Luxor
Earth : Africa : North Africa : Egypt : Upper Egypt : Luxor
Luxor (Arabic: أَلْأُقْصُر Al 'Uqṣur) the name of "Luxor" means "Palaces" and it is the premier travel destination in Upper (southern) Egypt and the Nile Valley. The dynastic and religious capital of Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom Egypt, Luxor has much for travellers to enjoy: vast temples, ancient royal tombs, spectacular desert and river scenery and a bustling modern life. DistrictsAlthough a relatively small town by Egyptian population standards, Luxor is quite extensive and is best divided up into several 'districts' or areas that group the main attractions on their respective sides of the river Nile:
UnderstandThe old capital of Egypt, Thebes, was on the West bank of the Nile. That is where most of the ruins and tombs are. The modern city of Luxor is on the East bank. That area has the train and bus stations, most of the hotels and restaurants, some museums, tourist shops and so on. Most visitors (and almost all tour groups) stay on the East bank and travel across for the tourist sites but, in recent years, there has been an increase in hotels on the West bank and many independent travellers stay there. ClimateLuxor has a hot-desert climate. The city is one of the driest, sunniest and hottest (during summertime) cities in the world. Rainfall doesn't occur every year, about 1mm on average. Luxor features cool winters with mild days, but cold nights, so that the average January temperature is 13.8°C (56.8°F). Lows during nighttime are around 5°C (41°F) and highs around noon are about 24°C (75°F), resulting to very large diurnal temperature variations. Even in the coldest nights, when the temperature is near freezing, during the day there may be temperatures up to 25°C (77°F). Summers are scorchingly hot with an average temperature in July of 32.3°C (90.1°F). During daytime temperatures exceed 40°C (104°F), but nights still remain pleasant (20-25°C or 68-77°F). The highest and lowest temperature ever recorded is 48.5°C (119.3°F) and -1°C (30°F) prespectively, while temperatures above 30°C (86°F) have occured in all months of the year and temperatures above 40°C (104°F), have occured from March to October. Get inBy planeVisitor visas are available on arrival to many foreign nationals, just after you enter the terminal building. (USD25 or equivalent, approximately EGP450, most major foreign currencies accepted.) Luxor International Airport (IATA: LXR) is a destination for flights on several European and Middle Eastern routes, as well as the main southern hub for domestic flights within Egypt. Internal flights (duration c. 1h) from Cairo to Luxor are maintained by Egyptair and cost about USD230 for a return trip ticket. Direct charters from Europe (London Gatwick, for example) are common in the winter high season. From the airport in Luxor, you will probably take a shuttle provided by your hotel. The Airport in Luxor is very small, and getting luggage off the belt is a challenge. EgyptAir also arranges day trips from Cairo which is an easy way for those who can stand long days to cover the main attractions of Luxor. Sharm el Sheikh also offers one day guided trips flying to Luxor. Taxis are in abundance everywhere for local transportation. A taxi from the airport into town (east coast) or backwards should cost between 50-100 EGP. Taxi to west coast is around 200 EGP (Mar 2019). Do not be fooled by the cartel of taxi drivers outside the doors to the airport. Keep walking until you find a taxi driver in his car and then negotiate. Half the people you think are taxi drivers are just touts, so don't waste your time negotiating. Inside the airport gate, they will ask for EGP250-300 in order to go, so just walk outside the gates and find a taxi on the streets. Do not let anybody get a hold of your luggage. Even when you go to put your bags in the car, another driver will likely take a hold of your bag and place it the final 6 inches and then demand a tip for putting your car away. Do not give him any. By trainFor those unwilling to purchase an expensive plane ticket, who have more time in which to travel and / or who wish to see more of the country, train travel to Luxor is a great and amazingly inexpensive option. Four different modes of train travel exist between Ramesses Station Cairo, Luxor and on to Aswan (some trains even start in Alexandria):
Tickets can be arranged through most travel agents in your city of departure for minimal commission. Otherwise, tickets can be purchased directly at Ramesses Station by proceeding through the chaos to Platform 11, where signs will point out the ticket booth. Tickets are best bought a couple of days in advance of travel, although the same day is often enough. The big exception to this rule is Egyptian holidays, when it is best to reserve a ticket at least a week in advance. Weekend travel (Thursday and Friday in Egypt) is the busiest time. Beware that the train schedule is likely to change at any given time making reservations difficult. If your train gets cancelled, they will reimburse you. As much as you'll want to avoid riding in a 3rd class train, it may be impossible to avoid if relying on train travel; your best option is really to buy a ticket 30min in advance of leaving (arrive early as the schedule shifts often) Train tickets have assigned seating to a particular carriage and seat, written in