Location: The hotel belongs to the community of Qurna, is situated directly beside the temple of Merenptah (turn right at the crossroads near the ticket office, about 50 m on your right hand) a bit off from the main road.

Hotel: The oldest hotel on the West Bank accommodates in its jumbled buildings 30 simple but practical furnished rooms, therefrom eight in a building constructed with mud-bricks in the style of late architect Hassan Fathy. Recently eight double rooms and two single rooms have been renovated, provide private bath rooms. The other guests share three separate bath rooms. Natasha Baron, a Czech born lady with Australian passport, is the manager of the hotel. The centre of the "Marsam" is the beautiful garden with seatings in the shadows of the trees. From three sides it is surrounded by the hotel buildings, to the east it open, offers a view to the fields. Since the opening the garden is the favorite place for hotel and other guests.

Special: The traditional hotel is famous for hosting archaeologists from all over the world. Most of them are very open minded, like contact with tourists. But this also means, that "regular" guests need a reservation in advance, particular during the excavation season from October till March. So, please don't forget to ask for availability of free rooms in advance.

Service: Booking based on
bed and breakfast. Halfboard available
on request only. Hotel owned car.
Airport transfer on request will be
charged with the usual local rates.

Food and Beverages: Although there is an inside restaurant - most of the guests prefer to be served for all meals in the wonderful garden. For breakfast you find the Egyptian "aish shams" (sun bread), baked daily by a family in the near by village, cheese, eggs, jams and butter. At lunch time every day another typical Egyptian menue with poultries, beef or minced meat as well as two different vegetarian menues (LE 25) is served. For dinner you only find international vegetarian food, as there are soups, salads, pizza, pasta, and several sweets (LE 20). All kind of soft drinks, fresh fruit juices, tea and coffee are served all day long.

Entertainment: You can reach from the hotel all archaeological sites of the West Bank by feet within maximum 15 minutes, exept the "Valley of the Kings". But this famous valley you can reach by hiking over the mountains from the workers village "Deir El Medina" or a shorter distance from the temple of Hatshepsut. On request we can rent for you bicycles. We can arrange all kinds of trips by rented bicycle, donkey, horse, camel or car. Also we have contacts to tour guides in several languages or experienced organizers of Desert Safaris.

Prices: Double without private bath room LE 100, single
LE 50 (B/B) per person/night, double room with private bath LE 150, single LE 75 (B/B) per person/night including all taxes and stamps.

Payment: All payments requested cash upon arrival, unfortunately we cannot accept credit cards or cheques. Foreign currencies will be changed according to the daily exchange rate of the bank.

Contact and Reservation:
eMail: marsam@africamail.com

Like to know more about the history of the "Marsam Hotel"? Then click here.