Built in 1899, under the impulse of Thomas Cook, The Old Cataract is an architectural jewel. The exterior is typical of the late Victorian era, while on the inside the hotel exudes a rich arabesque feel with lavishly decorated Moorish furniture and wood carvings. It comes as no surprise that The Old Cataract was a favourite haunt of the aristocracy at the height of British colonial pomp. It also has the interesting distinction of always having been an operational hotel, rather than a royal palace like many of the other famous Egyptian hotels.
