Luxor is a city in Upper Egypt and the capital of Luxor Governorate. The population numbers 487,896, with an area of approximately 416 square kilometres.
Area: 416 km²
Weather: 35°C, Wind N at 8 km/h, 32% Humidity

Luxor is divided by the Nile into two areas commonly called the East Bank and West Bank which were considered in Ancient Egyptian times as symbolizing respectively Life and Death.While the East Bank has grown to become a modern city, it has retained its lush green setting, its traditional bazaar and stunning view of the Nile. The East Bank boasts some of Egypt's most refined hotels, home to amazing Spa's and a golf course.

The West Bank is known for its necropolis and mortuary temples: the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the Workers Village, and the Temple of Medinet Habu are the highlights of Luxor’s West Bank. In Ancient Egyptian mythology the setting sun to the west symbolised the journey to the afterlife, so it was fitting symbolism to bury the dead west of the Nile.

By Flight:
Luxor International Airport is located 6Km (4 miles) east of the city and can be reached from most countries around the world, though it is most popular for charter flights. From here you can also fly to most of the main cities and towns in Egypt, as well as arriving from them. EgyptAir runs daily flights from Cairo to Luxor, as well as Luxor to Cairo, which take, on average, about 50 minutes.Luxor airport

By train:
Luxor is situated on the main Cairo to Aswan railway line and has a modern station in El-Mahata Square. Services to both Cairo and Aswan are very frequent, though restriction on tourists are in place right now which allows them to only use the sleeper service, or the trains either side of them.

By road:
Though Luxor is connected by road to Cairo and has a good bus connection with the capital, tourists are asked not to attempt to use this mode of transport for this journey and are therefore left with only rail or flight as an alternative. The road to Aswan can be used though as it gives the opportunity to visit sites such as Edfu and Kom Ombo. Hurghada is reachable by a 3.5 hour bus journey, opening up the Red Sea for those who wish a change. Please note: if you do intend to use this mode of transport you are best booking your seats at least 24 hours in advance to ensure you get the seats you want.

Located in Upper Egypt Luxor has been described as the world’s biggest open air museum. Nowadays it has been elevated to the status of Governorate, though it is still classified as being in the province of Qena. It has a population of round about 230,000, most of who are employed in tourism somehow, though there are many who are employed in agriculture and commerce. It is one of the most popular destinations in Egypt, being one of those places that you must see. Because of this almost every tourist company has an office somewhere in the town.

Religious Festivals:

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN RELIGION

The universe of the ancient Egyptians had three parts: earth, heaven, and the underworld. The earth was a flat disk with Egypt at its center, surrounded by foreign lands and deserts, the whole enclosed by a vast primeval ocean called Nun. It was in this sea, on a small mound, that the creation of the gods took place. It occurred when the god Atum (“He who is self-created”) spat (or, according to other legends, masturbated) and thereby created Shu, god of air and sunlight, and Tefnut, goddess of moisture. They in turn gave birth to Geb, god of the earthly disk that grew from the primeval mound, and Nut, goddess of the heavens. Geb and Nut were the parents of Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys. They in turn bore other gods.

ANCIENT RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS

Two annual ceremonies in Thebes were devoted to reaffirming the relationship between the king and the gods, between the three parts of the Egyptian cosmos. Like nearly all Egyptian RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS. They involved processions . It was such processions  that helped to determine the location of tombs and temples in Thebes and dictated their plan.

During the Opet Festival, a celebration held in the second month of the Nile flood, priests carried barks with the statues of Amen-Ra, his wife, and son from their home at Karnak to Luxor Temple. The festival’s purpose was to reaffirm the close ties between Amen-Ra and the king, the living embodiment of Horus on earth.

Abu Elhagag Festival:
The most striking event of the ceremony is the two day street festival that includes music, dances, horse races, stick fights and a parade of the boats throughout the city streets.

Yussef Abu el-Haggag, the sheikh himself, was born in Damascus, then moved to Mecca and eventually settled in Luxor, where he founded a zawiyah (spiritual retreat).

Occasion :Annual
Date of the festival : Two Weeks before Ramadan
Duration :Two Days

Luxor National Day:
Luxor Celebrate Their National Day on the same discovery date of  the famous Tombs “Tutankhamen”.
Tutankhamen was one of the 18th family king which govern Egypt between 1347-1336 BC.
The tombs was discovered by Howard Carter (archaeologist) at 4/11/1922 

Occasion Yearly
Date of the festival : 4th of November
Duration :One Day

Culture:
Upper Egypt—the Nile Valley from Aswan at the First Cataract north to al-Lisht, near the entrance to the Fayyum—was divided in dynastic times into twenty-two administrative districts called sepat by ancient Egyptians and nomes by the Greeks. Nomes varied greatly in size, and their wealth depended upon how much agricultural land they possessed and what natural resources lay nearby. The first nome, at Aswan, for example, was rich in building stone and profited from bordering the gold lands of Nubia. The second and third nomes, whose capitals were at Edfu and Hierakonpolis, respectively, boasted agricultural land but little else. The fourth nome, headquartered at Thebes and named Waset, boasted rich farm land, mountains of fine limestone, and proximity to trade routes that led to oases in the Western Desert, gold mines and mineral deposits in the Eastern Desert, and wadis leading to the Red Sea.

