Luxor is a real pearl of Egypt..A small town on the right bank of the Nile, located 500 km south of Cairo, was once the famous capital of Ancient Egypt .This is a world center of archeology, and in the world there is no other city where such a huge number of ancient monuments would be concentrated .The honorary status of the "pearl" is confirmed every day - countless multitude of tourist buses arriving here from all the famous resorts of the country and cruise ships cruising the Nile .Alas, but where many tourists - a lot of those who consider it their duty to profit at their expense .Be ready for this and do not expect that the hand of help offered to you when you leave the boat will not turn in the very near future by asking for $ ±.However, if you do not pay attention to such trifles as importunate traders or beggars, then Luxor will certainly impress you - in fact the beauty of this ancient city was admired for a thousand years BC .Only, going on a trip, do not forget about clothes with long sleeves, a hat and a water bottle .The sun here is merciless, and there is almost nowhere to hide,.
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How to get
Luxor can be reached by bus from Hurghada, Makadi, Safaga or El Gouna. The journey takes 4-5 hours. From Sharm el-Sheikh, you can get here only by plane. EgyptAir (Corniche el-Nil; 8: 00-20: 00) makes regular flights from Luxor to Cairo (E £ 714, en route 1 hour and 5 minutes) and Aswan (E £ 360, 40 minutes), and three times per week flies to Sharm el-Sheikh (E £ 537, 1 hour and 5 minutes).
By bus from Cairo (85 pounds, 11 hours en route, 2 departures per day), Hurghada (30 pounds, 5 hours), Dahab (110 pounds, 16 hours), Sharm El Sheikh (100 pounds, 15 hours), Port Said (£ 70) .But this is not the most comfortable mode of transport, which runs to Luxor .From Cairo, it is better to go by night train, the cost of one-way travel in a compartment for one $ 75, for two - about $ 100, breakfast included .Also it is worth using the train if you want to get to Luxor from Ausan (three times a day, 20-30 pounds, en route 3 hours, stops at Edfu, Kom Ombo) .The railway station (Midan al-Mahatta) is located almost in the center of the city .
During the season (October to May), an entire cruise ship cruise arrives in Luxor, which cruise along the Nile between Aswan, Kom Ombo, Cairo and so on. The cost of cruises starts from about $ 50 per night (type of food - full board).
The climate of Luxor is
Clearly +28 ° С in the afternoon +15 ° С at night ° С water |
Clearly +28 ° С in the afternoon +16 ° С at night ° С water |
Clearly +25 ° С in the afternoon +16 ° С at night ° С water |
| The weather in Luxor for 10 days | ||
| Average monthly temperature, ° C | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| in the daytime | + 23 | + 25 | + 27 | + 35 | + 39 | + 41 | + 41 | + 40 | + 38 | + 35 | + 28 | + 24 |
| night | + 5 | + 7 | + 10 | + 16 | + 20 | + 22 | + 23 | + 23 | + 21 | + 17 | + 11 | + 7 |
Transport
The airport can be reached by taxi, it is only 7 km east of the city, the fare from the East Bank is 25 pounds, the West - 50 pounds. There are no public buses from the city center to the airport.
Minibuses to the bus station (Sharia al-Karnak) cost 5 pounds, depart from the Horus hotel near Luxor Temple; a taxi on the same route will cost 25 pounds.
From one bank of the river to another one can get on regular flights of bali ferries. The stop on the East Bank is in front of the Luxor Temple, in the West - near a dusty parking lot. The fare is 1 pound one way. Private feluins take at least 5 pounds for the same trip.
Another type of transport in the city - a bicycle - will suit only the most hardy (heat and dust affect). Approximately 6 pounds per hour, you can find a good "iron horse" at the rental point at the hotel Nour Al-Gurna.
