Caravanserai Luxor
Egyptian Handicrafts From All Over Egypt
The Caravanserai is a craft business on Medinet Habu, Luxor’s West Bank. It’s made of mud brick and hand-painted with typical, vivid sceneries from Upper Egypt’s daily life. The ceiling is completed with the dried leaves of the many date palms that grow in abundance in the Luxor environment, as is customary in Egypt.
Khairy and his family manage this beautiful treasure trove of Egyptian items in Medinat Habu on the west bank. Beautiful ceramics from the Western Oases, Siwan embroideries, a colourful collection of handwoven scarves, wonderful appliqué bags, and a variety of other crafts found nearly nowhere else in Egypt can be found within. All at really low costs.
Recognizing that manufacturing crafts was one of the few ways for disadvantaged Egyptian women to make money, Khairy opened the business to support and encourage them. He buys practically everything individuals manufacture and advises them on what sells well and how to improve their ideas. Above all, he admires people’s inventiveness.
As you cross the wooden bridge, the shadows thrown on the walls by the early afternoon sunlight give a sense of enchantment and awe. you see glances around the classic Islamic-style bolt door, which still has the maker’s name etched on the inside.
You’ll find glassware, scarves, Islamic lamps, cards, jewellery, wooden objects, rugs, wall hangings, baskets, ceramics, and apparel as you pass through the door.The majority of the items sold here are created by Egyptians in communities around Egypt.
As you approach the ancient, wooden door, the bright sunlight, passing peasants, and the bridge arching over the canal give you the impression that you are Alice in Wonderland peeking through the looking glass.
