Valley of the Kings
Image by prilfish
Between 30 and 40 of these Egyptian royal tombs are open for tourist viewing, depending on when you visit. Popular sites are: Ramesses IV, Ramesses IX, Ramesses VI and Merneptah. The tombs are decorated with lavish wall paintings and inscriptions which are incredible to see in person. Note that the tomb-guards will often wait or ask for money when you leave a tomb, or they will try and sell you some cardboard which can be used as a fan (the tombs can be quite stuffy inside.)The tomb of Ay, which has been suggested to have been originally built for Tutankhamun, requires an extra ticket and a police escort to accompany you as the tomb is quite a while away from the main site. It has far less visitors but not all taxi drivers will be willing to drive there as the terrain is rather rough, so it is best to ask your driver before buying.
Valley of the Queens
Image by fairlybouyant
Just like the Valley of the Kings, this is where many ancient Egyptian queens and their children were laid to rest. There is a supposed total of 70 tombs in the area. The hugely famous tomb of Queen Nefertiti is currently closed, but there are many other tombs still open which are very much worth a visit.
The Temple of Karnak
Image by eviljohnius
This temple is not what is seems; it is actually a city of temples created over two thousand years ago for the Egyptian gods Amon, Mut and Khonsu. Inside is the Hypostyle Hall which is 54,000 square feet and contains 134 columns, making it the largest room in any religious building on earth.
Temple of Deir El-Bahri
Image by horaceblegg
This temple was built for the Queen Hatshepsut for her funeral, and stands today as one of ancient Egypt’s most distinct buildings. It is beautifully decorated and is a hit with the tourists. You can catch a tram/bus from the reception area to the building or walk (though in the heat most prefer to ride). Upon exiting you will be sent through a marketplace area where you can buy all kinds of items – just be prepared to have your personal space invaded as the area is quite thin and long.
Temple of Luxor
Image by Argenberg
This temple was built by King Ramesses II and King Amenhotep III in order to celebrate the Festival of the goddess Opet. At night it is lovely to take a stroll past the temple as it is lit up brightly and the temperatures are much cooler outside.
Deir el-Medina
Image by isawnyu
The Artisan Village is nearby central Luxor and is the site in which craftspeople who decorated the tombs of Kings once lived. Here you can see what is left of the village and also visit two tombs of the workers.
Hotels
Luxor is home to many wonderful 5-star hotels, including the Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Hotel which is situated on a beautiful private island and boasts great views over the river Nile. It has three restaurants (French, Italian and a barbecue) and three pools, one of which is an infinity pool that looks out onto the Nile. Another option is the Sonesta St George Hotel, located just few minutes away from the Luxor museum and temple. This hotel also has three restaurants, (Middle Eastern, Japanese and Italian food is offered, as well as Arabian tea and a shishah café) and a pool with a view of the Nile.
