Luxor Travel Guide

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Luxor Travel Guide

The ancient city of Luxor "the exhibition of living history": Luxor is one of the most important cities of ancient and modern Egypt. The city of Luxor alone has one-third of the world's monuments. Read more here about ancient and modern Luxor ...

History Of Luxor City

Ancient Thebes

Modern Day Luxor

Things to do in Luxor

History Of Luxor City:

Luxor is a city of many names. The ancient Egyptians called it Waset, meaning the City of the Sceptre. When the Greeks came, they called it Thebes. Today it is the modern city of Luxor, from the Arabic al-ʾuqṣur (الأقصر) meaning "the palaces". This enchanting city is located right along the great Nile River, about 500 kilometers south of the modern Egyptian capital, Cairo. Luxor is the best place to learn about ancient Egypt. Walking along the ruins is like stepping back 3,000 years in time.

Ancient Thebes:

The Golden Age of Thebes was during the Egyptian New Kingdom (1549—1069 BC). It served as the capital of the Egyptian dominion and boasted a population of over a million people. The great military successes of the pharaohs of this time made the Egyptian kingdom very wealthy. Their influence expanded south into Nubia, west along the Mediterranean, and east into modern-day Syria. The size, population, and wealth of this great kingdom allowed the pharaohs to commission massive building projects and leave a legacy. The most important thing for an ancient Egyptian was to be remembered for eternity. What better way for these pharaohs to be immortalized than to create vast monuments to themselves.

The ancient Egyptians worshipped many gods. The local god of Thebes was called Amon. With the rise of Thebes as the foremost city of Egypt, Amon rose in importance as well and became linked to the sun god Ra. He became the 'king of gods' Amon-Ra. Amon-Ra was one of the most important gods in Egyptian mythology. Even after Thebes began to decline, it remained the religious capital until the Greek period. The most famous temple to Amon-Ra is the temple at Karnak. It was by far the most important temple in the Egyptian kingdom until the ancient religion fell away.

Modern Day Luxor:

Today, Luxor has been given the nickname, “the world’s greatest open-air museum”. This is thanks to the ancient pharaohs’ efforts to immortalize themselves. Both sides of the Nile are covered in the remains of temples and funerary complexes. The modern city was built up right along with these ruins. It creates an interesting mix of old and new that can only be found in Luxor.

This is most evident in the areas of Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple Complex. Their ancient stone architecture sits next to sleek modern construction, creating beautiful contrast. Additionally, the area around Luxor and the opposite bank of the river are dotted with a wealth of other temples and tombs. It would several days to explore all of the archeological sites in the area. At each site sits a wealth of knowledge about the ancient Egyptians and their world.

It is easiest to divide the sites around Luxor into two categories—those on the East Bank of the Nile and those on the West Bank. This division would have suited the ancient Egyptians as well since to them the East Bank was the land of the living, where the sun rose and people thrived, and the West Bank was the land of the dead, where the sunset and people journeyed into the afterlife. Luxor and the remains of ancient Thebes are located on the East Bank along with the temple complexes that were used to observe the ancient religion in life. The sites on the West Bank are tombs and funerary temples, where Ancient Egyptians and their rulers were laid to rest begin their journey into the afterlife.

Things to do in Luxor:

It would take weeks to experience everything that Luxor has to offer. So what should you do? Here are a few recommendations to make sure you catch all of the highlights of Luxor.

One of the most unique experiences in Luxor taking a hot air balloon ride at sunrise over the city. See for yourself why Luxor is the world’s greatest open-air museum. It is also a great introduction to all of the things you can see in Luxor. The bird’s-eye view allows you to see an impressive size and significant planning that went into the complexes. The early morning light only adds to this stunning experience. It turns the temples beautiful colors as the light rises and intensifies in the east.

Next, go see these amazing ruins up close! Take a tour of east and west bank. We recommend spending a full day on each side. The main sites on the east bank are Karnak and Luxor Temples, dedicated to the god Amon, his wife, Mut, and their son Khonso. The west bank includes the Valley of the Kings, the Colossi of Memnon, and Hatshepsut Temple. The Valley of the Kings is where Howard Carter famously found King Tut’s unopened tomb. The Colossi of Memnon are two gigantic 59-foot statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and his wife. They were made famous in antiquity by a mysterious sound emitted from one of them each sunrise. The Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple is something really special. After sunset, the temple illuminated with an audio-visual show that explains how the temple was built and what life was like in ancient Egypt. The visual effects seem to bring the Temple back to life. You can’t leave Luxor without taking a day trip to Dendera and Abydos. These are two of the best preserved and most complete temples from ancient Egypt. Full color is still visible on the walls of these beautiful temples. Abydos is the burial location of the ancient god of the underworld. The temple was built by King Seti I, and completed by King Ramsess II. Dendera is a temple dedicated of Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love and joy.

