Karnak, the Valley of the Kings & temples
Luxor
الأقصر · The world's greatest open-air museum
Built over ancient Thebes, Luxor holds the greatest concentration of monuments on earth. Colossal temples line the east bank while the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings — Tutankhamun among them — honeycomb the desert hills across the Nile.
Top sightsSights
Karnak Temple
A staggering complex of pylons, obelisks and a forest of giant columns.
Valley of the Kings
The painted rock-cut tombs of pharaohs including Tutankhamun.
Luxor Temple
A riverside temple beautifully lit after dark, linked to Karnak by a sphinx avenue.
Temple of Hatshepsut
The dramatic terraced temple of Egypt’s great female pharaoh.
Hot-air balloon at dawn
Float over the temples and Nile as the sun rises.
What to eatFood
Tagen
A clay-pot stew of meat or vegetables baked slowly.
Feteer meshaltet
A flaky layered pastry served sweet or savory.
Hibiscus tea (karkadeh)
A tart ruby-red tea drunk hot or cold.
Good to know
- Start sightseeing at dawn — midday heat is punishing.
- A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is a scenic way to travel.
- Buy a combined tickets pass for the west-bank tombs.
Getting there
Luxor International Airport (LXR) has domestic and some regional flights; trains and cruise boats connect Cairo and Aswan.
Next city
Aswan