Your favorite Luxor sites?

[Woodrowst]

My wife and I will be taking a cruise that stops in Safaga, Egypt as the jumping off port for Luxor.   The ship is offering a number of all-day Luxor tours.  Some seem to spend more time outside than inside in tombs and others focus on different parts of the Luxor site.

 

For those who have been to Luxor, were you more impressed by the outdoor architecture or the indoor tombs?  What is your list of most impressive things you saw/visited?

 

Thanks for your insight.

 

David

 

[John Bull]

Hi David,

 

If we were remotely interested in Egyptology we'd book a Nile cruise plus a week or more in Luxor.

But we're not.

So we ticked the box with a day-trip from a cruise ship in Safaga, same as you've got.

 

A very very good day, despite the 3+ hours each-way from Safaga.

That (plus a similar day-trip to Cairo/Giza from Port Sokhna) was plenty for our limited interest.

 

It included amonst other sites the Temple of Karnak, The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings. All well-worthwhile.

Altho some are outside Luxor, all the sites are only a few minutes apart, but because it included so much the time in the Valley of the Kings only gave free-time to go into one tomb.

And in all honesty one was enough.

 

If you're really keen on the subject I feel you'd already know what you want to see in a single day's visit.

But if you just want to get a taste, to see the places you may have heard about, then I  suggest you do what we did- go for the most wide-ranging tour available, ensuring it includes the Temple of Karnak & the Valley of the Kings and hopefully the Temple of Queen H.

 

Lots of hawkers, but very friendly and not too pushy - much better than Cairo.

 

We rarely take ships' excursions, but this was an exception because of the distance & remoteness of the road. We got back to the ship about half an hour late but no worries.

 

This was a Thomson (now called Marella) cruise - for this excursion they provided a packed lunch, ideal because restaurant stops cost so much time. Like our ship-mates we shared it with local kids.

 

And no waste of time visiting unwanted carpet shops, woodwork workshops etc that give cruise lines a commission on sales - one reason we don't usually take ships' excursions.

That's another difference with Cairo. If Cairo's on your itinerary, your tour will end at the "Papyrus Institute" ie souvenir shop. But there's a second reason for that - coaches travel between Cairo and port in police-escorted convoys, so it's a way of getting the wagon-trains together.

 

A Red Sea cruise is a great way to get an insight.

 

JB 🙂

[Woodrowst]

JB-

 

Your post was extremely helpful.  Thanks so much.

 

David

[cruisemom42]

As someone hugely interested in ancient Egypt, I've done both a small group tour that included several days in Luxor (and a Nile cruise) and also have stopped in Luxor in association with a cruise. 

 

The two largest temples, Karnak and Luxor are different experiences but if I were to recommend one, it would be Luxor as it is so impressive due to size and also its setting (not in the middle of a city; it's avenue of sphinxes in front, etc.)

 

The Valley of the Kings is also fantastic and should not be missed. Most average "tours" visit 3 tombs, and the slightly more expensive ticket offers one more tomb of your choice among those open that day. When I went, many chose the tomb of King Tut which, although not as impressive, has a great story associated with it that most people know.  I'm not sure if it is open these days, however.

 

Good guides will pick three tombs for their group that vary in size, era and decorative style. Since I've been twice I've visited 7 different tombs (one was a repeat) and even if you only see 3-4, you get a very good idea of what they are like. 

 

John Bull mentions the temple of Hatshepsut which is extremely impressive. When you approach it, what strikes you most is how very modern it looks. Then you get closer and realize how large it is. If you go right up to the top and then to the back of the monument, you are rewarded with some beautiful frescoes (again, a good guide will walk you through the stories and historic events depicted), some of which still retain their original coloring.

 

There are other sites I enjoyed almost equally, due to what I'd read or knew about them (such as the "Colossi of Memnon", the Ramesseum, the village of the tomb workers, the archaeological museum in Luxor), but these three are certainly among the more impressive.

[seasoned]

I highly recommend an overnight excursion from Safaga, especially a private group that you can organize yourself with an excellent guide, which I've done several times. Favorite places where you will avoid the tourist throngs: Medinet Habu (INSTEAD of Karnak and Luxor Temples!); the workers village and the nearby funerary tomb with the most exquisite and colorful wall paintings; a side trip to Dendara to see the amazing blue-and-white ceiling paintings at the Temple of Hathor. There are some wonderful local restaurants in Luxor, and don't miss a chance to smoke some sheesha or at least have tea in a local coffee shop. We've been able to see more, do more and eat more, and for less $$ than a ship shorex!

[cruisemom42]

9 hours ago, seasoned said:

I highly recommend an overnight excursion from Safaga, especially a private group that you can organize yourself with an excellent guide, which I've done several times.

 

It didn't sound to me as if the OP is going to be in Safaga overnight.