both English and Arabic. Train travel is possible without a prior reservation, but it will add EGP3 to the price of your eventual ticket, and you will not be guaranteed a seat for the long journey. You can book 1st class train tickets online from Egyptian Railways official website. Please note that you must book online at least 24 hours prior to the train schedule. In case you book online, it is highly recommended to have a printout of the tickets and your ID/Passport with you on the train. If you failed to print the ticket, at least have with you the reservation number and details. If it is your first time on the website, you will be asked to create an account first before proceeding with booking a ticket. By busBuses leave regularly from behind the Luxor Temple, to most major cities. For connections to Aswan and Cairo, the train is recommended, but it is a good alternative to get to Sinai (via Hurghada--Sharm el Sheik, or over the Suez canal). "Upper Egypt" bus to Sharm (135 LE)/ Dahab (150 LE) leaves at 5 pm. Better to buy ticket 2 days before. By boatThere are boat trips from Luxor to Aswan and also on Lake Nasser to Abu Simbel. These are reportedly the most pleasant and interesting way to get there if you have the time and money. A felucca cruise on the Nile is a great option for those with more time and less money. The train is a close second and much faster. Note (2011) according to river boat captains, it is impossible to journey from Luxor to Aswan. Due to the river lock, the felucca must leave from the town of Edfu and continue to Aswan. The prices are wildly negotiable but you will be bargaining down from 700 EGP so it could be a couple hundred or more for a two day cruise to get there. The train is reputed to take four hours. As of September 2012, the above note is not valid (as we were able to take a cruise from Luxor to Aswan), but be advised that this situation may occur depending upon the river level. By carFor the intrepid, it is possible to rent a car in Luxor and self-drive your way through Upper Egypt. Europcar appears to be the only major international chain currently servicing the city (November 2018). Europcar delivers the vehicles from Hurghada on demand--there is no Europcar office in the city--so it is necessary to arrange this at least several days in advance. The car can be picked up and dropped off at the airport. Driving a car in Upper Egypt is not recommended unless you have significant experience driving in middle-income countries, and a car rental is unlikely to save either money or hassle compared to taking taxis and hiring a car with a driver. However, those who wish to self-guide their way through Egypt or who enjoy the experience of driving like an Egyptian are now permitted by police to drive throughout Upper Egypt and can take advantage of rental cars. In November 2018, it is possible to drive at least as far north as Abydos and as far south as Abu Simbel, although police escorts may be required between Abydos and Qena, and Abu Simbel and Aswan (in our experience: one time for each of those two routes the escort was been required and was arranged on the spot for free, and the other time for each route it was not required). Expect to get many surprised looks from anyone who notices you as an obvious foreigner driving in Egypt. At the police checkpoints throughout Upper Egypt if you are flagged down to stop you will need to give the nationalities of the passengers in the car and where you are going and possibly a local Egyptian phone number, but this will not take more than a minute. However you will probably be waved through most of the time. Get aroundBy bicycleLuxor is brimming with rental shops for bikes and a great many hotels also hire out bicycles. Rental rates vary from roughly 5LE - 20LE, depending on your bargaining skills, the relative demand on bikes that day and the quality of the bike in question. Check the tires and be wary of last minute inflating as they may deflate just as fast. It is quite normal for people to be asked to leave behind their passport, drivers license or student ID card as a deposit. Bikes can be rented on both the East and West Banks of Luxor (the latter near the local ferry landing), though the choice and quality of bikes is usually better in the East, and prices can be a little over-inflated on the more isolated West. If you look for high quality bicycles, you can find Dutch bikes (gazelle/batavus) at the Dutch Rental Agency in Sheratonstreet (Eastbank)and in the Souk just when you leave the ferryboat(Westbank). Note that bikes can be taken on board the local ferry (be considerate though!), so feel free to hire on the East, then transport your bike over yourself. Do watch Egyptian traffic before deciding if you want to ride a bike through it. Remember - the East bank is the metropolitan side, so consider the traffic and crowds while deciding whether to bike on that side. The West bank in contrast is much more rural, and many tourists opt to bicycle among the fields here while getting themselves between the tourist sites. Warning though: At the sites, guards will try to convince you to avoid locking your bicycle as they will watch it. Which they will do very well- and then demand a tip for having done so. Lock your bike yourself to avoid this unnecessary expense. By motorcycleFor the even more brave, Luxor is brimming with Chinese motorcycles around 150cc. With