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Al Uqsur is the main travel destination in Egypt's Nile Valley region, and travelers usually visit Al Uqsur to enjoy some great ruins, temples, and archaeology. Staying over at least a day or two in Al Uqsur is really worthwhile if you're traveling through Egypt. Al Uqsur's most well-known attractions include the Al-Karnak (Temple of Karnak at Luxor) and Valley of the Kings at Luxor. There's a lot more great stuff to see and do in Al Uqsur, so be sure check out this Al Uqsur travel guide in more detail.
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021213Whats a trusted website to book a Nile Cruise?
6143On the 14th of september i am going on vacation for one week to Luxor (Egypt). All tips are welcome. Thanks.
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050232The Valley of the Kings (VoK) is a must-visit. By now, you probably know what to expect here - pharaonic tombs to your heart's content. A few practical tips on visiting VoK: 1) Best time to visit would be early afternoon (around 1-2 pm) when most tourists wouldn't want to venture under soaring temps. Suicidal? Not really. That would be the time when tombs have least number of visitors, when you can have them all to yourself, like me. Don't fret, there are shaded areas and the tombs are well ventilated inside-actually felt cooler inside the tombs. 2) Take some time to view the 3D fiberglass model of the site at the entrance - this gives a feel of the lay of the land, as well as clues on what to expect, and help you plan which tombs would be most fun to view. 3) Rethink plan to see Tutankhamun's tomb - most of the artifacts had been moved to the Egyptian Museum, so the empty tomb may not justify the extra fees , which you pay on top of the standard EGP 70 fee (good for 3 tombs). 4) Don't miss Tuthmosis III's tomb - one the earliest to be built, it's the least accessible, and the most fun to visit-you climb a steep hill, cross a steep ravine to the entrance, from where you descend several meters below ground, crossing a deep shaft built to entrap ancient robbers. Sounds complicated? Try it yourself and you'll know what I mean. Warning: not for the faint of heart! 5) Forget what guidebooks say about bringing water - in this most tourism-corrupted town in the world, price of bottled water should be pretty much the same everywhere. Bringing water would not only be cumbersome, water would also be useless after being exposed to the sun. You can buy water at the stores located beside the main visitors' area at the entrance. 6) Respect regulations on taking photos - being alone inside the tombs, I could have switched to my shutter-happy mode, but chose not to (taking pictures inside is not allowed). The paintings are in a delicate condition and any measure to preserve them should be encouraged. Happy tomb viewing!
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050232Karnak Temple is not really a "temple", but a complex of numerous temples. So large, that we took one whole day to wonder around it, exploring different sites and little nooks, where no groups were taken… First impression of Karnak Temple – huge mess. That used to be a site of ancient capital of Egypt, so every king considered it to be a question of honour to add something to Karnak’s complex, so that he will be remembered in generations. Sometimes that meant that some of the old buildings got refurbished with the new wall inscriptions on top of the old ones or even new layer of stone bricks added around the old wall to cover up previous king’s name with the current one. Very naughty indeed…however, the Karnak still remains the biggest temple site in Egypt and requires lots of time for exploration of all its wonders. You can easy spend whole day in Karnak, just take care of the water. In a midday heat there is always a nice place under the palm trees by the sacred lake. a little snacks cafe is there as well, though we didn't try it. It is easy to follow few different groups, while you there - you will get the picture of what is where. I would reccomend to go there on your own, as no organised tour will give you all the time you needed for this jewel of the Thebes. Try to sneak off to the side temples. We had an excellent opportunity to explore Temple of Khosnu - It stands off the beaten touristy path and was a nice change from the overcrowded centre. it is located in the corner of karnak complex and has two big hypostyle halls and little sanctuaries on each side of them and a little baboon's statues, hiding in the niches...The pictures on the walls – mainly about the battles between Horus and Seth (hmmm…I don’t know why, maybe because Thoth, related to the Khonsu, has been a mediator between them?) In any case, it was a little gem well worth a visit.
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050232The Luxor Museum is lilliputian when compared to the humongous Egyptian Museum in Cairo. But what is lacks in size, it easily makes up for it in presentation and quality. The exhibits are carefully and professionally done by the people behind New York's Brooklyn Museum - well-chosen, comprehensively labeled and meticulously arranged. Easily, the star attractions are the mummies of pharaohs Ahmose, founder of the New Kingdom, and of Ramses I. Bathed in soft lighting within darkened interiors, the mummies in their glass niches project an eerie but mysterious aura. Looking at Ramses I's mummy (have a pen light ready), one could still see his short, curly hair covering portions of his head. It's amazing to think this pharaoh pre-dates Jesus by nearly 1,300 years! Incredible. The other interesting exhibits include the section on Egyptian military technology which should make every military enthusiat's mouth water. I've always been fascinated by chariots and seeing a real one (Tutankhamun's hunting chariot) made my day. At first, I thought the fee of EGP 70 - more expensive than Egyptian Museum's EGP 50 - was too steep an entrance fee. Overall, it was worth it. I've learned so much from Luxor Museum than from the Egyptian Museum. Before proceeding to the main gallery, stop by the mini-theater at the entrance for a brief presentation on Thebes - it's a bit cheesy but it brings you into the right mood for what could lies ahead - a peek into the glory of ancient Egypt. During summer, the museum is open from 9am-1pm and from 4pm-10pm. Photos not allowed inside.
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