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Luxor

Once the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes, Luxor lies about 670 km south of Cairo and contains the greatest achievements of Egyptian architecture. Here in a sort of open-air museum that occupies both banks of the Nile is the highest construction of monuments in ancient Egypt. One cannot write about Luxor, without going back in history, for insights about this unique and dramatic city.

For centuries the capital of the Egyptian Kingdom at the height of its splendour, ancient Thebes was proverbially famous for its wealth. It is the city which Homer in the IX canto of the Iliad referred to as “Thebes of the hundred gates”. Its importance started to emerge appreciably from the 10th dynasty onwards, for both political and spiritual reasons, until finally it became the capital of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (1550 BC - 1070 BC) for 500 glorious years and remained the country’s spiritual center for much longer, a capital whose glory still glowed in the memories of classical writers a thousand years after its decline. The god Amun, part of the triad, which also included Mut and Khonsu, was worshipped here with great pomp. Here the booty of foreign wars, tributes, and taxes poured into the coffers of the 18th and 19th dynasty pharaohs, each of whom surpassed his predecessor in the construction of grandiose temples to the god, creating a concentration of monuments that rivals that of any imperial city before or since. It is hence quite understandable why this city was named “Al-Uqsur”, derived from the Arabic word “Al-Qusur”, which means “The Palaces” in Arabic.

The Nile divides the old Egyptian Capital in two, on the eastern bank lie the great Luxor and Karnak temples dedicated to Amun, whilst on the western bank in a narrow gorge stretches the necropolis with the famous Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, the tombs of nobles and dignitaries and the great funerary compounds. Thebes of the dead comprises splendid funerary temples and vast hypogea (underground chambers) dug from twisting canyons. For an unforgettable experience you can view these awe-inspiring monuments from a hot-air balloon. From Luxor you can take Nile cruises south to Aswan, visit the magnificent temples in Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Dendara and Abydos, take tours to the first Oasis in the Western Desert or head to Hurghada on the Red Sea. Luxor is a small town, ideal for walks - whether along the Nile promenade or through the innumerable little streets with their countless souvenir stands. Shopping is also something you shouldn’t miss here, with silver, gold, cotton goods, leather goods and spices among the best bargains to be had. Luxor has an international airport and is accessible from Cairo by buses or trains which run every day.

Luxor has attracted tourists and treasure hunters along its history, who camped in or around the tombs and temples, or stayed on board their sailing boats, and today with more tombs and temples uncovered, more tourists eager to visit them, more hotels needed to accommodate them, Luxor hosts numerous luxurious hotels and Nile cruises catering to every taste and offering tourists unforgettable experiences.