Luxor is Egypt’s number two destination for visitors after the greater Cairo/Giza area further north. Luxor is the area I call the land of tombs and temples because, while there are certainly tombs and temples all over Egypt, Luxor is where the most magnificent ones are located. Most notably in Luxor we have the Valley of the Kings with the splendid underground tombs of … [Read more...] about What to See and Do in Luxor
Egypt Travel Blog posts about LUXOR
New Discoveries
One of the amazing things about Egypt is that the entire country is still an active archaeological site. With over five thousand years of history under its sands, the slice that we know about and have uncovered so far is by no means all there is to be discovered. When you visit the Pyramids couples, Memphis, the Valley of the Kings, and many other sites, you may notice … [Read more...] about New Discoveries
Luxor Temple
Despite its prominent name, Luxor Temple is actually the second most famous temple in Luxor behind the much larger and greater Temple of Karnak just down the road. However, Luxor Temple has several unique features of its own that merit a visit and some independent attention. The first and most obvious aspect of Luxor Temple that you’ll notice when you arrive in Luxor is that … [Read more...] about Luxor Temple
The Valley of the Queens
The Valley of the Queens in the area of Luxor is a lesser visited royal necropolis in which various family members of several dynasties of pharaohs were laid to rest. As the name suggests, many queens were buried here in elaborate tombs befitting their status and wealth, but many princesses and even princes had dedicated tombs here as well. One of the valley’s most famous … [Read more...] about The Valley of the Queens
The World’s First Drag King
Beyonce, Gaga, even Hillary ain’t got nothing on ancient Egypt’s biggest diva. She ruled the world’s most powerful empire over 3400 years before women even got the vote in the United States. And to do it, she became the world’s first and most famous drag king. Queen Hapshetsut was already a big deal back in her day as the daughter of pharaoh Thutmose I, and she doubled her … [Read more...] about The World’s First Drag King
The Sleeping Dogs of Karnak
One of my favorite sites to visit in Egypt is the Temple of Karnak, located just north of downtown Luxor in southern Egypt. The sheer scale of its massive pylons, the enormous girth of the lotus-topped columns in its Hypostyle Hall, the near excessiveness of the hieroglyphic reliefs, the serenity of some of its less-trafficked outer rooms all combine to make a visit to Karnak a … [Read more...] about The Sleeping Dogs of Karnak
The Valley of the Kings
When most people think of Egypt, they usually think of three things: pyramids, tombs, and temples. While the first of those, the Pyramids, are primarily located just outside of Cairo in the north of Egypt, the most famous tombs and temples are located down south in and around the city of Luxor. And of Luxor’s many mind-blowing sites, the most famous is the fabled Valley of the … [Read more...] about The Valley of the Kings