the right bargaining skills you can net one for 50LE+ per hour, or less for the day or evening. In the summer, the roads around the West Bank are relatively empty, and motorcycling around the ruins and mountains is easy and efficient. In a slow season, many are willing to rent you their own motorcycle for the right price. Remember to demand a helmet - since nobody uses them. By taxiTaxis are plentiful in Luxor. They have no meters, but there are current rates that are accepted if you stay firm. From the airport to downtown is about LE 50, and short trips within Luxor are between LE 10 and LE 20. A round trip to the West Bank is about LE 100. The Sheraton Luxor Resort has a list of current (overpriced) taxi rates from their hotel to a number of destinations that can be used as a handy reference. By minibusMinibuses are the transportation of the locals in Luxor, and the cheapest way to get around for the adventurous tourist. They all have the same shape so are easily recognized. They have fixed routes, with different routes marked by a different colour on the side of the minibus. However there are no maps of the routes, the locals just seem to know them by heart. All busroutes seem to converge at the railway station. Hail a bus by looking at it while it is approaching, and raise your arm. When the bus is full it will not stop (there are about 14 seats in a bus). Otherwise you can jump in, take an empty seat, and pass money to the driver, a flat 1.50LE per person(Mar 2019) for a ride (no haggling required). When you do not pay while you sit down, they will assume you do not know the price and the driver will charge you 2LE when you get off. Getting off is possible anytime, and is done by simply asking the driver to stop when you are near your destination. By boatAn essential way of getting between the East and West banks of Luxor is to use a boat. As you walk by the river, dozens of felucca owners will offer you their services to haul you over the river, and normally a taxi driver will be on standby on the other side. They will try to sell it on inflated price, 20-50LE and that is if they don't give you an extra excursion (not necessarily what you asked for). The real price is 15LE (Mar 2019) per boat, insist on this price and they will go for it. It is much easier to take the blue local ferry, a very basic boat that you can use for around 5LE per person. The downside is that the ferry only leaves when it is full, or when another ferry arrives, so taking the ferry is in general slower - though you avoid the haggling. Taxis are available at the ferry terminal on both sides, and the trip takes just a few minutes. By calècheCalèches, or horse-drawn carriages, are common on the east bank and are a delightful way to see the city, especially at night-time. Prices vary according to bargaining skill, but 20LE per hour seems common, or 5LE for a short 1km trip. You'l need to haggle / walk away to get these prices. BEWARE: There are frequent reports of robbery by carriage-drivers. If they harrass you, threaten to call the tourist police. However, a number of animal rights groups have advised against calèches due to the poor treatment of the horses. It is not uncommon for drivers to beat their horses, and most Western tourists will notice many skinny and scarred animals. This does not mean that all drivers are to be avoided, some are reputable. Use common sense when choosing. Beware of using the same driver for several days in a row. At the end he may decide he has undercharged you in some way for previous trips and may ask for a lot more, for things which "wasn't" included, such as waiting around while you visited a temple, all the money paid before went to the boss and none to your driver, a tip for the horse, in the original price. It might be best to use a different driver each trip and not book a previously used driver to avoid this possible scenario from happening even if he does seem more pleasant than most to start with. On footIt is also possible to travel around the tourist district on foot during the cooler parts of the day, provided you have a good sense of direction. To avoid unwanted attention you will need to constantly repeat the words "No Hassle", or "Laa Shukran", which means No Thank You in Arabic. Also, be prepared to yell out for the Tourist Police if you have any concerns for your safety. There are usually always some policemen nearby since they may be also wearing civilian clothes. A good tactic for avoiding hassle is to buy an Egyptian paper each day (in Arabic) and carry this with you. Locals will assume that you know Arabic (and therefore their tricks) and leave you alone. Egyptian papers cost around 1LE. SeeThe various Luxor district article pages contain detailed information and suggestions for things to see. Definite highlights, not-to-be-missed, include: Note that with this ticket, you will get to choose 3 tombs to visit of usually about 8 open in Valley of the Kings. Extra entry is required for Tutankhamen and Seti I. If you take pictures inside without a camera ticket (which is basically the cost of another entry), guards may ask to see the photos on your camera. You will have to pay a bribe if they catch you.
Karnak is further out of the city centre and is specifically well known for its forest of columns. It is a fun temple to take your time searching for colours that have lasted for thousands of years.
