Lieux à visiter en/au Luxor Governorate

Luxor Governorate is a narrow strip of Upper Egypt along the Nile, about 650 km south of Cairo, and it covers the site of ancient Thebes, the New Kingdom capital. The river splits the travel map in two: the east bank holds the city, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple and the Luxor Museum, while the west bank holds the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon, Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum and the Tombs of the Nobles. Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Luxor International Airport (LXR) takes domestic flights from Cairo and international charters, and the railway station and Nile cruise moorings sit on the east bank. Foreign visitors pay several times the Egyptian price at state monuments, ticket offices largely take cards, and the Valley of the Kings sells its best tombs as extras. October to April is the comfortable season, with days of about 22-30 C, while June to August regularly passes 40 C and pushes sightseeing into the first hours after 06:00 opening. Day trips reach Dendera, Abydos, Esna and Edfu along the Nile valley. Dress modestly, carry water, and expect baksheesh requests from tomb guards.