Sightseeing in Luxor - what to see. Complete travel guide

Luxor is a true treasure of Egypt. This ancient city is situated on the right bank of the Nile. Currently, this is a major center of archaeology. No other city in the world has so many landmarks of the ancient world as Luxor. That is why there is nothing strange in the fact that buses bring countless tourists from all Egyptian resorts to Luxor every year. This once again proves the status of the “treasure of the Nile”. Even scorching sun doesn’t stop tourists who are eager to see the beauty of this place and the remains of the ancient landmarks. It is incredible to see so many prehistoric attractions in one place.

In the past, the ancient Egyptian city of Waset existed on the land of modern Luxor. The Greeks called this city Thebes or “the city of the 100 gates” because Luxor was standing on the former capital of the Ancient Egypt – Thebes. The history of the old capital started in the 3rd century BC. Luxor became a major settlement yet in more than 2,000 BC. This is the time when pharaohs from the 11th Dynasty ruled in Egypt. A major period of prosperity and development started for this city in the 16th century BC.

When the Greek-Roman period started in the country and the capital was moved to Alexandria, Thebes didn’t lose its importance and remained one of the main cultural and religious centers of the Egyptian Kingdom. When the Arabs conquered the “treasure of the Nile”, the city got a new name – Luxor. During its long history, the city witnessed many important events in the timeline of the region. For example, Pharaoh Akhenaten was the first ruler who was encouraging Egyptians to worship only one god – Aton. In modern days, the river separates the city into “the city of the living” and “the abode of the dead”. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Do you want to see the biggest religious monument of the ancient times that has no analogs in the world? In the Egyptian city of Luxor, tourists are welcome to visit the Karnak Temple Complex. Besides the historic value, this temple has been preserving its unique look through the centuries. This religious monument differs from other notable attractions of Egypt – several pharaohs were building it. Moreover, several dynasties were engaged in the building of the Karnak Temple Complex. Building works started in the 16th century BC and lasted roughly one thousand and five hundred years.

Almost thirty pharaohs participated in the building of the complex. Each of them added a new temple, chapel or pylon. Steadily, Karnak turned into a large architectural complex that still amazes visitors with its gorgeousness. It consists of three large buildings and several smaller temples. The majority of the shrines are situated in the main territory. However, there are constructions outside the walls of the Karnak. Nowadays, tourists can visit an interesting museum here. Don’t forget to check out the sacred lake with the scarab beetle on the shore. According to legends, this insect can make innermost wishes come true.

In Luxor, tourists can visit a unique museum, the likes of which are not present anywhere else in the world. The collection of this museum is dedicated to the mummification process. The museum exhibits mummies of famous people, animals that lived in the Luxor area, fish, and even crocodiles. Visitors can examine a collection of instruments that were used in the mummification process, special ingredients that were essential for this ritual, and numerous items and amulets for the burial ceremonies. The museum’s building has a video hall and classrooms where visitors can listen to lectures about mummification. A visit to this museum is an exciting way to learn more about the process of mummification.

Besides historic attractions, Luxor is famous for its artisan shops. As a rule, tourists enjoy visiting the area where masters create beautiful items from stone. You will see how such materials as alabaster and granite turn into tableware and figurines. Some masters work with the malachite and marble. Flagons made by local craftsmen are so delicate and thin that it is possible to see candlelight through their walls. As expected, there are many figurines of cats – this animal is considered sacred in Egypt.

Tourists can reach Luxor by bus. As a rule, buses to this ancient city depart from Hurghada, Makadi, Safaga, and El Gouna. The journey time is usually four to five hours. Travelers in Sharm el-Sheikh can fly to Luxor. There are also flights to this Egyptian city from Cairo and Aswan. The time is transit is one hour and forty minutes respectively. Buses connect the capital of Egypt to the “treasure of the Nile”, but the ride is exhausting as it lasts roughly eleven hours. It is better to get on a train in this case.