Check the most amazing tours of Egypt in Luxor and Aswan onboard of river Nile cruises.

Luxor Travel Guide Highlights:

  • Madinet Habu
  • Deir Al Medinah (Workers’ Village)
  • The Ramesseum
  • Luxor Temple
  • Temple of Hatshepsut
  • The Tombs of the Nobles
  • Valley of the Kings
  • Valley of the Queens
  • Colossi of Memnon
  • Karnak Temple

LUXOR TOURS AND EXCURSIONS

Explore Luxor Tours countless adventures, start with the East bank tour visiting: Karnak TempleLuxor Temple, then enjoy West bank tour visiting: Valley Of The KingsHatshepsut Temple, the Collossi of Memnon, enjoy hot air balloon ride in the morning. Take in Nile Cruise from luxor to Aswan visiting: Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna while enjoying the beautiful view of the Nile along the way or spend a day in Cairo visiting: The Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren, Mykreinus, the Sphinx, the egyptian museum, old Cairo then go shopping in Khan El Khalili, or travel to Aswan visiting: Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk, the High Dam and Abu Simple Temples.

All these tours are sure to add something unforgettable on your tours in Luxor.

  • Luxor Air Balloon Ride

    Luxor air balloon ride is an amazing way to see world’s largest open air museum. Early pickup from your hotel will take you to the ballon over Luxor in the morning, a light breakfast and te...
    From USD 125
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  • Tour to Dendera and Abydos Temples

    Discover Luxor Tours while driving north from Luxor for a day to see two of the most complete temples in Egypt. Abydos temple and Hathor temple at Dendara may be the best preserved in Egypt with ...
    From USD 90
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  • Valley Of The Kings Tour

    The most popular tours in Luxor takes visitors to the West Bank, Valley of the Kings, the most magnificent burial ground the world has ever seen- the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut&nbs...
    From USD 60
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  • 4 Day Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel

    Unforgettable 4 days tour to main attractions of Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and many more. Feel free to join our trip and explore mystic Valley of the Kings, fantastic Temple of Hatshepsut, Abu Sim...
    From USD 900
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  • 8 Day Pyramids & Nile Cruise by Air

    Bask in the timeless majesty of ancient Egypt on an immersive journey through the land of the pharaohs, exploring its quintessential archaeological treasures with an expert tour guide, and cruise...
    From USD 1'900
    Book Now!
  • Luxor East And West Bank Tour

    See the most famous sites around Luxor on both sides of the river in one day. Visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East bank and then see the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple on t...
    From USD 140
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  • Hurghada Luxor Day Trip

    Day Tour to Luxor from Hurghada, Discover Luxor Tour From Hurghada to see Egypt’s ‘open-air museum’. See Karnak Temple on the east bank of the Nile, as well as Hatshepsut Temple...
    From USD 130
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  • Luxor Airport Transfers to Luxor Hotels & Nile Cruises

    We offer a private airport transfer service between Luxor International Airport and all locations in Luxor for clients who value comfort, safety, speed and efficiency whether traveling for b...
  • Tour to Karnak & Luxor Temples

    On the East bank of Luxor, most trips combine Karank and Luxor Temples in a half-day. Visit the great temples of Amun at Karnak, the largest...

FAQ

Q- IIs Luxor worth visiting? A-Luxor and Cairo are exceedingly different places and yes Luxor is well worth visiting. If you want to see iconic sites such as the Valley of the King's and Karnak Temple, then you have no choice.


Q-How many days do you need in Luxor? A-Two days- Luxor requires a minimum of 3 days IMO. There is so much to see and do so you will be on the go the whole time. I'd say the minimum time needed to visit Luxor is two days, but you can easily spend longer as there are so many sites, and it's worth taking the time to enjoy the atmosphere.


Q-How long is the train ride from Cairo to Luxor?A-Departs Cairo Ramses Station 10 hours.


Q-Is it safe to travel from Hurghada to Luxor?A- There is no FCO advice against travel to Cairo, Alexandria, the tourist areas along the Nile, and the Red Sea resorts of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada. The section of the country between the Nile and the Red Sea is also considered mostly safe.


Q-What can you buy in Luxor?A-Some of the best souvenirs to bargain for & buy in Luxor are Egyptian cotton, alabaster vases & other products from alabaster factories, mouldings and carvings of Pharaohs, queens & gods, glass scent bottles, leather, silver, gold to name a few.


Q-Is Aswan worth visiting? A-“Aswan itself: the town is worth a visit” ... With its great market, connection to Nubian people and culture, its easy cross Nile ferry trip and a great place to stay, Aswan is a much more enjoyable place than any other place in the world.


Q-How long is a Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan? A-The Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan takes 5 days and vice versa from Aswan to Luxor 4 days.