Best Time to Visit Luxer Egypt:

The ideal time to visit Luxor is during the winter months of October thru March. This is considered the high season in Luxor, and accordingly, the prices are higher than during the summer. The weather is absolutely perfect during the winter, not too warm, not too cold, just perfect. It averages around 18’C and is sunny almost the year round in Luxor (like the rest of Egypt). During the summer, prices are cheaper as it is the low season, but of course the weather is really hot. It can reach 42’C during the day, which isn’t very suitable for visiting the tombs in the desert! If you’re staying in an airconditioned hotel (which you probably will) we think you can still manage, but do drink a lot of water if you don’t want to dehidrate.

Places to visit in Luxer Egypt:

Luxor: Temple of Karnak:

The temple of Karnak was known as Ipet-isut (Most select of places) by the ancient Egyptians. It is  a temple complex, where pharaohs built  for over 2000 years. The temple is dedicated to Theban triad of Amun, Mut and Khonsu.This derelict place is still capable of overshadowing many of the wonders of the modern world and in its day must have been awe inspiring.For the largely uneducated ancient Egyptian population this could only have been the place of the gods. It is one the largest religious buildings ever made. Todays pilgrims are mainly tourists. It covers about 200 acres 1.5km by 0.8km The area of the sacred enclosure of Amon alone is 61 acres. The Hypostyle hall at 54,000 square feet with its 134 columns is still the largest room of any religious building in the world. In addition to the main sanctuary, known as the Precinct of Amun, there are several smaller temples and a vast sacred lake. One of the several smaller Temples, is The Temple of Ptah,  for any traveller visiting the temple this is a must see! The temple is small and set on the North Eastern boundry of the complex.

Luxor: Temple of Medinat Habu
The great mortuary temple of Ramses III dominates the site at Medinat Habu.  Second in size only to Karnak, the main pylon and well-preserved wall carvings record military campaigns against the sea peoples and depict bound captives from Syria, Nubia, Palestine, and other border countries.  Vivid colors on columns and ceilings are quite well preserved.  A ceremonial palace complex is adjacent.  Tickets available at the West Bank kiosk.  Open daily.

Luxor: ACE-Animal Care in Egypt:
Happily there is a place that is making a real difference and it is well worth a visit.  Animal Care in Egypt (ACE) is a fully functioning veterinary hospital with up to 200 animals visiting a day-most requiring some sort of medical attention.  There is room for over thirty inpatients if any animal needs to be kept in for treatment - it is usually full.  There are three full time Egyptian vets and one UK volunteer vet working at the centre.ACE is trying to improve the lives of these animals not only by treatment but also by education and prevention.  The service provided is completely free to the poor owners who would not be able to afford it otherwise.  It is a Charity in Egypt with a registered supporting charity in the UK which is the main base for the funds.  ACE is completely funded by voluntary donation.Visitors are welcomed and given a guided tour by the volunteers that work there who all have a real passion for the animals they care for.  It is a beautiful, clean and uplifting place to spend an hour or two of your day and well worth the short taxi ride (LE 25-30) from the Nile.  Local children come for lessons in animal welfare Mon-Thursday between 9-12pm so if you wish to see the education programme in action time your visit accordingly!  The centre is open 8-5pm daily.

Luxor: Valley of the Artisans (Deir el-Medina):
Deir al-Medina was inhabited by the laborers, craftsmen, painters, and carvers who worked on the royal tombs nearby.  Just south of the Valley of the Queens, this place is often called the Workmen's Village.  Visitors can visit tombs in remarkable condition in the necropolis above.  Open daily.

Valley of Kings:
The Valley of Kings is the ancient burial ground used by the Pharoahs and dignitries from the 18th to the 20th dynasties. Among 63 royal tombs is the famous Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV 62) that was discovered virtually intact in November 1922. 

Ticket (80 LE) is valid for entry to three tombs.

Extra tickets to visit the tomb of  Tutankhamun can be purchased at a cost of 100LE, Ramses V & VI at 50LE and the tomb of Ay in the Western Valley costs an extra 25LE. Ticket for electric train (LE 4 return) . Not all tombs are open to the public, but the valley is open daily though Tutankhamun's tomb closes for an hour between 1 and 2pm.

Luxor Museum:
Located on the Corniche between Luxor Temple and Karnak, the Luxor Museum houses an excellent collection of artifacts and statues found in archeological sites in and around Luxor.  Highlights include the gilded head of Hathor from Tutankhamun's tomb, a large pink granite head of Amenhotep III, and relief scenes of Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti.  Open daily, time schedule varies.

