The Luxor Temple was orignally built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II to honor the gods Amun, Mut and Chons (the Theban Triad). It was added to, however, over the centuries by Tutankhamun, Alexander the Great and many others. The Arabs also built a mosque on top of the burried temple of Luxor, when the excavation began and all the debris was removed to reveal the monumental temple, the authorities refused to destroy the mosque which now hangs on top of the temple as if in mid-air ! Excavation has been going on since 1885, and the Luxor Temple, which was completely burried is now fully revealed, incuding a part of the Avenue of Sphinxes which is 3 km long and at one time connected the Luxor and Karnak Temples.

Luxor Museum
Founded in 1975, the great Luxor Museum of Ancient Art is open daily from 9am to 1pm and 4 pm to 9pm. Admission costs 15LE (half for students and 10LE for a camera). The museum holds old and recent archeological finds from Luxor and Thebes. Its tresures include the gilt head of the cow-goddess Mehit-Weret, several funerary gifts found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, and an alabaster sculpture, discovered in 1967, of the crocodile god Sobek. Considered a must-see while in Luxor

From the Middle Kingdom onwards, the Temples of Karnak have been home to repeated attempts by successive kings, to make his the most magnificent temple. Each king would dissapprove of his ancestor’s contributions, try to improve them and make his own contributions in temples, reliefs and statues. Which means the Karnak was under construction for almost 2000 years, providing


us with a complete guide to the variety and evolution of Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture. Its most important builders were Tuthmosis I and III, Queen Hatshepsut, Amenhotep III, Ramses I and III, the kings of Bubastis and finally the Ptolmies. Again most probably a tour guide will take you through this magnificent temple. The Temples of Karnak are open daily from 7am to 5pm. Admission costs 15LE (half for students and 10LE for camera). Every evening there is a Sound and Light show which is a brilliant way to discover the Karnak Temples. The distance between Luxor and Karnak is only 3 km, you can take a horse-drawn carriage, take a taxi, it even makes an enjoyable walk. Some of the wonders of Karnak include the Temple of Ramses III, the Hypostyle Hall with its 134 sandstone columns, and the Sacred Lake. Because of the size, the Karnak Temples is preferably covered in two visits.

The Sound and Light Show
This show replays the entire history of ancient Thebes in a little less than an hour and a half. Quite similar, if not better than the one at the Pyramids of Giza. (It is not completely seated, you make a tour of the temples during the show). There are two shows each day, one at sunset (around 6:30pm) and the other at 8pm. The show costs around 15LE per person. The show during sunset is recommended.

Nubian Museum
To get to the ancient city of Thebes you need to cross the Nile to the western bank (by ferry). Admission tickets to all tombs are sold at the western dock and not at the tombs themselves, be sure to get your tickets there. Some tombs may be closed for renevation without prior warning. When crossing over to the west bank, remember to bring a torch, lots of water, and plenty of change for tips. Don’t expect to finish all of the west bank in one day. (There are a few hotels on the west bank, if you wish to stay longer than a day). The tombs are open from 6am to 7pm daily. Bring a lot of money, you can pay up to 80$ in tickets for the tombs, and to take photos you need to pay an additional 10LE. To get around on the west bank you can either walk (not if its hot), hire a taxi, or rent a bike

The Valley of the Kings
This valley is in honor of the local goddess, Mertsigir (“she who loves silence”). It houses the tombs of almost all pharaohs from the 18th to the 20th dynasty. Tuthmosis I was the first Pharaoh to be burried in the valley. Various attempts have been made to protect the tombs from theft, nevertheless, most of the tombs where robbed within a few years of burial.

64 tombs have been discovered at the Valley of the Kings, 10 of which should not be missed. Tuthmosis III, Amenhotep II, Tutankhamun, Horembeb, Ramses I, III, IV, and IX, Seti I, and Merneptah .

The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
From the Valley of the Kings you need to hike the steep path over the hills to reach the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. You will need water and good shoes to do this 45 minute walk to the area know as El Deir El Bahri. You might be able to get a donkey to take you up.The Temple emerges from the hillside as if carved by nature. Hatshepsut was murdered by her nephew and stepson Tuthmosis III, and the first thing he did was to replace her name with his in most of the temples and monuments, her mummy was also never found. Definitely a striking monument, this architectural marvel should not be missed. An interesting discovery is that the axis of this temple is exactly alligned with the axis of the Karnak Temple on the other side of the Nile. One of the many signs of pharaonic brilliance.