What should i see in luxor

Our day in Luxor all started with an early morning wake up call towards the tail end of our Nile River cruise. But all of these incredible Egyptian destinations were just a taste test for all of the awesome things to do in Luxor Egypt. Even compared to some of the most awe-inspiring places to visit in Egypt, Luxor is in a world of its own. Once upon a time, what is now Luxor was once one of the greatest cities of the Middle and the New Kingdom. Generations of ancient pharaohs built up what is now one of the greatest network of tombs in the country.

From the massive pillars of the Karnak Temple to the mummified remains of the boy-king Tutankhamun, there are more places to visit in Luxor than seems possible for a city of less than half a million people. This majestic city offers everything that a traveler to Egypt could hope for. Modern-day Luxor is a mid-sized Egyptian city. It features offices, fast-food joints, and everything you would expect in a city booming with tourists. From 1, to 1, B. During ancient times it was deemed to be the house of the god Amun, whose temples can be found everywhere from the Siwa Oasis to Cairo.

And the place they chose was the epic tomb network known as the Valley of the Kings. But the Valley is just one of the many things to do in Luxor Egypt. The popularity of the kings led to even more Luxor temples and tombs, including the popular Karnak and Luxor temples, the Valley of the Queens, and the temple of the King Queen Hatshepsut. Luxor is divided into two areas divided by the Nile River. These include the Valley of the Kings, the tomb of Queen Nefertari, and more.

But no matter how you plan your Luxor itinerary, keep a level head. Luxor has some of the most aggressive vendors in the country. Check out our Egypt guide to learn how best to deal with them. Possibly the greatest treasure in the Egyptian city of Luxor is the Valley of the Kings. During our visit to Luxor, this was our first stop. The Valley of the Kings houses the network burial chambers for dozens of Egyptian kings.

There are 63 tombs within the Valley of the Kings, many of which are adorned with intricate paintings. The Valley of the Kings is often item number one on a Luxor bucket list. All of its treasures and the body of its pharaoh were still inside.

A ticket to the Valley of the Kings includes entry into three tombs. The tombs were built over the lifetime of the kings that they held. Therefore, not all of the tombs are as spectacular as the next.

In my opinion, the Temple of Deir al-Bahri offers the biggest initial visual impact among all of the things to do in Luxor Egypt. You arrive via a street lined with sphinxes to the multi-story, columned temple.

The magnificence wears off a bit as you explore, what was once a grand temple to a fascinating woman. Much of the internal artwork has succumbed to millennia of vandalism. But the architecture is still breathtaking. And amongst the worn paintings there are glimpses of the majesty that the paintings inside once held.

Hatshepsut gained prominence as one of only a handful of female pharaohs throughout the Egyptian empire. In fact, she is often known as the Queen King. Sprinkled amongst the golden sandstone structure are depictions of her expeditions into the African Kingdom of Punt, massive statues, reliefs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions.

Visitors who play close attention will also notice that in much of the artwork, Queen Hatshepsut is depicted as a male. This includes wearing a beard. This was to show her authority as a king of Egypt. For those spending just one day in Luxor Egypt, the Valley of the Queens is often overlooked in favor of more dramatic archaeological sites.

But for those with two days to spend in Luxor, this collection of nearly 80 tombs should be on your Luxor itinerary. This museum opened in and it contains artifacts that were found in the Luxor area, as well as artifacts from the tomb of King Tutankhamun.

A visit here typically lasts about one hour. This is a small, somewhat interesting museum about the mummification process. Not only can you see mummified people but there are also mummified cats, birds, and crocodiles.

A visit here typically lasts 30 minutes. For more information about the East Bank of Luxor, including detailed pricing information and hours, and how to plan your time, read our article Complete Guide to the East Bank. The list of things to do on the West Bank is very long.

The Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut top the list for many visitors but this side of the Nile River is literally a treasure trove of spectacular tombs and temples. A visit to the Valley of the Kings is not only one of the best things to do in Luxor, it is one of the best places to visit in all of Egypt. The Valley of the Kings is a royal burial ground for pharaohs from the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties the New Kingdom of Egypt.

Currently, eight tombs are included on the main ticket into the Valley of the Kings. Your entrance ticket will allow you to visit three of these tombs. If you want to see more than three tombs, you will have to purchase an additional ticket. There are three additional tombs that you can visit with an extra ticket. Here is the list with the additional price for each tomb. To help you plan your visit to the Valley of the Kings, we have two detailed articles I recommend reading:.

Complete Guide to the Valley of the Kings. Best Tombs to Visit in the Valley of the Kings. The Valley of the Queens was the burial site of the wives of the pharaohs. The tombs that you will see here are smaller and lack some of the grandeur of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, with one big exception. The tomb of Queen Nefertari is one of the most spectacular tombs that you can visit in Egypt.

