A New Light on Luxor: Luxor Gains More Foreign Tourists Than Ever Before

 Visiting Luxor is like stepping into ancient Egypt. It is a city in southern Egypt that's full of incredible places to visit. It's also known as "the world's greatest open-air museum," so you'll find lots of archaeological sites to explore here. 

If you're planning to go on Luxor day trips through your Egypt excursions, there are many things to do in Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes and it can be hard to know where to start! But I've narrowed it down to the top things I think are essential and worth seeing when you're in town.

 

 1. Visit Karnak and Luxor temples

One of the largest religious complexes in the world, Karnak Temple is a vast site that was built over 3,000 years ago. The temple was dedicated to the god Amon-Ra, and it was used for worship, ceremonies, and festivals. So if you're looking for something that's truly ancient—and breathtakingly beautiful—then this should be on your list. Luxor Temple is one of Egypt's most iconic monuments because it has been standing for over 4,000 years! It is located within an enormous complex that includes several other temples and sanctuaries dedicated to various gods and goddesses such as Amun-Re. Visiting both temples is possible on a full-day Luxor east bank tour.

2) Take a hot air balloon ride over Luxor Temple  -(it's like being in The Mummy!) 

I don't know about you, but being able to see everything from above always makes me feel like I'm seeing things with new eyes. And there's no better way to do that than with this scenic hot air balloon tour in Luxor! Get there early! 

 3) Spend time in the Sound and light show in Karnak Temple

It's hard to choose a favorite thing in Luxor, but I'd have to say that my favorite part of the city is the sound and light show at Karnak Temple. Not just about looking at the temple; you can also watch a stunning light show that plays on the walls of the temple every night at sunset. The show lasts around 30 minutes and tells stories from ancient Egypt through music, dance, and shadow play.

4) Take a tour of the Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt because it contains many tombs from ancient Egyptian royalty and nobility. It’s also where you will see King Tutankhamun’s tomb, a treasure trove of Egyptian history! This valley is home to several tombs from ancient Egypt's 18th dynasty. You can visit them on a guided Luxor west bank tour with many other sights.

5) See the famous Colossi of Memnon in person

The Colossi of Memnon were two massive statues that stood in front of a temple that was dedicated to Amenhotep III. They are known for their musical properties: when the wind blows through their cracks, they sound like trumpets!

6) Appreciate the beauty of  Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple

 An awe-inspiring structure that you can't help but stop and admire. I had the opportunity to visit this Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple when I was in Luxor. It is a beautiful temple that is built in the shape of a pyramid, but it isn't actually a pyramid at all. It has many different designs and elements that make it stand out from other temples that are in the area. The most prominent feature of this temple is its columns and pillars, which are covered in hieroglyphics that tell stories about the history of Egypt during that time period.

It was a great experience visiting this temple because it allowed me to see how much effort went into creating such an intricate structure. You can visit all the important sights of Luxor on one day tour to the East and the west banks.

7) Go to the Luxor Museum: 

This Luxor museum tells the story of Luxor's history, from its earliest days as an ancient Egyptian city through its modern-day incarnation as a popular travel destination. It's absolutely fascinating, and it's free! Come explore the Luxor museum, Ramsseum, valley of Kings, and Memnon on our guided luxor highlights tour. See some of the most amazing ancient Egyptian artifacts up close and learn about their history from our knowledgeable guides.

 

8) Tour some of the major tombs in Deir el-Medina

Deir el-Medina is a village that was built to house the workers who were constructing tombs for the pharaohs during the New Kingdom period. Touring this village is like walking through history, as you can see where these people worked and lived. It's also a great opportunity to learn about Egyptian culture.

9) See the Mummified Cats at Deir el-Bahri

Deir Bahari is one of the most beautiful sites in Luxor. The place is just incredible, with its towering pillars and deep blue walls. It's also home to some really incredible tombs, including Hatshepsut's tomb and Thutmose I's tomb. But what really makes Deir el-Bahri one of my favorite places to see in Luxor are the mummified cats found there. if you're an animal lover like I am, it's a pretty special thing to see. The mummified cats are kept in glass cases and you can go in and look at them up close. It's pretty cool.

10) Visit The Banana Island Tour

This tour takes you to the beautiful island of Elephantine, which is named after the tree that grows there. You'll be able to visit some of the temples on the banana island Luxor. You can take a Banana Island tour for 2 hours along the Nile. It's a boat tour that takes you down the Nile and into a small, local village where they make and sell Egyptian-style banana boats. It's just a couple hours long, but it's worth every minute!

11) see the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Nobles

If you're looking for an amazing way to see the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Nobles in Luxor, I highly recommend taking a horse-drawn carriage ride. You'll have the option to hire a private carriage or share a group with other travelers. Either way, you'll get to experience both valleys from a new perspective—you'll be able to see them up close and personal, but also get a sense of how they fit into their natural landscape. You can also walk through the valleys if you prefer; there are hiking trails that lead through them.  The first thing you'll see as soon as you enter is the Ramesseum, which was built by Pharaoh Ramses II. It's one of the most well-preserved temples from ancient times, and it contains many important statues and carvings.

