Luxor’s Al Moudira Named One of World’s Most Beautiful Hotels in 2025

A kaleidoscope of ochre courtyards, antique archways, and palm-shaded pathways, Al Moudira, a Relais & Châteaux hotel, has always felt more like a dreamscape than a stay. Tucked at the edge of Luxor’s West Bank, where pharaonic tombs slumber beneath desert sands, this singular sanctuary has quietly captivated aesthetes, artists, and soul-searchers for over two decades. Now, it has earned a new kind of reverence—officially named one of ‘The World’s Most Beautiful Hotels 2025’ by the Prix Versailles.

Announced annually at UNESCO, the prize honours properties that strike a rare balance between heritage, innovation, and intelligent sustainability. Among this year’s 16 winners across the globe, Al Moudira is not only the sole Egyptian hotel on the list—it is also the first in Egypt ever to receive this recognition.

Built from the ground up by Lebanese hotelier Zeina Aboukheir and architect Olivier Sednaoui, Al Moudira was never meant to be just a hotel. It is a vision carved from sun-baked stone and stitched with the textures of the Levant: mashrabiya lattices, hand-painted tiles, vaulted ceilings, and vintage Damascene fabrics sourced from souqs long gone. Every corner whispers of craftsmanship and care.

Yet the beauty here is not just architectural—it’s agricultural, cultural, and deeply communal. The hotel’s adjoining farm now feeds its kitchens with up to 80% of their produce, depending on the season. Nearby village homes have been restored in vernacular style with Al Moudira’s help, while local children learn English onsite and artisans are trained in traditional crafts. From regenerative farming to sustainable sourcing, the ethos is simple: build beauty that gives back.

As Prix Versailles notes, the award celebrates places that are “at once grounded and visionary.” And Al Moudira—forever grounded in Luxor’s history, yet always planting something new—embodies that to the letter.