The level of detail is amazing and the colors are more vibrant that what we saw in many tombs, temples, and pyramids in Egypt. If you want to get an idea of what the tombs looked like 3, years ago, put the tomb of Queen Nefertari on your list. See many more photos in our Photo Tour of the Tomb of Nefertari. This temple, with its three terraces and location in the cliffs of Deir el-Bahri, has a much different appearance than many other temples in Egypt.

It is dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut, one of the most powerful female rulers of ancient Egypt. These two statues greet visitors as they arrive on the West Bank of Luxor. From the parking lot, you can hop out and take a photo, or walk down to the statues for a closer view.

This huge temple complex is dedicated to Ramesses III. There are several courtyards, pylons, and peristyle halls, with inscribed reliefs depicting the defeat of the Sea People during the rule of Ramesses III.

The artisans who worked on the tombs in the Valley of the Kings lived here, in an ancient village in Deir el-Medina. Tombs were built here for some of the most prominent workers. Similar to the Valley of the Queens, these tombs are much smaller and less ornate that those in the Valley of the Kings.

In the Valley of the Nobles, there are numerous tombs to visit. Our guide recommended the tombs of Sennofer and Rekhmire, since these are two of the best tombs in the Valley of the Nobles.

The Ramesseum is mortuary temple dedicated to the great Ramesses II. At one time, an enormous statue of Ramesses II stood here, with a height of approximately 20 meters. However, it has fallen over and now lays on the ground, in several large pieces. This temple was begun by Seti I and it is dedicated to Amun-Re. The place where you rent it from should provide you with a locker. All Luxor is completely flat, except for going to the Valley of the Kings, which is located on the top of a hill.

Thank you so much for this detailed information! My husband and I followed your advice on the West Bank and we had an amazing time. Just wanted to let you know our experience as it may help others as well. It was too hot for a bike ride so we decided to negotiate a private taxi instead. He was excellent and I would highly recommend others to use him too.

His number is: At the Tombs of the Nobles the guard walked around the tomb with us and gave us explanations and also provided additional light using a mirror to reflect the sun.

In exchange we gave him a small tip. We were not disappointed. Do you know what kind of student cards are accepted? My family will visit Luxor this November.

We are 6 people 3 college students and one high school student and we all have student IDs issued by our schools. Can we use these for the discounts or do we all need to order ISIC cards? Egypt was always on my bucket list, even before traveling as an adult. Love the pictures and info. Hi Joan, great information you put together here. Bookings can be made online or at a Go Bus Station. Hey man, my name is Lukas. Really like most of it a lot.

Thanks for the work! I am in Egypt now and would like to inform you that the prices on the west bank have again gone up. Ill send you some pictures for you that show the actual prices dating I visited the Habu temple as you suggested and that turned out to be a really good recommendation.

I was totally alone at the Seti I after that, but for me the Habu temple would have been enough to see to be honest and I wouldnt recommend Seti I as a highlight.

The entrance to the valley of kings is still the same taking pictures or free without problem , but actually quite a lot of the tombs are closed dont know if that was also the case when you visited. I followed your recommendations and visited the Ramses IV, which was great, and Merenptah, which was okay.

I was totally alone there without any other visitor. Getting there late around 3pm worked fine for me. So if someone is short on time, on bicycle you can easily see the valley of kings, the Habu temple and the karnak temple in a single day and see some of the best Luxor has to offer. Thanks again and hear from you soon. Thanks for sharing such an informative and useful post. Actually although I am an Egyptian but I always find day and half day tours when arranged by budget hostels cheaper, because you simply split the transportation costs with others.

But I really liked your post and specifically the historical background of the temples. Hi and thanks for this informative post!

Thanks again! Take care. Thanks for this post, very useful! I highly recommend our driver Hamdy, very friendly and honest, and he speaks good english. Your email address will not be published. Notify me when new comments are added. How to visit Luxor independently, in 2 days. Joan Torres 58 Comments Last updated on September 14, So, what should you visit and how can you avoid the tour groups?

You can additionally buy a photo ticket for EGP which will allow you to take photos inside the tombs. Previous to this, it was not allowed to take pictures unless you bribed the guard.

However, many people do take photos without this permit. Start planning and booking your trip. For booking accommodation Use Booking. Joan Torres. From Eritrea to Sudan, Syria, and Pakistan, Joan Torres has been traveling to some of the most off the beaten track destinations on Earth since You may also enjoy. The complex is not built to a single unified plan. Instead, it represents the building activity of many successive rulers, who vied with one another in adding to and adorning this great national sanctuary, which became the most important of Egypt's temples during the New Kingdom.

Temple of Karnak. All the monuments here are built on a gigantic scale, reducing visitors to ant-like proportions as they gaze up at mighty columns and colossal statuary.