12) Head over to the Temple of Medinet Habu 

Medinet Habu Temple was built by king Ramesses III in honor of himself along with other gods like Amun Ra and Anubis; however, it was destroyed by an earthquake sometime around 1200 BCE so not much remains except some columns with hieroglyphs on them telling us about how great Pharaoh Ramesses III was (or at least according to him).

13) Explore the secrets of the tombs of Nefertari and Ra Moza.  

If you want to learn more about Egypt's past, I recommend a trip to the tombs of Nefertari and Ra Moza. 

Nefertari's tomb is another impressive site that will give you a glimpse into ancient Egyptian culture. The tomb was built by Ramses II for his wife Queen Nefertari. It is one of the best-preserved tombs from that period—it even has its own light source! The ceiling is painted blue with gold stars and crescent moons; inside you'll see statues of Nefertari and Ramses II as well as images of gods like Isis and Hathor. The Tomb of Ra Moza is another attraction worth visiting while you're in Luxor because it contains some amazing artwork from its time period 

13) Go shopping in downtown Luxor!

Luxor has all kinds of different shops, from souvenir shops to clothing stores and more. You can find anything you want here, no matter if you are looking for something specific or just want to browse.

There are many different places where you can go shopping in Luxor, but my favorite place is the street that leads from Luxor Temple down to the Nile River. This street has all kinds of shops on it, and I like it because it is very close to everything else you might want to see or do while visiting Luxor.

 14) Stroll along Luxor Corniche at night

There's something about walking along a river that makes you feel like you're on vacation. And if you're in Luxor, there's no better place to do it than the Corniche.

 

15) Take a tour to the ancient Egyptian temples at Dendera and Abydos from Luxor 

 

This Tour to Dendera and Abydos from Luxor will take you to two of the most important ancient sites in Egypt, Dendera and Abydos. Dendera was the site of an important temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor, while Abydos was the site of the tomb of Pharaoh Seti I. Both sites are incredibly well-preserved and offer a unique insight into the ancient Egyptian civilization.  See the well-preserved reliefs and paintings at Dendera, and the ruins of Abydos.

16) Take a day tour to Aswan sightseeing including Abu Simbel temples from Luxor

 

This tour is the perfect way to see two of Egypt's most iconic sites in one trip. Visit the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, then travel to Aswan to see the Temple of Isis on Philae Island. This Tour to Abu Simbel and Aswan from Luxor includes round-trip transportation from Luxor, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

17) Spend two days in Luxor and take a hot air balloon ride for an unforgettable experience.

 
Take a two day trip to Luxor including hot air balloon and enjoy a hot air balloon ride for an unforgettable experience. See the amazing sights of the ancient city from above and get a unique perspective of the Nile River and the Valley of the Kings. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see one of the most fascinating places on earth.

 

18) Visit the amazing temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo 

This Luxor Day Tour to Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples is an educational and fun-filled tour that takes you to two of the most iconic temples in all of Egypt. The first stop is the Edfu Temple, which is dedicated to the god Horus. This temple is one of the best-preserved temples in all of Egypt and is a must-see for any history buff. After exploring the Edfu Temple, you will head to the Kom Ombo Temple, which is dedicated to the gods Sobek and Horus. This temple is unique because it is actually two temples in one, with each side dedicated to a different god. This is a great opportunity to learn about the different gods worshipped in ancient Egypt.

19) Explore more of Egypt through overnight tour to El Minya

 

If you want to visit El Minya from Luxor, take this overnight tour to El Minya from Luxor. You'll get to see the sights of El Minya and learn about its history and culture. This tour includes round-trip transportation, a guide, and overnight accommodation.

16) Where to Stay in Luxor for Sightseeing

The East Bank has a vast amount of accommodation, though staying on the West Bank is increasingly popular, particularly if you want to hit the tombs and temples early.

• The Sofitel Winter Palace is Luxor's most famous hotel and its oldest. It has lush gardens and pools and one of the top restaurants in town, as well as bags of historic ambiance.
• The Winter Palace Hotel has a wonderful spa, multiple restaurants, and an infinity pool overlooking the Nile.

Hopefully, this article helps you out on your next trip to Egypt and especially to Luxor!

 

And Remember that..

 

From Luxor day tours visiting the most iconic sights there like the valley of the kings all the way up to Aswan excursions to see the colored building there. There's also plenty of things to do in the Cairo day tours like shopping at Khan El Khalil or taking part in historical re-enactments. 

 

In addition to attractions, Egypt has many natural beauties: palm trees in the Egyptian oases and deserts; beautiful beaches on the Red Sea coast like Hurghada day tours; hot springs near Siwa oasis; Egypt desert safari tours from Cairo or Alexandria; mountain climbing tours on Mount Sinai or Mount Catherine; camel rides in the desert; snorkeling in Marsa Allam day tours; scuba diving in the Red Sea like Sharm El Shaeikh day tours; fishing in Lake Nasser or the Mediterranean Sea.