Note that the Temple of Luxor downtown is open after sunset. It's a cool place to see a temple as the light changes.
Note you can buy 3 tickets for the tombs, each ticket allows you entry into 2-3 tombs each. In March 2019, the 3 tickets were for:
Extremely underrated and hardly visited is Deir el Medina where the paintings are so well preserved and gorgeous. Very easy to get to as you will likely pass it while visiting other sites. Ticket allows entry into 3 stunning tombs.
The original house of Howard Carter is a small museum now in the area. There is a mock tomb of Tutankhamen and how they originally found it but it is mostly a chamber filled with the story of the discovery. Do
Local Operators
LearnWorkBuyThere are at least two different markets in Luxor. One is located in an air-conditioned hall, with shops located on either side of the hall. This market hall connects two major streets. The older market takes up several streets near the Luxor temple. It is a joy to walk through, as it is mostly pedestrian and is a welcome respite from the horse and carriages on the main streets. This market really feels like an old souk and the visitor is taken back in time. It is covered with a wooden trellis, shading people from the sun. Many of the shops offer the same items, so the wise buyer shops around and looks for the best price. One can often bargain better after going to several stores. Once you find a merchant you like, sit down, have some tea, and begin the game of bargaining. It can feel like you are becoming a part of the family. Buying something as simple as a cotton galabeya can take hours, as you try on almost every single galabeya in the store, and then move on to items that they think you may want for the rest of your family. Buying anything may be very frustrating due to constant bargaining if you are not used to it. This trick has proven to work well: usually their first offer for the price can be ten or even a hundred times bigger than a reasonable price. First decide what you are actually willing to pay. Let us say that in this example it is 20LE. If you ask for the price, you may get a reply "120LE". Now you offer 22LE. You may then be offered something like 110LE. Then instead of going up, you start going down with the price, your new offer will be only 20LE (your predefined price limit). If the bargaining continues you continue dropping your offer. Pretty soon he will understand where the bargaining is going and you get a comfortable price or - at least - you get rid of the vendor. The main Souk in Luxor lies on the Abd-El-Hameed Taha and consists of the section for tourists, and the section for locals. The touting in the main Souq's tourist section is so bad that it is an absolute nightmare walking through it. Any desire you had to buy anything will quickly disappear as dozens of men try every possible catch they have on you. These include: "You look lucky," "you look Egyptian," "come see my shop, no hassle," and guessing your nationality. But if you continue straight forward (north of Mostafa Kamel), passing by the garden, you will come to the real Souq, where the locals go shopping - and suddenly the atmosphere changes completely. While the local section is less clean, it is much busier and much more hassle-free, so you get to choose for yourself the merchants and wares to investigate. EatLuxor is a vegetarian's paradise with lots of fresh seasonal vegetables such as tomato and cucumber. A meal often begins with pita-bread and mezze such as baba ganoush or taboulé. Your main course may include meat or poultry, or regional dishes such as pigeon or rabbit. (To avoid an upset stomach, you may prefer to stick with the beef.) As with any heavily touristed area in Egypt, it's never hard to find reasonably well-executed Western food. Dairy products, such as yoghurt or gibna bayda cheese (think feta but much creamier), might accompany your main meal. Finally, many fine vegetarian desserts are available, though some might seem overly sweet to western tastes. (If you can, specify low or medium sweetness.) While the evening meal is often filling, you may find this doesn't meet the energy requirements of a busy tourist. Be sure to eat a hearty breakfast, drink lots of water, and snack frequently during the day. For restaurants by district, see: On the road nearby television street and the train station are lots of fruit vendors - be sure to pick up some fruit that is delicious and cheap. These guys make an honest living with their shop and will not try to scam you. You will find the non-tourist part of Luxor to be very friendly and inviting, indicative of true Egyptian culture. DrinkThere is something of a social stigma attached to public drunkenness. Although Egyptians themselves sometimes choose to ignore this, for a foreigner to be drunk in public can give a bad impression. Most local pubs tend to be testosterone-filled hard-drinking dens where lone foreigners and especially lone women may feel uncomfortable. That said, there are numerous places in Luxor to buy alcohol. Many restaurants, above the basic on the street places, sell lager and wine. They are generally made obvious by Stella signs outside or by having people drinking inside them. There are two open-air restaurants opposite the temple about 200m south of the main entrance which serve Stella lager for 14LE including tax (as of September 2011) and other local beer and wine for fairly reasonable prices. The huge Stella signs outside give them away. If you can't find somewhere convenient serving alcohol, it may be an idea to ask the staff in your hotel for directions. 