Luxor

Luxor is the premier travel destination in Upper (southern) Egypt and the Nile Valley. The dynastic and religious capital of Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom Egypt, Luxor has much to offer the traveller, from vast temples, to ancient royal tombs, via spectacular desert and river scenery and a bustling modern life.

Although a relatively small town by Egyptian population standards, Luxor is quite extensive and is best divided up into several 'districts' or areas that group the main attractions on their respective sides of the river Nile:
Luxor, East Bank the town, hotels
Luxor, West Bank ruins and other sights
These areas may then be divided into small sub-districts....

Get in
By plane
Luxor International Airport is a destination for flights on several European and Middle Eastern routes, as well as the main southern hub for domestic flights within Egypt.
Internal flights (duration approx. 1 hr) from Cairo to Luxor are maintained by Egyptair and cost about $230 for a return trip ticket.

Direct charters from Europe (London Gatwick, for example) are common in the winter high season. From the airport in Luxor, you will probably take a shuttle provided by your hotel. Note that the Airport in Luxor is very small, and getting luggage off the belt is a challenge.

EgyptAir also arranges day trips from Cairo which is an easy way for those who can stand long days to cover the main attractions of Luxor. Taxis are in abundance everywhere for local transportation.
As of Jan 2006, visitor visas are available on arrival to many foreign nationals, just after you enter the terminal building. (LE 150, most major foreign currencies accepted.)

A taxi from the airport into town should cost no more than 20EGP. Do not be fooled by the cartel of taxi drivers outside the doors to the airport. keep walking until you find a taxi driver in his car and then negotiate. Half the people you think are taxi drivers are just touts, so don't waste your time negotiating. All taxis in Luxor have an official rate card (in English) in the corner of the windscreen which states the price from the airport to town as 12 EGP, you can point out and demand this price if you feel like a good haggle.

By train
For those unwilling to purchase an expensive plane ticket, who have more time in which to travel and / or who wish to see more of the country, train travel to Luxor is a great and amazingly inexpensive option.
Four different modes of train travel exist between Ramesses Station Cairo, Luxor and on to Aswan (some trains even start in Alexandria):
Air-conditioned express train - travellers to Luxor can choose from 1st and 2nd class carriages, both with comfortable aircraft-style seats. The journey down the Nile Valley takes the larger part of the daylight hours (approx. 9 hrs), but is a relaxing way to sit back and view the lush rural landscape of Egypt, its many towns, people and animals. 1st class tickets Cairo-Luxor cost about LE 65, 2nd class LE 40 (the extra LE 25 is worth it!) Refreshments are served, but are basic and lacking in choice: a good tip is to go shopping before your journey to stock up on water, chocolate and nibbles. A good book also helps while away the hours.

Overnight air-conditioned express train - the night service, otherwise identical, saves sightseeing time compared with travelling by day and costs far less than the deluxe sleeper. Cairo-Aswan costs about LE 60 one-way 1st class air-conditioned.
Overnight deluxe sleeper [www.sleepingtrains.com] - saving time and discomfort, modern air-conditioned sleeping-cars are run between Cairo and Luxor by a company called Abela Egypt. Each train has a selection of 1- and 2-berth rooms and a club / lounge car. An evening meal and breakfast are included in the fare. Note that passengers travelling alone who don't opt for a single-berth compartment will be booked into a 2-berth compartment with another, random traveller of the same sex. Prices currently 55USD each one way from Cairo to Aswan.

By bus
Buses leave regularly from behind the Luxor Temple, to most major cities. For connections to Aswan and Cairo, the train is recommended, but it is a good alternative to get to Sinai (via Hurghada--Sharm el Sheik, or over the Suez canal).

By boat
There are boat trips from Cairo to Luxor and sometimes further up the Nile to Abu Simbel. These are reportedly the most pleasant and interesting way to get there if you have the time and money. The train is a close second and both cheaper and faster.

Luxury Hotels
The Winter Palace ,built in Victoria's reign, is the place to stay in Luxor. It is very central, well-appointed, and has good service and quite a bit of history. It was on the bulletin board in their lobby that Howard Carter first announced his discovery of King Tut's tomb. Prices are reasonable for this class of hotel.
Various large chains like Hilton, Sheraton, Novotel and Meridien also have high-end hotels in Luxor.

