We have created 21 rooms, and capacity for 21 persons or 42 persons sharing, and approved annex accommodation for larger group requests.
El Bawaba (Arabic: البوابة)- In Arabic El Bawaba is translated as The Gate, The Portal, The Gateway, The Gate Keeper, The Star Gate, and The Sluice. We have built a modern temple of 21 luxury rooms set against the mythical Theban Hills and the mystery of the Nile, brimming with birdsong, unforgettable sunrise and sunset, and starry nights. We inspire the adventure, myth and magic of the intrepid and forever traveller.
Ash and Mohamed, Founders- El Bawaba Visionary and Founder, Ash captivates with a fascination of ancient Egypt and human evolution. Visionary and Founder, Mohamed invests in pioneering change in outdated tourism. Ash and Mohamed unite on innovation, ethics and values on groundbreaking eco-tourism and travel experiences. We love creating unique projects. We began creating this dream project built upon ethics, conscious tourism, natural farming and traditional cuisine. We dreamed a lodge to support the local community and trusted, specialist teams. We have built El Bawaba on talent, tradition, vision and innovation. Every aspect is revolutionary from team building, to sourcing vintage and up-cycling, to growing organic produce in our kitchen garden for the restaurant.
About Our Team- Our experienced travel team designs bespoke solo and group travel for every budget. We specialise in groundbreaking and lifechanging conscious, spiritual, and bucket-list travel experiences in international languages. We specialise in pioneering new tourism in ancient history, extraordinary new cultural and heritage experiences, extreme sports, and eco-tourism all over Egypt. Our large events space and meeting rooms are available to hire for travellers, group tours, wedding ceremony, Egyptology, film and media, music and performance. We host Artist and Creative Residencies archiving works and wisdom in our time capsule.
The Eight Pointed Star- El Bawaba is built to West to East, South to North on the sacred and mystical geometries of the eight pointed star- the eight angels that eternally protect God as "Guardians of the Kingdom of God.” The eight pointed seal is also interpreted as the "divine seal of prophets." El Bawaba Architecture built in The Eight Pointed Star. Its octagonal geometry is a symbol of protection and guidance, owing to its alignment with the eight cardinal directions. This celestial symbol holds a profound connection with the number 8, and is recognised for good fortune across diverse cultures.
It is associated with eight phases of human spiritual growth and our human evolution. The eight pointed star is also a symbol of God’s Throne and is enshrined in The Qu’ran. Prophesy describes the presence of 8 angels flanking God’s Throne on the Day of Judgment, correlating with the 8 points of the star. This geometry extends to the architectural layouts of various mosques, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Old Jerusalem) and the Dome of the Rock with Najmat al Kods, traditionally believed to occupy the site of Solomon’s Temple. Muslims have historically employed the Rub El Hizb as a tool for the recitation and memorization of the Qu’ran. The symbol serves to represent each quarter of a “Hizb,” which designates the 114 surahs within the sacred Qur’an.
Retreats and Events- Working with Us- Events and CoCreation Spiritual Tours are by special invitation and written application. All spiritual tour group applications are considered carefully to ensure diverse and conscious events. Your application is considered and successful applications are contacted within 30 days.
Ash’s training and pilgrimages explore consciousness, soul, mysticism, and new psychology, community building, preservation and protection of genius and creativity. El Bawaba Lodge is a restoration retreat and pioneering education centre for the future. Ash is visionary. You will find her in dedicated service in London, Japan, and Egypt.
El Bawaba Garden- The Qur'an references gardens as earthly analogue for life in paradise. Our Garden is built on ancient lands, unspoiled nature, ancient sites, lush green agriculture and wildlife. The songs of birds and bees brings magic beyond modern life stress. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, ‘Allah is Beautiful, He loves beauty.' For Muslims, nature is a bounteous blessing from their Creator. At El Bawaba we protect humanity and earth. A life-sustaining oasis, benefiting humans, birds, and animals.
