Egypt

Travel: In pharaohs’ steps

The National (Katherine Darcy)

Holidaymakers with a passion for the historical will be in their element in Luxor. The city, often nicknamed the “world’s greatest open-air museum”, is home to two thirds of the world’s historical monuments. Located on the banks of the Nile in southern Egypt, this mesmerising city is often overlooked in favour of Egypt’s capital, Cairo. Nevertheless, Luxor is the perfect place for those who wish to experience the magnificent culture of ancient Egypt.

As you’d expect from a city that has been influenced by some of history’s most legendary characters, including Ramses, Tutankhamen and Alexander the Great, Luxor is abuzz with mystical charm and ancient culture. Boasting a remarkably rich legacy of temples, monuments and tombs, many of Luxor’s most renowned archaeological sites are located on the West Bank. High-end hotels take the stress out of exploring by organising one-day trips there, but if you really want to savour the sites and take in their magnitude, tackle the West Bank over a few days.

The Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens are both must-sees. Likewise, no trip to Luxor would be complete without a visit to Queen Hatshepsut’s temple. The female pharaoh is widely recognised as one of Egypt’s most successful rulers. The temple of Karnak is also a box to tick. Undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest architectural achievements, Karnak was built over a period of 1,300 years and is the biggest temple complex in the world, covering an area of 100 hectares.

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- Travel: Luxor Experienced From The West Bank
The Boston Globe (Dan Orzech) The tomb of the boy pharaoh Tutankhamun lies on the west bank of the Nile River. So do a host of other awe-inspiring remains of ancient Egypt, sights that help draw as many as 2 million visitors a year to the area. Most tourists,...

- Sweeping Aside The Living At Luxor
Middle East Times One of Egypt's most famous ancient cities, Luxor, is in the process of getting a makeover, and not everyone is pleased with the government's actions. The plan is to create an open-air museum on the city's west bank, home...

- Unesco Thanked Egypt For Its “great” Efforts To Develop Luxor
Luxor News (Jane Akshar) from Dr Samir Farag press office: UNESCO sent thanks to the Egyptian government for its efforts to develop the city of Luxor which consider one of the most important world heritage sites and what is being implemented on its territory...

- 7 Most Endangered Wonders Of The World
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- Travel Item
http://www.businesstravellerindia.com/200601/getaway01.shtmlYet another travel feature, focusing on Luxor, with some photos: "Luxor, described as the world's greatest open-air museum is chock-a-block with ancient monuments, the scale and the grandeur...

Egypt