Valley of the Nobles:

The Theban tombs of the Nobles extend over a large populated area to the south of the Valley of Kings.  More than 400 tombs of nobles and officials can be found here among the houses of the village of Gurna.  Tickets for two to three tomb visits can be purchased in the kiosk near the Colossi of Memnon.  Open daily.
Ramesseum (Mortuary Temple of Ramses II.Again this is a temple that few people go to. Although it is becoming more popular, you can, while there, watch the buses going straight past on their way to V of K, Hatshepsut’s Temple etc.The king, Ramesses II, was the one who ordered the building of this as his Memorial Temple.A lot of its walls, especially the outer mud-brick ones and the adjacent vaulted grain storage chambers, have collapsed, but what is left reflects how much effort these people made to build it. The design of this temple is great, the quality high.

As in other sites built by him, there are scenes from the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites in 1275BC. The images speak for themselves. It looks like a movie about the events in that time.

Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa 
Ranked #1 of 55 hotels in Luxor

 Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor
Ranked #2 of 55 hotels in Luxor

 Mara House
Ranked #3 of 55 hotels in Luxor

 Nefertiti Hotel
Ranked #4 of 55 hotels in Luxor

 Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor
Ranked #5 of 55 hotels in Luxor

 Amon Hotel Luxor
Ranked #6 of 55 hotels in Luxor

 Al Moudira Hotel
Ranked #7 of 55 hotels in Luxor

 Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor
Ranked #8 of 55 hotels in Luxor

 Hotel Sheherazade
Ranked #9 of 55 hotels in Luxor

Puddleduck
Ranked #1 of 135 in Luxor

 The Lantern
Ranked #2 of 135 in Luxor

 Pizza Roma-it
Ranked #3 of 135 in Luxor

 Gerda's Garden
Ranked #4 of 135 in Luxor

 Secret Garden Cafe
Ranked #5 of 135 in Luxor

 Jewel of the Nile
Ranked #6 of 135 in Luxor

 Sofra Restaurant & Cafe
Ranked #7 of 135 in Luxor

Walk from the Valley of the Queens across the desert and over the cliffs to the Valley of the Kings
Hire a bike and ride around Ancient Thebes - takes you less than 15 minutes to get there.

West Bank scene from a felucca boat, Luxor.
A local felucca ride just before sunset; shouldn't cost you more than about LE 30 (for one person) per hour.
Take a felucca cruise on the Nile for a 2 day trip to Aswan. 
Hire a donkey, horse, or camel to ride around Luxor's West Bank.Go to Pharaoh's Stables,just a short walk from the ferry terminal.They will take you to places where the big coaches cant go,so you can enjoy the real Egypt, with its friendly people and relaxed lifestyle.Every day is different when you see the West Bank by horse or donkey,and the guides will look after you all the way. They have horses for beginners to experienced riders.

Day 1: Arrival and chack-in to your hotel.
Arrival at Cairo International Airport, assistance with luggage and transfer to your hotel by a private car with air conditioning. You will be assisted by our representative for check-in.
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 2: Egyptian Museum, The Great Pyramids, The Sphinx and Khan El Khalili Bazaar.
Breakfast at your hotel. Start your holidays in Egypt visiting the Egyptian Museum of antiquities. It displays the largest and most precious items of the Egyptian art in the world.
It exhibits a rare collection of over 250,000 genuine artifacts that date as far back as 5000 years, including an exclusive exhibit dedicated to the Tutankhamon - A collection of treasures, gold, and jewelry that were burried in his tomb for over 3,500 years before they were discovered in the 1920s when his tomb was excavated.
The Sphinx in CairoVisit the Great Pyramids - Cheops, Chephren & Mykerinos and have a close-up look at the Sphinx - The legendary guardian that stands by the huge funeral complex with its lion body and the head of king Chephren. 

Visit the Khan El Khalili Bazaar. The inumerous shops in this district are known for trading fine brassware, copper, perfumes, leather, silver, gold, antiques and much more.
Overnight in Cairo.
Optional not included: Dinner cruise on the Nile.
Enjoy your dinner on a cruise ship, gliding through the waters of the Nile, while watching a belly dancing and tanura show.
Day 3: Valley of the Kings, Colossal of Memnon and Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple.
Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the domestic airport to take your flight to Luxor.
Arrival in Luxor, meet and assist by our local representative.Start your full day tour visiting the West Bank. Drive to the Valley of Kings and visit the tombs of pharaohs of different dynasties and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Deir El Bahari). On the way back, visit the Colossal of Memnon, the two gigantic sitting statues that represent Amenophis III facing the Nile.
Luxor TempleAt Luxor Temple gaze at its courtyard and the amazing granite statues of Ramses II. With a choice of carriage or bus go to the Karnak Temple, a large complex with a series of temples that were built in different reigns. Start at the avenue of sphinxes and visit the unfinished propylon, the hypostyle hall and its 134 gigantic columns, the obelisks of queen Hatshepsut and Tutomosis III, the temple of Amon, beautifully adorned with lotus and papyrus designs, the granite scarb of Amenophis III and the sacred lake.
Transfer to the domestic airport to take your flight to Cairo.
Arrival in Cairo, you will be assisted by our representative. Transfer to your hotel by a private car with air conditioning.
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 4: Check-out and transfer to the airport.
Breakfast and check-out at your hotel in Cairo. Meet our representative who will transfer you to the Cairo International Airport.