Google sometimes could not find it, so we needed to drive to a meeting point in the Nubian village instead. Our guide communicated with the hotel and we learned that a tuk-tuk would meet us at the spot to take us up. Let me be clear: If this ride existed at an amusement park, I would pay for it. Our teenage driver managed to avoid every hole in the dirt road at surprisingly high speeds while simultaneously maintaining a phone conversation and picking up some dude who hitched a ride up. Was this daunting? No, it was awesome. Upon arrival our bags were whisked away, we were sipping hibiscus juice, and a kind, thoughtful, and well-spoken member of the staff gave us a tour of the facilities pointing out lots of little details along the way. We gasped at the pool (the pool!) and gazed at the impeccable buildings, all painted in the characteristic Nubian style and seemingly brought to life from a cartoon where magical forces help plucky kids overcome evil. Our room had high ceilings and furniture I would have liked to spirit away and towels in the shape of a crocodile on the bed. The view of the Nile from the back terrace was priceless (as would be underscored when the sun rose above it in the morning). Looking down several hundred meters at the riverbank where soft sand met the river with boats docking and tourists taking camel rides, we realized “gatdamn, we can *swim* in that thing.” Our hostess had told us that they could call for a tuk-tuk to take us there, but better to “take the stairs down from the pool and have a 10-minute walk in the desert.” The stairs were nowhere close to the pool and the walk in the desert was shorter than 10 minutes but dear lord, it was like descending the stairway to heaven to find oneself on Tatooine — a breathtaking vista we totally hadn’t expected. We dodged a couple camel trains to get down to the water, made friends with an Egyptian family whose daughters were eager to try out their English, and swam out to go full Ariel on rocks in the bay. On the walk back we noticed that one of the hotel dudes was waiting on the staircase to make sure we made it up safely — very unnecessary! Utterly kind! We went straight to the pool, ordered drinks (no booze available but no worries), took obligatory In

A quirky colourful hotel with fantastic views of the Nile. Friendly staff and excellent good value food. Pool overlooks the desert and Nile. An interesting drive to the hotel especially in the dark. Staff we’re welcoming and helpful assisting us with tours and guides.

If you’re going to Aswan, you must stay at Kato Dool. It is, without a doubt, the most beautiful hotel I’ve seen. The Nubian style is very colorful, fun and inviting, and Kato Dool is exceptional for all the wonderful details they put in. The staff was great; beautiful, welcoming smiles from all, and everyone was so kind to us. We felt very welcome. On the days we had to get up early (Abu Simbel is about 3 hours from Aswan), they had prepared breakfast boxes for each of us and left them at the desk. What a life saver! Made our morning so much easier. The food at dinner is also amazing. Everything is fresh and home-cooked. It was delicious. Our room had a view of the Nile, and it is stunning. Seeing the desert next to the river below is an impressive sight itself, but the beautiful design of Kato Dool made it truly picture perfect. I would highly recommend this hotel to any visitors, just note it may be a little tricky to find. It’s just outside of the town, behind a large sand dune, and the road there is not stone/asphalt paved. So once you have the directions correct, you’ll have a magnificent stay. There’s nothing like sitting on a beautiful balcony listening to the sound of the wind blowing through the river valley to calm one’s mind ❤️

The place was great experience the view and nature their is magnificent not like any other place in Nuba excellent choice for retreat and wellness trip The rooms style unique express the Nuba culture Very clean and all rooms are Nile view The stuff cooperative and helpful The place cosy for families and group of friends to go together The Nile and sand boarding activities are great

The atmosphere was serene and calming, allowing us to truly unwind and connect with ourselves. The staff at Katodool were incredibly friendly and accommodating, always ensuring that our needs were met. The cleanliness of the place was impeccable, both inside and out, creating a pleasant environment to be in. The views at Katodool were breathtaking, with stunning landscapes and natural beauty surrounding us. We felt at peace being immersed in nature and taking in the picturesque scenery. The food and drinks provided were of high quality, satisfying our taste buds and leaving us feeling satisfied. It was a place where we could truly relax and let go of any concerns or doubts we had.It has this unique positive vibes, making it easy for everyone to relax and embrace a memorable experience. Overall, our time at Katodool was nothing short of amazing. We left feeling rejuvenated, refreshed, and grateful for the opportunity to have experienced such inner peacefulness and relaxation. If you're considering visiting Nuba and choosing Katodool, don't hesitate , just do it! You won't regret it.

Kato Dool is a perfect getaway, with a unique location overlooking the river Nile. Rooms have stunning view of the Nile, with a large terrace to enjoy the scenery. The hotel is located nearby the Nubian village and above a famous beach spot on the Nile where you can enjoy a nice swim. The staff are super friendly, they made sure that everything is perfect. Osama , Saad and all the team were striving to provide us with amazing experience. Breakfast is just Ok with very few options. What was enjoyable though is having coffee after breakfast by the pool overlooking the Nile. Negatives: can’t really say it is a negative, but having such a unique location comes with a drawback; accessibility. You either use the stairs to go down and then walk to the village or take a ride with a toktok for 10-15 minutes. In summary, this place should be on your shortlist if you are traveling to Aswan.

We visited 2 adults. 2 children (11,14). We had two adjesent rooms. We stayed 1 night. 5 stars is a high rating. But we give it bases on the hotel potential and staff. Rooms Clean , nice and beutiful Nubian style. Terrace view is great if you don’t mind bird droppings. Pool Upon our arrival it was quite dirty. Plastic at the bottom and it did not look attractive. We did not use it. Restaurant Food is really good and authentic. Best local food on our full journey around Egypt. Come in good time, as preparation takes a bit of time, which was perfectly fine for us - just something to be aware of. Location It is far away from everything. If you have booked own tours be aware that they might not want to drive here, but you can get a tuk-tuk 10 minutes drive to town. Great view of the nile and Aswan. Below the hotel there are camel rides - when tourists were not around some camels were hit and kicked (hard), not pleasant to watch. Staff So kind. And so helpful. Nirvana in the reception was great and really made the difference for us. Without her we would have given 4 stars.

This is such an incredibly pretty hotel. The staff hand built it in the Nubian style and everything about it is cute and unique but not at the cost of any expected hotel comforts (it has air con, western toilets, good water pressure in the shower, comfy beds, etc etc). The location is epic, perched on a cliff with beautiful views from the rooms, the restaurant and the pool. Staff were amazing, very friendly and helpful with all aspects of the stay from transport and tourism options to food and drinks at the restaurant and pool. Shout out to the housekeeping staff who changed the towels into new Egyptian animal sculptures every day! The tours and drivers they organised for us were very good, well priced with on time pick ups and non-hassling drivers (a rarity in Egypt).