Egypt is a country with an ancient history, with many world-famous attractions. We really wanted to see at least something during our holiday in Egypt.
We chose Hurghada as our autumn holiday destination. The most famous places in Egypt for history buffs are (probably) Luxor and Giza (Egyptian pyramids).
The distance from Hurghada to Luxor is approximately 180 miles (290 kilometers).
The distance from Hurghada to Cairo (where the Pyramids of Giza are located) is 290 miles (470 kilometers).
We chose a guided tour to Luxor because it is closer. (The bus ride to Cairo is too long, too tiring.) A small group guided tour to Luxor cost US$40. (When paying in Euros, they asked for the same amount, so paying in dollars was more profitable.)
Entrance fees to attractions, lunch in a restaurant, and a river boat excursion on the Nile were included in the price of the tour.
In the photo: despite the heat, many tourists want to visit the ancient temples of Luxor.
What’s interesting: our bus was traveling with a company from a more expensive hotel (5*), and the same excursion cost them a little more! Can it really be that the cost of a product (service) depends on the client’s wealth?
The city of Luxor is quite far from Hurghada. The bus ride lasted approximately 5 hours. The trip was quite tiring, even though the bus was comfortable and air conditioned. But the most unpleasant thing awaited us in Luxor. It's hot.
The heat significantly spoiled our impression of the trip. The air temperature during the day was over 40°C. And if the air was a little cooler near the Nile, then near the ancient temples the heat was oppressive. (Some older people didn’t even want to get off the bus in the late afternoon.)
September is not the best time to travel to Luxor because it is too hot this month. It is better to visit Luxor in winter if you have a choice.
There are many historical sites in and around Luxor. It is impossible to visit them all in one day. The program of our excursion included a visit to the Valley of the Queens, the Karnak Temple, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon, a boat trip on the Nile, lunch at a restaurant, a visit to a banana plantation (with a mini zoo). This is a very intense program for one day.
The Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens are located on the western bank of the Nile, and the Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple are on the other, eastern bank of the river. The distance between them in a straight line is approximately 6 kilometers.
The ancient temples of Egypt are truly worth the trip to Luxor. The huge structures, wall paintings and sculptures are impressive. It’s amazing how it was possible to create something like this many thousands of years ago?
Despite the very hot weather, there were a lot of tourists from different countries in the sights of Luxor. It seems that tourists from all over the world come to Luxor at any time of the year. (There is an airport near Luxor if you want to fly in.
The boat ride on the famous Nile River was very pleasant, a bit refreshing. (Of course, we didn’t see the famous giant Nile crocodiles; they are not there.)
In the photo: tourists go on a short cruise along the Nile.
This may be useful to know if you want to visit Luxor just like us:
- Choose a cooler month if you have the opportunity to choose. (Winter is the coolest time of the year.)
- Don't forget to bring drinking water with you.
- Don't forget to take a light hat with you for sun protection.
My personal opinion: when in a foreign country, it would be good to respect the customs of the local residents. When traveling around Egypt, it would be good to choose clothing that does not grossly conflict with local traditions and local views of decency. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
I would really like to come to Luxor again, it would be better for a few days, but at a time of year when it is a little cooler here. (According to weather observations, the coolest months in Luxor are December, January and February, and the hottest are May, June, July, August.)
Also, after visiting Luxor, the desire to see the Pyramids of Giza with my own eyes only intensified. I would also like to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum. If such a trip takes place, you will find information about it on this site.
See also: our vacation in Egypt, September 2023.