'Cafeteria' can be the euphemistic name for a pub in Egypt, and pubs can be quite hard to find if you don't know exactly where to go. The duty-free shop has moved (2014) from next to the Emilio Hotel (close to the north end of the Luxor Temple) to next to the Sheraton Hotel further south along the Nile. If you take your passport and go within two days of arriving in Egypt, up to three bottles of main-name spirits and beer, etc. at well-reduced prices, per person, can be bought. After the two days you can only buy the Egyptian equivalent. They also sell electrical products and close at 10pm. To buy local Egytian beer and wine there are a handful of shops near the train station on Ramsees Street - they are easy to find as they have shelves full of wine and beer behind the counter. Prices in 2014 are 55LE+ for a bottle of wine, 10LE for beer, before haggling. Drinking in the street or in parks, although fairly widely done by locals, is not recommended for foreigners as it is technically illegal and alcohol is generally cheap enough in restaurants anyway. SleepLuxor has an extremely wide variety of accommodation options, from camping and hostels, right up to 5 star luxury hotels like the Old Winter Palace Hotel which is of extreme opulence and has played host to both movie stars and heads of state. In all Egypt, Luxor probably experiences the greatest seasonal variation in hotel rates - some hotels can be up to 50% cheaper (or more) in the low season (summer), others have no change. Whilst the vast majority of accommodation options are to be found on the East Bank, an increasing number are to be found (and are being developed), however, on the more laid-back and isolated West Bank, close to the tombs and the Valley of the Kings. A lengthy stay in the area might benefit from staying on both sides of the river for some time..... If you are arriving in Luxor by train or bus, beware the over-friendly and sometimes pushy hotel touts, especially at the station (these guys are a symptom of the sometimes fierce competition between rival hotels, especially at quiet times). Remember you don't owe them anything, but that they get 25-40% commission for convincing you to stay at their "cousin's" or "brother's" hotel, which is then added to your final bill. It's usually best to pre-book accommodation..... Also, use a map or a taxi to find your hotel - discourage attempts to guide you to your hotel, as you may end up somewhere else altogether, in the expectation that you will give in and stay where your "guide" has led you after all. NB: Women travelling without company should exercise extreme caution whilst seeking budget accommodation in Luxor. Several reports have been made of sexual assault after women were given spiked drinks by hotel touts and staff. On your first morning in Luxor, you may be woken at dawn by the adhan, or Muslim call to prayer. This normally lasts 5-10 minutes, and after a few days you will find yourself sleeping through it.
Stay safeLuxor is known as the hassle capital of Egypt. For those not on fully organised tours, touts can make sightseeing very frustrating. However within temples, one must contend with the government tour guides who are legitimate government workers who aggressively "guide you" and then demand a tip. It may be worthwhile to give a small tip upfront then ask to "self tour". Pre-book accommodations ahead of time to avoid touts at the stations. Some of the older tricks in the book that you need to ignore are:
Merchants in Luxor are notoriously aggressive and manipulative. Ignore them. In shops and the market, the phrase "no hassle" or "Laa Shukran", meaning no thanks in Arabic. Being polite will make your life easier, as people will remember you if you were rude and may hassle more later. If problems persist, threaten to call the tourist police. That being said, the luxor market actually has some of the best prices for souvenirs that you will find throughout Egypt. Depending upon the perception your profile creates, you may be asked if you would like to purchase drugs or sex. Remember, prostitution and drug use are not taken lightly by government authorities. ContactSee the various Luxor district pages for details of telephone, internet and postal services - being a major tourist town, Luxor is extremely well-served with communication facilities. Most of the best outlets are to be found where the bulk of the local population lives, in the East Bank of Luxor. NB: As of August 2004, Luxor has had its telephone exchange upgraded and an additional "2" must now be added to old 6-digit telephone numbers..... The format for overseas callers, for example, should now be +20 95 2xxx xxx. Mobile phone numbers are unaffected by this change. As of June 2005, numbers on the west bank that began with 2426 now begin with 2060. So the format for these numbers is now +20 95 2060xxx rather than +20 95 2426xxx. CopeConsulates
Visa extensionsLuxor Passport Office is located south of Luxor town centre, virtually opposite the Isis Hotel, open Saturday - Thursday, 8am-8pm. Rumour has it that visa extensions are far easier to acquire at this office than its equivalent in Cairo. Get out
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