Last updated on April 10th, 2024
Hatshepsut Temple, Valley of the Kings, © CanStock Photo / MaxalTamor
Visit Luxor – East Bank of the Nile
- On the east bank of the Nile at Luxor, you will find the Temples of Karnak and its Precinct of Amun Re. Karnak is the largest religious complex ever built. Follow the Avenue of the Sphinx to the nearby Temple of Luxor.
- Also, the Luxor Museum is located on the east bank of the Nile.
Carved Columns at Karnak, Luxor
Visit Luxor – West Bank of the Nile
- The Valley of the Kings is located on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor. The valley contains tombs of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramses II were buried here. Nearby is the Valley of Queens. The Deir El Medina ruins are located on the west bank of the Nile too. The ruins were the living quarters of stonemasons and craftsmen, who built the temples and tombs. Also located on the west bank are the Temple of Hathor, the Habu Temple built in honor of Ramses III, the Colossi of Memnon stone statues and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. The Temple of Hatshepsut honors the female pharaoh known as the Splendor of Splendors.
Abu Simbel, © Can Stock Photo / gina_sanders
Visit Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is often an add-on when you visit Luxor, since it is more than 7 hours south of Luxor by vehicle.
The Egyptian government moved the gigantic sculptures of Abu Simbel, because flooding from the construction of the Aswan Dam was going to cover the site in the 1960s. Workers cut the stones of Abu Simbel into large blocks and reconstructed them in a new location safely above the waters line.
Visit Luxor – Hotels
- Iberotel Luxor
- Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa
- Pavillon Winter Luxor
Rameses I Valley of the Kings
Get to Luxor
Ever since the Egyptian revolution in 2011, tourism in all of Egypt has dropped by about 90%. Previously, guarded tour bus caravans made the 8 hour trip from Cairo to Luxor. The overnight sleeper train from Cairo has also lost popularity. The most common way to get to Luxor is a local flight from Cairo to Luxor International Airport. Some cruise ships offer excursions Safaga on the Red Sea. The bus tour trip from Safaga to Luxor takes 3.5 hours, one way.
Major cruise companies like Viking offer Nile cruises that cover Luxor and Abu Simbel. The cruises fly passengers from Cairo to Luxor. Once in Luxor, they offer the option to also fly to Abu Simbel. Local companies also cruise the Nile River between Luxor and the Aswan Dam in which case you can bus from Aswan to see Abu Simbel.
Kom Ombo Temple, Kom Ombo, © Can Stock Photo / donyanedomam
Visitor Luxor – Nearby Destinations
- Travel 2 hours south by vehicle to the Temple of Horus at Edfu and an additional 1.5 hours south to the Temple of Kom Ombo.
- Aswan Dam – Egypt constructed the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s, because of the need to control the flooding of the Nile. A few miles downstream is the Aswan Low Dam. The trip from Luxor to Aswan takes about 3 hours by vehicle. Stopping to see the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo will take much longer.
- Cruise down the Nile from Aswan to Luxor in a triangular sailed felucca and sleep on board under the stars.
Temple of Horus, Edfu, © Can Stock Photo / gina_sanders
Introduction to Luxor
Luxor is one of the premier archaeological sites of ancient Egypt, because of its ancient temples and tombs. The construction of tombs started in the 16th century BC and continued in the valley for 500 years. The site extends on both sides of the Nile River. The current day city of Luxor is set among the ruins.
Luxor Weather
The Luxor weather is a desert climate. Summer temperatures from June – August average about 95 F (34 C) and lows average about 70 F (22 C) at that time. The winter months from December – February have average highs are near 60 F (15 C) and lows are around 50 F (10 C). Rainfall is nonexistent in the summer and there are only traces of precipitation in the winter. Spring or fall are excellent times to visit Luxor, because the weather is comfortable.
Leave A Comment