Al Moudira Hotel

In flourishing, palm-filled gardens, life at Al Moudira revolves around the central courtyard. Bougainvillea winds its way up soaring pillars, making for a lovely atmosphere while you enjoy hearty breakfasts, three-course lunches (try the date tart!), and dinners, which are among the best you'll have in Egypt. Inside, there is a spacious lounge with emerald sofas, embroidered poufs, and heavy drapes to create private nooks while jazz plays quietly. After a few hours of discovering Luxor, return for a dip in the pool or massage.

The rooms go from a standard huge to humungous, offering an authentic, old-world feel and flamboyant, Moorish style. Topped with domed ceilings (found in some of the bathrooms as well!), you'll find a large bed draped in Egyptian linens, a sitting area in one corner, and plenty of cupboard space. The suites are especially lavish with tall white columns, private terraces (not all, though), and a raised central platform where plump cushions surround a trickling fountain. The rooms are accessed via a small courtyard, offering an added sense of privacy.

The west bank of Luxor has been a royal burial place since 2100 BC (the most famous of which is King Tutankhamun), and there's a lot of history to get wrapped up in. Leave at first light to see the splendid tombs in the Valley of the Kings before the crowds and heat arrive, and then move on to see the striking Colossi of Memnon and the Temple of Karnak, one of the largest religious buildings in the world. As the sunset turns the water gold, sail down the Nile in a traditional felucca boat.