Remal el Rayan new luxurious rustic glamping experience Fayoum’s Wadi El Rayan
Remal el Rayan new luxurious rustic glamping experience Fayoum’s Wadi El Rayan
Remal el Rayan Situated in the heart of Fayoum, a treasure trove of ecological hotspots, old-fashioned waterways, and unspoiled deserts has earned it a name as a popular eco-tourism spot in the region.
A miniature representation of Fayoum’s vast and varied terrain, Remal el Rayan gives a rustic style that meets chic minimalism.
Glamping is a style of camping with services of a luxury hotel…electricity, air-conditioning, hot water and a comfy bed in a tent. Only a three-hour drive from Cairo to Wadi el Rayan Protectorate in Fayoum, Mohamed Tahoun and his partners have launched the first glamp in Egypt.
The camp’s stunning beachwood exterior, marble accents, and neutral color scheme stand in stark contrast to the straightforward, back-to-basics camps scattered throughout Fayoum.
Glamping is a form of experiential travel, where glamour meets nature in a sustainable manner. It is a way to authentically experience amazing untamed locations around the world in luxurious comfortable accommodations.
Tahoun began to consider the concept of a camp for people to enjoy the desert but who do not want to compromise on comfort. Tahoun decided his purpose was to introduce the desert to the non-desert person. He explains, “I started investigating different styles of camps, basic or luxurious, in Morocco, Jordan, Kenya, and UAE and the possibility of a glamour camp in the Egyptian desert began to make sense.” Tourist experiences are abundant and varied in Egypt, spanning from the Red Sea to Upper Egypt to the Mediterranean yet 96% of Egypt is predominately desert. “So we decided to take advantage of promoting a comfortable touristic experience in the desert. We first developed another camp called Qusoor el Arab (Arab Palace). This camp was a basic experience with small huts, tents and shared bathrooms.” In 2017, Tahoun applied for the permit to develop a glamp in Wadi el Rayan Protectorate. It took three years to meet the strict regulations of an environmentally protected area. Remal el Rayan Glamp opened in March 2021 with a restaurant, three suites and four rooms.
Remal el Rayan will facilitate the experience of glamping through their own restaurant, Lummaya, where you can experience rich, gourmet Bedouin-inspired food.
The Glamp offers infrastructure for people to enjoy the desert in luxury: air-conditioned rooms, spacious bathrooms, private Jacuzzi and campfires, hot and cold running water, refrigerator and deluxe bed and linens; each room with a private terrace. The management can organize roundtrip transportation from home to Glamp as well as arrange safaris, excursions, horseback riding, and sand surfing. The restaurant serves a full range of specialties including the Bedouin mandi, a traditional dish consisting of meat, chicken or duck, baked underground.
With a desert as a backyard, Remal el Rayan has an array of thrilling adventures and activities, from beach buggies and sandboarding to zip-lining and 4×4 adventures.
Remal el Rayan Restaurant
“Lummayya” restaurant which means in the local Bedouin dialect “the water”. took inspiration from the area we are in as much as we could, we want to enhance the authenticity of this place.
Our restaurant Lummayya it is an all-day dining place, people can come to try our culinary experience, either in a time slot (3-6pm lunch, 6-9 pm dinner) or book a day use and spend the day at the venue enjoying the surroundings and doing different activities we have available for them.
The menu is a blend between the Bedouin traditional dishes, reinterpreted in a classy way, and a variety of international special dishes.
The architecture of our restaurant it is probably our statement piece, created by one of the partners in the project, by SIA Design Studio, who created a state of the art project imitating the fluidity and grace of the desert dunes.
There are various seating areas, with dining table indoors, elegant wooden and bamboo chairs, up to 85 seats. As for the outdoors there are lounges, dining tables, and Bedouin set-ups with cushions, rugs where you can relax and be the most comfortable, or sitting around the campfire serving Bedouin tea or marshmallows. The outdoor seated area has a capacity up to 100 persons.
The restaurant, both indoors and outdoors is equipped with fans and ventilator during summer time, or heaters during winter season.
Remal el Rayan BAR
The restaurant Lummayya comes, as well, with our dry bar Lummayya, where you can find a various selection from coffees, teas, sodas and fresh juices, everything that you wish, but in the heart of the desert.
Measurements:
160m2 Indoors,
400m2 Outdoors (200m2 on each side – desert view,
200m2 lake view)
Outdoor Restaurant premises – 2000m2
Deep in the heart of Fayoum’s Wadi El Rayan protectorate, you can find many unique landmarks, from Egypt’s largest natural waterfalls to the massive lakes that many hundreds of species of migratory birds use as a rest stop. You will also be able to find Remal El Rayan, a glamping experience designed by SIA Design Studio that gives travellers an intimate view of Wadi El Rayan’s natural treasures while ensconcing them in complete comfort and style.
Founded by architect Shady El Rashidy in 2010, SIA Design Studio focuses on sustainable and environmental designs. Here, guests will stay in domes ripe with earthy tones, and dine with a gorgeous view of the nearby lake, surrounded by an endless ocean of dunes.
Making it sustainable was our first challenge. It had to adapt to wind circulation and provide thermal comfort.” El Rashidy says. These design considerations needed to ensure the comfort of its guests; they needed to be sheltered from heat, while allowing enough breeze to complement the captivating visuals. “We developed aerodynamic shapes that have a sturdy wooden structure, covered by a material that has high thermal insulation,” El Rashidy explains. “It is a geodesic dome, geometrical half-spheres and rectangular shapes that are angled to survive the weather and ultimately provide a dynamic tent-like experience.”
Once the overall concept was finalized, the studio started detailing the project to figure out how to utilize surrounding materials to stick to their sustainable creed. They collaborated with local laborers and artisans who enthusiastically participated in workshops to execute the design. “It was important to support the community,” El Rashidy says. “Our intention from the get-go was to develop the area and incorporate local craftsmanship to make the experience and aesthetic authentic.”
The domes are currently receiving their final touches, with the glamp set to open soon. They are spacious with separated private entrances, broad bathrooms embedded with Jacuzzis and earthy interior tones that are enriched by local fabrics covering everything from furniture to kilims. Built with stone and decorated with shells, these rooms present an experience that is rooted in nature. The desert, inside out.
“The authorities and protectorate supported us heavily and believed in our initiative. There is a clear push to emphasize Egypt’s natural beauty, we wanted to raise awareness of the desert, so that people visit,” El Rashidy adds. “When you arrive, there are no expectations, just explore and adapt to the desert environment.” The architect believes that they created spaces that allow people to experience the desert comfortably, without any hassle. Their design is a brilliant example of having an architectural sense that respects and eloquently blends with its environment, showcasing the endless potential for eco-tourism in Egypt.
No comments:
Post a Comment