El Bawaba Kitchen Garden grows vegetables, flowers, fruits and aromatic herbs for our conscious restaurant serving traditional Egyptian cuisine. Our garden is lush and teaming in NON-GMO, natural mango, lemon, orange, banana, hibiscus, date, native herbs, olive, grape vines, tomatoes, spinach, rocket, and sunflowers. This abundance of natural healing is available in our menus, infusions and juices at El Bawaba. A kitchen garden, growing vegetables, flowers, fruits and aromatic herbs for our conscious restaurant serving traditional Egyptian cuisine. Our garden is lush and teaming in NON-GMO, natural mango, lemon, orange, banana, hibiscus, date, native herbs, olive, grape vines, tomatoes, spinach, rocket, and sunflowers. This abundance of natural healing is available in our menus, infusions and juices at El Bawaba.
El Bawaba Lodge Shop stocks organic, pure absolute oils, medicinal herbs, incense for health, wellbeing, transformation, spirituality, and ceremony. We recommend our Blue Lotus and Rose Absolute Oils. Organic Castor Oil for ultimate natural skin care. For ceremony and ritual we recommend Finest Organic Ouud. For Organic Tea, Loose Luxor Organic Hibiscus. The Alchemist is home to ceremonial and meditation crystals and wands designed by ASH, and local artisan sculptures of Gods and Goddess.
8 Olive Trees are planted for the freedom of Palestine. 8 olive trees were chosen and planted to symbolise world peace. We invite you to pray for peace in our garden.
El Bawaba Lodge SkyCamp is a rooftop facility for meditation, reflection, and spirituality.
Giving Without Cost- Non-Profit- Leave unwanted boots, shoes, clothes, toiletries and pens at reception. Giving Without Cost supports poverty in our local community. There are no European Union or UN Luxor projects. We do not accept cash. Giving is a simple act of human kindness and is appreciated. Your donations are distributed in our local community.
Artist Residency- We support inspiration and potential of creatives, musicians, artists, and actors in spectacular ancient history. We are building a time capsule of works donated. It was the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922 that influenced Art Deco. The artefacts were so mesmerising and unlike anything seen before that their style was sought-after as an escape from the previous designs of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Egyptian Design embraces ideals of luxury, perfection, exoticism and hybridity that epitomises Art Deco.
DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937) Hockney first travelled to Egypt, at 26 after graduating from the Royal College of Art and thereafter, completed 40 works of art with the Egyptian theme. In 1993, he said,
‘Egypt is one of the most thrilling countries I’ve ever been to in the sense that these monuments are the oldest known buildings anywhere. After all, when Cleopatra showed Julius Caesar the pyramids, they were already two thousand years old and more. It is quite awe-inspiring; not even in China are there things older, and I think you feel connected with them, whoever you are’ D. Hockney, N. Stangos (ed.), That’s the Way I See it.
Pray for Peace Non-Profit was created on 1 January 2024 in emergency response to Noto earthquake, Japan. In 2019, Ash was in Tokyo and invited by Japan’s UN representative to lead prayers for those most affected in disaster areas by Typhoon Hagibis, Japan. Our Imagine One Earth Map unites prayers locally and globally. Daily 06:00, 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 GMT
Horse Riding- Ride Zane II (Arabian Champion) and Ziad our Arabians in the spectacular Theban Necropolis, Colossi of Memnon, The Ramesseum, and Medinet Habu.
Waters Library- Ash has been called to many ancient gateways to receive visions and prophesies of new humanity. In 2018, she was invited to the United Nations. Ancient gateways of the world can be experienced through our Waters Library. The blessings and healings of sacred waters transforms. Please donate and build our waters archive in labelled 100 ml bottles.
Devotion and Freedom- We do not permit cults, and prohibit non-indigenous plant medicine as outlined in Egyptian Law. Other prohibited substances and activities include alcohol, excessive late night noise and deliberate disruption, disingenuous ritual or ceremony that disrespects Islam, and Africa and Middle East.
