Luxor

Discover Egypt’s rich history

Luxor brashly but accurately claims to be Egypt’s greatest and most-visited tourist attraction.  Visitors have been journeying to discover Egypt’s unique history since the times of the Greek and Roman empires.  The city is built on the ancient site of Thebes, which has been largely preserved since the Egyptians were the most advanced civilisation on the planet.

The city is split into three distinct areas, namely Luxor City, Karnak and the West Bank.  In the City of Luxor you will discover the magnificent temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile, designed by Amenophis III and built between 1408 and 1300BC.

The complex consists of six temples, and was used as the seat of government in the area during Roman times.  Also worth a perusal are the Mummification Museum where you can learn all about the mummifying process, and Luxor Museum, where many of the relics of the Theben area are preserved.

Karnak is north of Luxor City, an expansive area built over fifteen centuries that was the most important place of worship for the Egyptians for all that time.  It houses sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons and obelisks all erected in praise of the ancient Egyptian gods, and is thought to be the largest surviving religious complex in the world.

Across the Nile to the west of Luxor City is the necropolis of the ancient city of Thebes.  Here you can visit the awe-inspiring Valley of the Kings, where most of the pharaohs of the ancient Egyptian world were buried and monuments erected to them.

Not all the tombs are always open to the public though, so it is best to check if you hope to take a complete journey back to ancient times.  At the southern end of the necropolis you will find the Valley of the Queens, where the queens of ancient Egypt and their children were buried.  Make sure you also take a look at the Colossi of Memnon, two giant statues on the edge of the necropolis.

Getting to Luxor is usually done by air.  Luxor has a small but serviceable airport.  Another option is to fly into Cairo airport and take transport down to Luxor.  This is best done in an air-conditioned bus as Luxor is 400 miles south of Cairo.

Most of the accommodation in the area is in the City of Luxor.  The standard of accommodation ranges from luxury hotels to rustic guest houses.  It should be easy to acquire a decent hotel with a pool without it costing the earth.  There are also places to stay on the West Bank, but this area is considerably less built up.

The weather in all of Egypt between April and September can be unremittingly hot, so if you are not used to baking in the sun it is best you avoid Luxor during these times.  The best time to visit Luxor is perhaps during the months of October and March.  Even then you’ll meet blistering heat during the day, so make sure you keep water, sun protection, sunglasses and hats with you at all times, especially if visiting the tombs.

There are barely any places on the planet as untouched and preserved as the ancient city of Thebes.  If you want to see the world how it was centuries before you were born, then Luxor is as good a place as any to start.