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Luxor, Egypt

If enlightened pharaohs had not decided to bury the traces of their eternity in the desert nearby, Luxor would have been a large village along the Nile today. It all started around 2000 A.D. (the Middle Kingdom) with the dynasty of Mentouhotep who proclaimed the God Amon as the national god and built the town of Thebes to hold the royal residence and the graveyard of the pharaohs.
Luxor, located 409 miles south of Cairo and 140 miles north of Aswan, is the tourist centre of Egypt, where most of the monuments and ancient ruins are concentrated, with the temples of Karnak and Luxor on the eastern bank of the river and the necropolis of Thebes on the western bank. These are, along with the pyramids in Cairo, the most visited places in the country. The city has developed considerably and hotel infrastructures have become very diverse with adequate global standards. However, although this is a problem throughout the entire Egypt, the highest standards of service should be improved.
Predominantly a tourist centre, Luxor has a wealth of banks, ATMs (not always in service), shops (including jewelry of high quality) and many restaurants. If you want to see something more traditional, go to the souk, the oriental bazaar, flooded with souvenirs and trinkets, not always in the best of taste.
Taxis and caleches (four-wheel carriages) compete for street space, while felucca boatmen are the kings of the Nile: when a tourist gets off a boat, he is inevitably besieged and must struggle hard to resist these persistent sirens! This harassment from merchants is still a bit charming and the natural kindness of the Nile people is not purely a legend.

The souks (easy access along the Nile route)
The kindness of local merchants
Hotel and restaurant services of excellent quality (large variety and choice)
The various modes of transportation for visits and walks: taxis, bicycles, feluccas, carriages, camels, horses
Two temples in the town (Karnak, 1 mile north of the town, and Luxor in the town centre)
The necropolis of Thebes

cons

The lack of tranquillity (solicitation from street merchants, taxi drivers, felucca boatmen and caleche drivers)

Country guide

Egypt, All you need to know!

Visit Luxor

To see

Visit the temples of Karnak and Luxor. You can also visit the temple of Medinet-Habu, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the Valley of the Artists, the Valley of the Nobles, the temple of Hachepsout...

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To do

Take an air trip by a hot-air balloon. You can contact Sindbad Ballons at 010 330 770 8 and visit the web site: wwww.sindbadballons.com. Otherwise, we advise you the following: Banana island (3 miles south of Luxor), a nice ride in a felucca boat (approximately 2-hour trip), the market for camels and cattle (outside the town, 1 mile to the east), the necropolis of Thebes, on the left bank of the Nile. You can get there by ferry, stopping just in front of the temple of Luxor, or by bus through the bridge. It sets off at 5 o'clock in the morning. From 10 a.m. the crowd is unbearable. Riding a camel or a horse in the desert also offers nice experience.

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To think about

Remember to protect yourself from the sun with lotion and put on a hat or a sunhat when you enter the temples...

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To avoid

Beware not to go too late to visit the temples; the sooner, the better...

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To try

You should taste the mezzes (tasty sauces for dipping bread), foul (mashed beans seasoned with lemon juice, herbs and olive oil), hoummous (cold mashed chickpeas with sesame paste oil, stuffed vine leaves, grilled meat, stuffed vegetables, lamb stuffed, leaves of brick, watermelon, dates, baklawas, dried apricots... As for the drinks, you can enjoy the karkadé, Egyptian wine or tea with mint...

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To bring back

You can buy souvenirs such as djellabas, tunics, embroidered cotton shirts (cotton is very cheap), sequined oriental dancing costumes, papyrus, babouches, Bedouin jewelry, boxes inscrusted with pearls, sandals, glassware and ceramicware, copperware, perfume bottles, Egyptian music and spices, ashtrays made of alabaster...

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