Is Luxor Worth Visiting? 6 Reasons To Add It To Your Egypt Itinerary

UPDATED FEB 2020. When you’re planning a vacation to Egypt, we know that the Pyramids are a must-see, but where else should you visit? Is Luxor worth visiting? Well, I have to say, Luxor was my favorite leg of my trip to Egypt. To me, it was a city that was overflowing in character, history, and a laid-back vibe that made it easy to slow down and enjoy it all. Here’s a guide to why I think it needs to be on your holiday itinerary too.

Is Luxor Worth Visiting? 6 Reasons To Add It To Your Egypt Itinerary

1. The hot air balloon views

Going on a hot air balloon ride is the best way to soak in this epic landscape.

Rugged, tan mountains meeting lush, green palm trees and sugar cane farms is a beautiful contradiction that makes Luxor a gorgeous sight to see from above.

While you are planning your trip, ask for the sunrise hot air balloon ride with the team at Salem Balloons Luxor.

For more information, here is my guide on taking a hot air balloon ride in Luxor.

Is Luxor worth visiting? I say yes for the hot air balloons alone!

You can’t take any cameras, not even a GoPro, on the hot air balloon ride. You can take your phone though.

If you aren’t going out for more sightseeing straight from the hot air balloon ride, perhaps leave your camera locked up in your hotel room. If you are going out straight after the hot air balloon ride, you can leave your belongings in the van you travel to the site in.

Also, make sure you keep a little cash on you to tip the staff before you leave the basket.

2. The temples are fascinating

Is Luxor worth visiting? Well, if you’re interested in Egyptian history then absolutely.

I don’t know which had more ‘wow’ factor for me between the temples and the tombs in Luxor. They were both big highlights and left me in awe – even more so than the Pyramids of Giza actually.

I think the sheer size and scale of the temples was really, really impressive and walking amongst the ginormous statues and columns not only made me feel so very small but really brought it all to life for me.

You have a few to choose from when visiting Luxor, and your guide will be able to take you to as many as you can fit into your itinerary. My favorite was Karnak Temple.

3. You can walk through magnificent tombs

The tombs in Luxor are straight-up mind-blowing.

When you visit, the mountain in front of you seems like just another desert mountain, but you walk in a hole in the side of it and revealed to your wide, beady eyes is a series of rooms and walkways with the most elaborate and detailed art covering the walls and even the ceilings!

These tombs served as the final resting place for kings and their gold and were hidden away inside the mountains so that thieves could not find them easily. It’s all just incredible.

Valley of the Kings is a great place to visit to be able to see a few of the magnificent tombs.

In your regular ticket, you can see three tombs but you can add on more for an extra cost if you want. Also, if you want to take photos inside the tombs, you have to get a separate camera ticket. There are people inside the tombs that check so make sure you get the ticket if you want to take photos to avoid getting kicked out.

I think it’s 100% worth it to get the camera ticket because inside the tombs are so incredible that you are going to want photos of it.

4. Luxor is a laid-back city

I’m not really a city gal (I mean come on – I come from a place nobody has heard of called Humpty Doo.)

Perhaps this is why I enjoyed Luxor so much because I found it to be a nice, laid-back break, especially after the hectic, big city, concrete jungle nature of Cairo.

The streets were quieter, it was less built up, and life seemed to move along at a slightly more relaxed pace which I appreciated.

I enjoyed this about Luxor because it allowed me a better opportunity to slow down and enjoy it. I find that in big cities everything seems to move faster so things feel like they move along in a blur.

The laid-back vibes of Luxor allowed me a chance to be able to talk to people without rushing, it was easier to soak in the vibes of the city and was also a nice place for casual walks along the relaxing Nile.

If you’re like me and like a more laid-back style, then I think you too will enjoy this laid-back city by the mountains.

5. The range of unique stone craft

Alabaster has been used since ancient times.

It was highly valuable and thought to be sacred. After you have seen it in museums and monuments during your travels around Egypt, Luxor is a great place to buy some Alabaster stone craft of your own.

Ask your guide to take you to a store in the mountains (as opposed to down in the city) where you can be welcomed with a cup of the amazing Hibiscus tea, given a demonstration on how the stone craft is made and left to roam the stores to find a unique piece to take home with you.

You will have a wide range of choices from small ornaments, to teacup sets, or even larger items like vases and will be able to choose from other stones including Basalt as well.

6. The scenic landscapes will amaze you

I already mentioned how beautiful it is from the air in the first point, but the landscape overall is so pretty that it deserves its own point.

I think the contrast between the mountains and greenery was a special kind of beautiful and felt like being in a desert oasis for me. The Nile cuts through the city giving life to the palm trees and sugar cane plants until the desert begins as if an imaginary line in the land was drawn to split the dry and lush areas.

I could’ve taken photos of it all day! Even better, it’s amazing to know that scattered around this beautiful landscape are the amazing temples and tombs full of history.

My recommendation for a tour guide in Luxor

My tour guide in Luxor was Amr Ali and I highly recommend hiring him.

I really appreciated Amr’s style of guiding. I think of him as a laid back, gentle giant who listened to my stories with a keen interest and shared insights about life in Egypt as I asked a million questions.

He has a passion for and knowledge of ancient history and taught me a lot in our short time sightseeing.

He can plan and book your itinerary for your entire trip to Egypt – not just the sights in Luxor and can guide for everyone from couples, to groups, to solo travelers like me.

I convinced him to create a Facebook and Instagram page – so check them out and contact him on either page if you are planning a visit to Egypt.

Other Egypt travel guides to help you plan your trip:

• The Best Things To Do When You Visit Egypt For An Epic Vacation
• What You Need To Know About Solo Female Travel In Egypt
• The 17 Most Useful Travel Tips For Egypt – Everything You Need To Know
• What To Wear In Conservative Countries If You Are A Female Traveler

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