Here are a few suggestions of what you can do, there is more again email me if I can help

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The following tours can all be accomplished while based in Luxor but even they are a fragment of the rich heritage that can be seen in the area.

West Bank Highlights

Suggested sites

Valley of Kings
Site of the burial of some of the most famous names in Egyptian history, this remote Valley houses some 64 tombs dating from the XVIII to XX dynasty. The most famous being Tutankhamen, (a separate ticket is required to visit this tomb).

Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple at Deir el Bahri
This unique temple was built by Queen Hatshepsut and designed by her architect Senmut. On the walls there are scenes of the most famous events of her reign, her divine birth, the expedition to Punt, the building of two gold covered obelisks.

Valley of the Queens
The recently restored tomb of Nefertari has highly restricted visiting and you may not be able to get a ticket or it may be closed for conservation reasons. However there are other tombs in the Valley which are included in the standard ticket e.g. Amunhirkhepshat, Queen Titi and Khaermweset

Colossi of Memnon
These two statues front the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III, arguably the largest temple on the West bank. But now little remains but the so called Colossi

Quiet West Bank

This is an attempt to show you the other side of Luxor, you get away from the crowds at the main sites and often are the only tourists in there locations, although this can not be guaranteed. Suggested sites are:

Tomb of Ay
The Western branch of the Valley of the Kings is a haven of tranquillity after the over commercialism of the main valley. The tomb of Ay is very similar in style to that of Tutankhamen and still bears influences from the reign of Akhenaton.

Khokha Tombs
This small group of Nobles tombs Nefronpet, Dhutmosi and Nefersekheru contains some excellent relief’s, with wonderful colours. There are judgement scenes, ka statues and scenes from the Amun temple treasury.

Ramesseum
Thus is Ramses II mortuary temple and the inspiration for Shelley’s poem Ozymandias. The walls have scenes from Ramses famous battle against the Hittites and are a spin doctor’s delight as they show Ramses victorious and Hittite records tell a very different story.

Then we take you to a coffee shop next to the Ramesseum, this shop is owned by the family of a man who worked with Howard Carter on Tutankhamen tomb. You can see photos of the grandfather as a young boy wearing one of Tutankhamen pectorals.

West Bank at Leisure

Still want more, well there is much more to see and here are some further ideas.

Medinet Habu
This is the mortuary temple of Ramses III and shows scenes of the king’s triumph in battle and there are chapels dedicated to Ptah, Osirus and Soktar. Rare scenes of sea battles can be seen on the exterior wall. How did they count the dead, see the piles of hands and genitals!!

Tombs of the Nobles
Rahmoses, Userhat and Khaemhat are just one of the many groups of Nobles tombs. Each group of tombs requires a separate ticket and depending on your stamina and level of interest you can visit more if you wish. We can direct you to the least visited tombs where you can enjoy the pictures in isolation.

Recently opened are the tombs of Roy and Shu Roy which although small are very interesting. As they are not yet in the guide books they are seldom visited however they are superb examples of Nobles tombs.

Deir El Medina
This is a chance to see how the men who built the tombs lived, worshipped and died. The site consists of their temple dedicated to Hathor and Ma’at, the remains of the village and houses clearly showing rooms, cooking sites and sleeping platforms and their unique tombs with both royal and noble decoration styles.

Temple of Seti I
Seti I was the father of Ramses II and the remains of his mortuary temple near the village of Gurna Ta’rif are still being excavated. It is dedicated to Amun, Seti and his father Ramses I. It is one of the quieter locations and can often be found deserted.

Temple of Merenptah
Although little remains of Merenptah’s mortuary temple enough is visible to do a comparison between those of his father (Ramses II) and grandfather (Seti I). There are also some fantastic, very colourful, remains of Amenhotep III temple including his monumental gateway and the contents of a small museum.

East Bank

Karnak Temple – The centre of Amun worship since the 12th Dynasty, large enough to contain 10 cathedrals. Built and added to over a period of 1500 years. Lose yourself in the forest of columns in the hypostyle hall.

Don’t miss the Open Air Museum, a quiet part of Karnak with many reconstructed shrines and temple parts.

Luxor Temple - Linked to Karnak temple by an avenue of sphinxes and originally built by Amenhotep III and added to by Ramses II

Sound and Light at Karnak Temple - One of the most spectacular sounds and lights in Egypt, processional with a good historical commentary,

Mummification Museum – Everything you wanted to know about mummification but were afraid to ask.

Luxor Museum – everything is well labelled and presented, it was arranged by the Brooklyn Museum of New York. A new exhibit on Egyptian Military history has just been opened.

Road to Aswan – One Day Trip

On the road Aswan you can stop at some of these sites:-

Edfu – Temple of Horus most completely preserved pharaonic temple built by the Greeks
Esna – Temple of Khum Graeco Roman temple built in the reign of Claudius
Ko Ombo – Temple of Sobek and Harosis (Horus the Elder)

Aswan – One Day Trip

In Aswan you go to

Unfinished Obelisk – see how the stone was cut from the rock and the skill of the ancient craftsman.

High Dam – one of Egypt modern accomplishments contains 18 times the amount of material in the great pyramid and has increased to cultivated land by 30%

Philae – rescued from the waters of Lake Nasser this beautiful temple dedicated to Isis has been a tourist attraction since Roman times

Nubian Museum – shows the culture, art and history of Nubia from prehistoric times until today.

Aswan and Abu Simbel – Two Day Trip

As above on the first day but instead of returning to Luxor an addition of a night in Aswan in order to visit Abu Simbel. The temple of Ramses II which was rescued from the High Dam together with that dedicated to his wife Nefertari. Then return to Luxor

Abydos and Dendera Day Trip

The almost intact temple of Hathor at Dendera is wonderfully preserved temple with the famous Egyptian zodiac

Seti I temple at Abydos contains an almost complete king list as well as scenes from the kings jubilee is beautiful raised relief. The temple was completed by Ramses II and you can see the difference in the quality of relief. There are many shrines within the temple dedicated to various Gods giving you an overview of the Egyptian pantheon.

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Jane Tours and Flats in Luxor www.flatsinluxor.co.uk