Cairo Weather

To Speak about weather, it is important to realize that in Egypt weather is different from one place to another/
The high season for tourism in Egypt is in winter and spring. Weather in Egypt is perfect for many kinds of tourism, just try to avoid coming in June, July and August , as they are too hot: the temperatures can reach around 45 degrees C. and the humidity is about 70 to 80%.
However, the period of high summer season is also crowded as hotels offer big discounts at this time or also because of the good rates for flights. It is also a primary vacation time in Europe, mainly in Spain. If you come in the deep summer season you can still enjoy it because you can always sightsee early in the morning and go again at night when the sun sets. You will definitely need good sunscreen and lot of liquids to drink with a nice hat on your head.

It is not true at all that Egypt has only 2 seasons with 9 months of summer and the remainder winter. There are 4 distinguishable seasons.

The best times to visit Egypt are from September till March, during which time the weather is good; and from September till mid-November, when it is very nice and the temperatures are pleasant for all activities - around 25 C to 15 C. Mid-Nov till the end of February is winter time when temperatures during day are around 12 or 15 degree C, and at night can drop to about 7 or 8 C.

From March until the end of April, there is usually some sand blown about by high winds. However on some days--perhaps only two or three during this two-month period, the weather can be so dusty that you may be not able to go outside. But the majority of days there is just a small amount of dust in the air because of wind that blows through the desert from the west.

Egypt is perfect all year for snorkling, diving, and so on, in the Red Sea area in Hurgada where it is always warm and nice. In winter time it gets a bit windy there, so it is then also perfect for windsurfing and kiting. Sharm is mainly recommended to visit only through winter time from the end of October till the end of February, as in summer is too hot. Sharm has 2 seasons, so it is not like Cairo where there are 4 seasons.

So in speaking about when to visit, it's all up to you. If cost doesn't matter, then winter is when you will want to go, especially Christmas and New Year or the period of Easter from mid-March till end of April. That is when the best weather will occur, even though it gets chilly in December and January but it's still suitable for many aspects of tourism during that time.

From mid-March till end of April, is the Easter season for Orthodox and Catholic Easter celebrations - the weather is so nice, but rates increase as it is a high demand period.

May till September is the summer season. May and September weather is not so hot as indicated above, while June, July and August are so hot, but rates are really cheap for flights and also for accommodations.

Hotels :

Garden City Hotel behind the Semiramis, Garden City. Used to be a well-run hotel owned by Italians, now just an average grimy but functional hotel. Staff don't particularly care, they know you won't be back. It has clean bedding and big rooms. Guidebooks claim Sat TV in all bedrooms - no sign of any TVs. 55EGP a night inc. breakfast. No air con.

Hotel El Hussein 5918089, Hussein Square at the Khan El-Khalili bazaar is a clean basic hotel in an interesting area. Prices from EL 45 for single rooms with shared baths on each floor to LE 75 for doubles with en suite bathroom. AC is extra, but the ceiling fans works well. Ask for a room with a balcony.

King Tut Hostel Sharia Talaat Harb, opposite McDonalds. Good, well-run hostel with private rooms available. At 40EGP a night for a private single room with AC, it's hard to find better value in Cairo. The staff are amiable and competent, though hardly conversationalists. There is a comfortable lounge. 40EGP single room, with AC and breakfast.

Mayfair Hotel 7357315, www.mayfaircairo.com, Zamalek. is a great mid-range hotel in Zamalek. The people were nice, rooms clean, prices reasonable, and atmosphere peaceful.

Dahab Hotel 5799104, mahmoujd basiony st 26, downtown cairo by midan talaat harb. This hostel was formerly well regarded by backpackers. It has now changed hands and sadly lost much of its former charm. The internet cafe has gone, as has the rooftop restaurant. Guests now seem to only stay for one night - arriving on the basis of an old guidebook and leaving the next morning. 20EGP for a single room, no AC, no breakfast.

Luna Hotel www.hotellunacairo.com Talaat Harb 27, downtown Cairo. One of the best hostels in Cairo, Hostel/Hotel Luna offers both quiet and noisy rooms (depending on the orientation towards Sharia Talaat Harb, incredibly noisy street below), for prices that soared lately, but the cleanliness of rooms is beyond comparison. If you arrive at night, prepare for long and hard discussion with Hany Moussa concerning your Egypt tours. Ignore the overpriced tours, and stick to the basics - sleep and shower!

Windsor Hotel Is a great place to stay if you want to get ripped off and made to feel uncomfortable. This place will most likely be in your guide book, but in my opinion it is past its time. The prices are well above similar hotels in Cairo.

