Terms of stay.

These terms apply to every reservation made through our website, by phone/WhatsApp, by email, or via a third-party booking platform (where compatible with that platform's own terms).

01The booking contract

A booking becomes a binding contract between you (the "guest") and us (Heissa Artie) when:

• You complete the booking form on our website, or
• We send you a written confirmation by email or WhatsApp acknowledging your booking, or
• A third-party platform (Booking.com, Airbnb, etc.) sends a confirmed reservation to us

The contract is between the guest who completed the booking (the lead guest) and Heissa Artie. The lead guest is responsible for the conduct of all other guests staying under that booking and for ensuring all guests comply with these terms and our house policies.

02Payment terms

• Direct bookings: No deposit required. Full payment is due at check-out.
• Third-party bookings: follow the payment rules of that platform. If they collect prepayment we'll honor it; if not, payment is due at check-out.
• Group bookings (4+ rooms): may require a 30% deposit at booking, with the balance due at check-out. Confirmed in writing case by case.
• Currencies accepted: EGP (Egyptian Pound), USD, EUR. Conversion is at the official daily rate.
• Payment methods: Cash, credit card (Visa, Mastercard), bank transfer. Some methods may incur a small processing fee, which is disclosed before payment.
• Receipts: A printed or PDF receipt is provided at check-out for every booking.

03Rates & what they include

Room rates as quoted on our website include:

• Accommodation for the number of guests booked
• Full breakfast each morning
• Motorboat transfer between Aswan corniche and our dock (both ways)
• Wi-Fi, fresh drinking water, daily housekeeping
• All applicable Egyptian taxes and service charges

Not included: Lunch and dinner (available at extra charge), experiences (felucca, cooking class, day trips), spa or massage, alcohol, and any third-party charges (airport transfer, taxi, etc.).

Pricing changes: Once a booking is confirmed, the rate is locked. We reserve the right to change published rates for new bookings at any time. Rates may also be different on third-party platforms.

04Room occupancy

• Each room is booked for a specific number of guests (1, 2, or 3 depending on configuration). The number is shown at the time of booking.
• Adding additional guests beyond the booked occupancy is not permitted unless agreed in writing in advance — extra-bed charges may apply.
• Children under 6 stay free in their parents' room subject to bed configuration. Children 6+ count as a regular guest.
• The lead guest must be 18 years or older. We don't accept bookings from unaccompanied minors.

05Check-in & identification

Egyptian law requires us to register every adult guest with local authorities. At check-in, every adult must present:

• Foreign guests: A valid passport.
• Egyptian guests: A valid national ID card.

We may photocopy or scan the document for our records. The data is used solely for guest registration and held according to our privacy policy.

06Cancellation & amendments

Our cancellation tiers are detailed in full on our cancellation policy page. In short:

• 7+ days before arrival: Free cancellation
• 3–6 days before arrival: 1 night charged
• 0–2 days, or no-show: Full booking charged

Booking amendments (date changes, room changes, guest changes) are accommodated free where possible. If amendments cross seasonal pricing, the rate is recalculated.

07Conduct & house policies

By staying with us, you agree to follow our house policies, which cover smoking, alcohol, quiet hours, visitors, and respect for the village and surrounding community.

We reserve the right to:

• Refuse entry or end a stay early in cases of serious or repeated breach of policies
• Charge for damages caused by guests, at the cost of repair or replacement (we always show the invoice)
• Ask outside visitors to leave the premises if they disrupt the experience for other guests

In the very rare cases where a stay is ended early due to a serious breach, no refund is given for the remaining nights.

08Liability

We take care of our guests, our building, and the experiences we run. That said, certain risks are inherent in travel and outdoor activity, and we ask you to acknowledge them:

• Personal belongings: Guests are responsible for their own valuables. We can offer a safe at reception on request. We are not liable for theft or loss of items left unattended in rooms or shared spaces.
• Felucca and water activities: Sailing, swimming in the Nile, and boat transfers carry inherent risks. Guests participate at their own risk. Children must be supervised at all times.
• Camel rides & desert excursions: Riding animals and walking in desert terrain carries inherent risk. We work with licensed local providers who carry their own insurance. We are not liable for accidents during third-party-operated experiences.
• Health: Heissa is a remote island. Basic first aid is available; for serious medical needs, the nearest hospital is in Aswan (~20 minutes by boat + car). We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers medical evacuation.
• The village: Heissa is a working community with sandy paths, low walls along the river, and uneven terrain. Guests walk in the village at their own risk.

09Force majeure

Neither party is liable for failure or delay in performing obligations under these terms when caused by events beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Acts of nature (floods, earthquakes, severe weather, including the Khamsin)
• Government actions (border closures, lockdowns, travel bans, embassy advisories)
• Power, water, or internet outages on the island
• Pandemic or public-health emergencies
• Civil disturbance, war, or strikes

In a force majeure event affecting your stay, we offer (in this order of preference): rescheduling at no charge, full refund, or a credit voucher valid for 24 months.

10Disputes & jurisdiction

These terms, and any dispute arising from your booking or stay, are governed by the laws of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Any legal proceeding will take place in the courts of Aswan governorate, Egypt.

Before any formal proceeding, both parties agree to attempt resolution by good-faith discussion — first by direct WhatsApp/email contact, then if needed by mediation. We've found that nearly every guest concern can be resolved this way, and we're committed to making things right where we can.

11Photo & review consent

From time to time, we photograph the guest house, the village, and (with consent) our guests for use on this website, social media, and marketing materials. You will not be photographed without your explicit permission, and we'll never use your name, image, or likeness without consent.

Reviews you write on third-party platforms (TripAdvisor, Google, Booking.com, Airbnb) are governed by those platforms' own terms — not ours.

12Modifications to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. Significant changes are emailed to recent and upcoming guests at least 30 days before they take effect. Past versions are kept on file and available on request.

For any booking made before a terms update, the version of the terms in effect at the time of booking applies — unless the change is required by law.