Even if you're short on time, don't scrimp on your visit here. You need at least three hours to try and make sense of the entire complex. You can easily walk to Karnak from downtown along the Nile-side Corniche road, although due to the heat most people take a taxi. If you're short on time, plenty of tours are offered that whip you around the highlights of Karnak.

This half-day tour visits these ancient sites with an Egyptologist. Hidden between the rocky escarpments of Luxor's west bank, the Valley of the Kings was the final resting place for the kings of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties. Covered in intricately detailed, vibrant wall-paintings, the tombs are normally every visitor's number-one stop on a West Bank visit.

Since it was believed that the dead, accompanied by the sun god or perhaps having become one with the sun god sailed through the underworld at night in a boat, the walls of the tombs were adorned with texts and scenes depicting this voyage and giving the dead instruction on its course.

Valley of the Kings. Within the valley are 63 tombs, which are a roll-call of famous names of Egyptian history, including the famous boy-king Tutankhamun. The tombs are open on a rotation system to preserve the paintings as much as possible from the damage caused by humidity.

Head here first thing in the morning the site opens at 6am to see them completely without the crowds. Ballooning at sunrise in Luxor. Early birds willing to roll out of bed while it's still dark are rewarded with a bird's-eye view of the West Bank on a dawn hot-air balloon ride.

Balloon rides here take off just after sunrise and float over the West Bank, with its green farming fields tucked between the barren escarpments, viewing the area's temples and tomb sites from high above. Flight time is usually around 45 minutes , though expect the hot-air balloon tour experience to take around three hours from pickup at your hotel to being dropped back there.

There are a variety of operators in town. Balloon group tours generally use larger baskets taking around 24 passengers plus pilot. Luxor Temple. Presiding over the modern downtown district, Luxor Temple is an ode to the changing face of Egypt through the centuries. Built first by Amenophis III on the site of an earlier sandstone temple , it was known as "the southern harem of Amun" and was dedicated to Amun, his consort Mut, and their son the moon god Khons.

Like all Egyptian temples, it comprises the chapels of the deities, with their vestibules and subsidiary chambers; a large Hypostyle Hall ; and an open Peristyle Court , which was approached from the north by a great colonnade. The temple was added to and changed by a parade of pharaohs, including Amenophis IV who obliterated all references to the god Amun within the temple and added the Sanctuary of the god Aten , Tutankhamun who had the walls of the colonnade embellished with reliefs and in turn destroyed the Temple of the Aten , Seti I who restored the reliefs of Amun , and Ramses II who extended the temple significantly, adding a new colonnaded court at the north end.

During the Christian era, the temple underwent a transformation into a church, while in the Islamic period, the Mosque of Abu el-Haggag, dedicated to a revered holy man, was built inside the complex grounds. Luxor Temple Map Historical. The Temple of Deir el-Bahri is magnificently situated on the West Bank, at the foot of the sheer cliffs fringing the desert hills, the light-colored, almost white, sandstone of the temple standing out prominently against the golden yellow to light brown rocks behind.

The temple complex is laid out on three terraces rising from the plain, linked by ramps, which divide it into a northern and a southern half. Along the west side of each terrace is a raised colonnade. The terraces were hewn out of the eastern slopes of the hills, with retaining walls of the finest sandstone along the sides and to the rear. The temple itself was also partly hewn from the rock. Inside, the complex is richly adorned with statues, reliefs, and inscriptions.

Note how Queen Hatshepsut had herself represented with the attributes of a male pharaoh beard and short apron to demonstrate that she possessed all the authority of a king. Deir el-Bahri Map Historical. Feluccas on the Nile. If you've had your fill of temples and tombs for the day, there is no better way to relax in Luxor than to take a felucca ride to Banana Island. Sailing the five kilometers upriver from Luxor to this tiny palm-shaded island is the perfect chilled-out contrast to a dusty day exploring the Pharaonic treasures of the West and East Bank.

You'll have no problems chartering a felucca. Boat captains tout for customers all along the Nile-side Corniche Road in downtown Luxor. Boat rides are normally charged by the hour. Bank on a return Banana Island felucca taking around three hours. Felucca rides are all about simply sitting back to watch the Nile-side views as the boat captain raises the sail and you slide up the river. Medinet Habu heiroglyphs. With the famous Valley of the Kings and Temple of Deir al-Bahri the main attractions, Medinet Habu often gets overlooked on a West Bank trip, but this is one of Egypt's most beautifully decorated temples and should be on everyone's West Bank hit list.

The complex consists of a small, older temple built during the 18th dynasty and enlarged in the Late Period, and the great Temple of Ramses III, associated with a royal palace, which was surrounded by a battlemented enclosure wall four meters high.

The main temple area was built exactly on the model of the Ramesseum and, like the Ramesseum, was dedicated to Amun. The reliefs here are some of the best you'll see on the West Bank. Medinet Habu Map Historical.