Grand Hyatt Cairo Grand Hyatt Cairo is a semicircular hotel situated on the tip of Roda Island, linked to the city center by a private bridge, and approximately 14 miles from Cairo International Airport
Conrad Cairo The 24-story Conrad Cairo is located in downtown Cairo, eight miles from the Pyramids at Giza

Cairo maps

Cairo is the capital of Egypt. The city is officially known as al-Qahirah, which means "The Subduer". The Arab invaders seized it in 642 and gradually it grew into a small city and the North African Shi'i Fatimid Dynasty conquered it in 972. Later in 1100s the Seljuks captured Cairo and the city was further expanded. Baghdad was sacked in 1258 and this enhanced the importance of the city making it into an intellectual and artistic center in the Middle East. Cairo was the largest city in the world from 1315 to 1348. The Ottoman Empire took over the city in 1517 and later in the 17th and 18th centuries the Mameluks captured it. By 1798, Egypt was annexed by Napoleon, and Cairo was surrendered to him. The city was rebuilt during the era of colonization in 1882. It was the central city of Egypt during the course of British rule and presently it is the Arab world's cultural center.

Get in :

By plane
Cairo is served by Cairo International Airport [CAI] [1], which is the hub of the Egyptian national airline, Egyptair. Many of the world's popular airlines also fly into Cairo on a regular basis, including British Airways, Air France, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa.
The airport is located on the north-eastern outskirts of the city at Heliopolis. To get into downtown Cairo you can get a fixed-price limousine (60 EP) or negotiate a lower price with one of the small black taxis. You could negotiate down to as little as 40 EP. Back from the city a normal price would be 20-30 EP, depending on the traffic.

By train
Cairo's main railway station - Ramses Station (Mahattat Ramses) is located on Midan Ramses. Unsurprisingly, trains run to Cairo from most other regions and cities within Egypt.

By car
For those unfamiliar with Cairo traffic, one shouldn't expect to drive. The traffic is, at the least, overwhelming for the common traveler. Road signs, lanes, right-of-ways, etc. are not adhered to. The driving has a consistency, but not in any official way.

By metro
Cairo has the only metro system on the African continent. While its two lines are all too limited in scope, they're a major boon in the areas they do go to and the flat fare of 1.00 pound per trip is a steal. The key interchanges are Mubarak, at Midan Ramses, and Sadat, below Midan Tahrir. Note that in each train, the first car is reserved for women.

By taxi
The fleet of black-and-white taxis that ply Cairo's streets are convenient but a hassle: communication can be an issue and the meters, which are heirs from antique eras of gas prices, are not normally used. Prices are, however, not erratic, and any Cairene knows how much the driver expects depending on time and distance spent in the car. Because of a recent 20% raise in gasoline prices, prices could be slightly higher, but still very cheap for most tourists.
Ordinary Egyptians will never state prices beforehand. Instead the correct sum is payed through the window after leaving the car. Some drivers might protest as they expect tourists to pay more than the standard rates. Avoid negotiations - it takes lots of time and you end up at a price you won't like. Instead, use the "walk-away"-technique if they don't agree to your (reasonable) price. As long the driver does not leave the car, you're all right. If this happens, consult someone nearby.

By bus
The large red, white and blue public buses cover the entire city and are much cheaper, but are usually crowded. However, there are the similar air-conditioned buses that charge 2 L.E. for the trip and prohibit standing on the bus. They can be found in the main squares in Cairo. Also found in main squares are the smaller mini-buses that are usually orange and white or red, white and blue. Because of problems with sexual harrasment women travellers are advised only to take the small micro-buses and buses which prohibit standing.

Cairo Art and Culture :

Pyramids of Giza. The only remaining monuments of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it is the country's most famous touristic attraction and the icon that is most associated with Egypt.
Egyptian Museum. The world's premier collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts.
Saqqara.
Memphis.
Citadel. A grand castle built by Mohamed Ali.
Al-Azhar Mosque. One of the pillars of Islamic thought and home to the world's oldest university.
The Coptic Museum.
the "Hanging Church" (Church of the Virgin Mary).
the Al Rifai & Sultan Hassan mosques (19th C & highly decorated: 14th C & beautifully austere).

