Introduction to Luxor

Luxor is located 400 miles south of Cairo and is the world’s greatest outdoor museum, riche in awe inspiring monuments of the ancient civilization. Luxor was the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom (1567 – 1085BC) and at the time was called ‘Waset’ which means ‘Mace’ to express the authority of the city. Later, the name was changed to ‘Thebes’ and more recently, ‘Al-Oqsor’ which means ‘The City of Palaces’. Luxor is divided in two by the mighty River Nile and as well as being the departure point for Nile Cruises, Luxor is also a resort in its own right where you walk through history.

Getting There & Around

The city is served by Luxor International airport with charter flights arriving direct from the UK as well as various routes from other airports in Egypt, Europe and the Middle East. The train from Cairo is a relatively inexpensive option and there is a bus service that links Luxor with Cairo, Hurghada and the Sinai. During the cooler parts of the day, you can walk around Luxor or if you may prefer to use taxis or horse drawn carriages (Caleches). As Luxor sits on both banks of the Nile, an essential way to cross the river is by boat. Dozens of felucca owners will offer to ferry you across the river.

Weather

The weather in Luxor is dry for much of the year, resulting in a fairly arid landscape and a dusty environment at times. The average daily temperatures in Celcius:

Who it suits

Luxor is a place for those who love Egyptian history as you are surrounded by it. On the East Bank lie the City of Living, Luxor and Karnak Temples and on the West Bank are the City of the Dead, Valley of the Kings and much more.

Luxor is an excellent destination to extend your stay in Egypt after a Nile Cruise or you could just visit Luxor for your holiday. You can book your Luxor holiday online but if you want to stay here as part of a multi-centre holiday, please call on 0208 816 8789 or email us via the 'Contact Us' page.