Shopping and Markets
In Luxor there are two nice markets, it's worth to visit each, because they are completely different from each other. One is an air-conditioned shopping complex with two lines full of shops. Here you can "shop around" to those who prefer comfort and coolness to bright east bargaining.
The second - the oldest in the city - is located immediately on several streets near the Luxor Temple .Almost all of them are pedestrian, so walking, "shooting eyes" and looking at the wallet here is a real pleasure..From the sun save only wooden floors, from the crook and overstating prices - bargaining .Traditional tea, a comfortable chair and a long conversation on the topic "Well, how can I lower your price, I already give it almost in vain" is always available $ $ .They say that real prices start to "get out" to the surface in no way before 5-10 minutes of exhortations, threats to leave, a slobber for low prices from a neighbor and such tricks .However, it's worth it: what originally cost 120 pounds, can easily turn into 70 .
Book popular Luxor hotels at the best prices
| Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island from 5 294 rubles Luxor Awameya Road, Kings Island | Steigenberger Nile Palace - Convention Center from 3,509 rubles Luxor Khaled Ben Walid St | Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa from 12 311 rubles Luxor El Karnak El Gadid St. |
| Iberotel Luxor from 1,847 rubles Luxor Khaled Ibn El Waleed Street, East Bank | Al Moudira Hotel from 12 619 rubles Luxor Hager Al Dabbeya, West Bank | Eatabe Luxor Hotel from 1 970 rubles Luxor Cornish El Nil, East Bank |
| Lotus Luxor Hotel from 2 155 rubles Luxor Khalid Ibn Walid, Corniche El Nil, East Bank | Sunset Hotel Luxor from 862 rubles Luxor Ali Ibn Abi Taleb Street, from Khaled Ibn Al Walid Street | El Gezira Garden Hotel Luxor from 1,724 rubles Luxor Gezira El Bairat, West bank |
| Cleopatra Hotel Luxor from 1 108 rubles Luxor Gezira El Bairat, West Bank | Merryland Hotel from 616 rubles Luxor Nefertiti Street, East Bank | Abu Simbel Hotel Luxor from 431 rubles Luxor Mohamed Farid Street, Downtown Luxor |
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Luxor
Since the city is on the banks of the Nile, its attractions can easily be divided into the right bank - it is "City of the Living", and the left one is "City of the Dead."
In the "City of the Living" there are world-famous Luxor and Karnak temples, once united by the alleys of the Sphinxes into a single ensemble. The most impressive place in the Karnak temple is the column hall of the pharaoh Seti I. It consists of 134 columns, each 16 m high, painted from the bottom to the top with colored bas-reliefs. On the southern side of the temple adjoins a small sacred lake, on the shore of which stands a huge granite beetle, which was considered sacred in Egypt.
Luxor Temple was erected in the 13th century BC with one of the most powerful and famous pharaohs - Ramses II. The temple stretches for a quarter of a mile along the Nile. Once there were six imposing statues near the entrance pylon. Now there are only three colossi, each height of 20 meters, which depict Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. One of the two granite obelisks survived. Another during Napoleon's campaign in Egypt was transported to Paris.
In the "City of the Dead" is the famous "Valley of the Pharaohs", the place of their burial (only about 40 tombs). It was here that the tomb of Tutankhamun was found.
Tombs are cut in the rocks, because they tried to hide as much as possible from an outsider's eyes. The entrances to the tombs were filled with large stones, immured, although this did not protect the tomb from ruin. All of them are built according to a similar plan: an inclined corridor up to 200 m long, steeply descending to a depth of 100 m and ending in three or four rooms. The walls and ceilings of the corridors and rooms are still covered with brightly colored drawings that tell of the life and deeds of the deceased.
Several other famous sights of Luxor - the temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the funeral temple in honor of the god Amon-Ra. Now from the temple there are only two statues of Amenhotep, which are called Memnon. These are two giant statues of 20-meter height, whose only feet are 2 m in length and 1 m in thickness.
Photos of Luxor (46)