Alexandria maps

Alexandria, the second-largest city in Egypt and travel to Alexandria is one of the most visited place there and was founded by Alexander the Great in 334 BC. The city was named after its founder. The city was earlier known for the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was one of the greatest cities of the Hellenistic world. However, its status as the country's capital ended when Cairo was founded by Egypt's medieval Islamic rulers. At present, the city is Egypt's leading port, a commercial and transportation center and a major industrial area of the country.So when you are on a travel to egypt travel to Alexandria is a must visited place.

Area & Location:Lies along the coast of the Mediterranean sea in the northwest of Egypt, Alexandria is located at 31.198° Latitude North and 29.9192° Longitude East. The city is home to 3.5 to 5 million of its residents.

Tourist Attractions: The city, which has several historical monuments attract tourists to its soil.

Get in :

By plane
The small Alexandria Airport (ALY) is served by occasional domestic flights, and two times a week from Athens on Olympic Airlines. Lufthansa also operates direct flights from Frankfurt. The airport lies 8km/5 miles to the south east of the city. A taxi will take you 15-20 minutes and should cost no more than 40LE. Drivers always prefer to paid in sterling or in US dollars.
The equally small Borg el Arab Airport (HBE) is some 60km/38 miles to the south west of Alexandria taking about 40-45 minutes by taxi, which should cost you no more than 100LE. As always, agree the price before you get in the cab. British Airways fly to Borg el Arab from London Heathrow on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Thursday, with flights arriving at around 20:20. They do fly on other days via Beirut. Travellers from outside the UK can connect easily in London. Emirates will also fly you in via Dubai. BA prices start around £300 from the UK and Emirates from £330 return.

By train
Frequent trains from Cairo's railway station on Midan Ramses are probably the best way to get to Alexandria. Trains run at least once every hour from 6 AM to 10 PM, but try to choose either an express or the pride of Egyptian Railways, the French-built Turbo, which takes only 2 hours 10 minutes for the journey. 1st/2nd class tickets LE 25/20 one-way. Some trains (mostly slow ordinary ones) also continue on to Port Said.
Trains to Cairo depart from the aptly named Cairo Station, a 10-minute stroll south of the Corniche along Nabi Daniel St.

By car
There are two options when travelling by car, either taking the Agriculture road, which has various farms surrounding its sides, or the Desert road, which as the name implies, is through the desert with only some cafeterias and local peasants located on both sides every couple of kilometers. The journey usually takes around 3 hours, depending on speed and surrounding traffic
It should be noted, though, that driving in Egypt is not advisable unless absolutely necessary!

By bus
Taking the bus from Cairo to Alexandria is by far the most cost effective and comfortable way of transfering. Several bus companies offer the service which travels 224km/139 miles. The price, however, is well worth it: about 35LE (compared to a 100LE air fare), which converts to about $5.50. Buses are air conditioned and come complete with a hostess trolley service. Companies include Golden Arrow, West Delta and the larger firm, Pullman. Buses leave Alexandria in the mornings between 7:15am and 8:30am, although Pullman do now offer at 5.00pm service as well.

Hotels: The hotels in Alexandria serve host to the tourists coming from far and wide to know about the historically important city.
The famous hotels in the city are Renaissance Alexandria Hotel, Helnan Palestine, Sheraton Hotel Montazah, Union Hotel, El Salamlek, Palace Hotel, Sofitel Cecil Alexandria, Metropole Hotel, Movenpick Resort, Spa El Alamein AND Windsor Palace Hotel.

Places of Attraction:The well-known ancient monuments in the city draw in thousands of tourists from all parts of the globe. Although most of the monuments were destroyed in the earthquake, some of them remain in tact. "Pompey's Pillar", is one such famous monument that exists even after the destruction of others. Alexandria's catacombs, known as Kom al Sukkfa also attracts visitors on travel to Alexandria. The ruins of the ancient monuments remain in the city. A recent excavation has unearthed a well-preserved theater the remains of Roman-era baths. Some of the ancient valuables have been looted. Bibliotheca Alexandrina -an eleven-story, cylindrical-shaped building that houses more than eight million books is a real experience for the book lovers. Cisterns of Alexandria-a labyrinth of cisterns that supplied fresh water to the citizens of ancient Alexandria, Alexandria National Museum that preserves ancient artifacts, Fort Qaitbey- that resembles an imposing castle fortress, King Farouk Palace- the summer home of controversial King Farouk, Sarapeum - a temple dedicated to the god Serapis, Graeco-Roman Museum, Montazah Palace Gardens-Royal gardens of King Faruk are the other interesting ruins in the city.