A rich legacy of Egyptian temples, tombs and monuments
Thebes was the ruling seat of power in Egypt for 1,350 years. Luxor stands on the site of the ancient city, and today is a major holiday destination for anyone interested in Egyptian history. Among the relics of ancient Egypt are many signs of Luxor’s modern and prosperous tourist industry. The town is crowded with souvenir shops, hotels and restaurants, while the Nile, which runs through it, teems with feluccas and hotel ships.
Noisy streets resound with the cries of shop owners, horse-drawn carriages, taxi drivers and tour guides, all competing for holiday-makers’ business. Indeed, the action on Luxor’s streets is almost as exhilarating as the ancient architecture.
The temples of Luxor and Karnak are impressive structures within the town, but the biggest attractions lie across the river. Here, the Tombs of the Nobles, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens relate the fascinating story of the resting places of Egyptian royalty. You must get up early to see some of these ancient tombs, as only a limited number of tickets are issued each day.
Other activities in Luxor – less majestic than the temples but popular nonetheless – include camel and donkey rides, and both day and sunset felucca trips along the Nile. Luxor is a good place to buy silver jewellery, sold in the market areas of the town, where you can also haggle for curios and souvenirs ranging from scarves, scarabs and spices to carpets.
Around half of Egyptian people are Islamic, and this is reflected in the scarcity of bars in Luxor. The Metropolitan Café is an expensive bar popular with holiday-makers, and the King's Head offers traditional English pub entertainment 24 hours a day. Alternatively, the sound and light show at the Karnak Temple is breathtaking, and the night bazaar is well worth a visit. Most Luxor restaurants are in the centre of the town. It’s worth sampling delicious local Egyptian dishes such as kebabs and kushari, but a range of international cuisine is available.
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