Book cheap holidays to Luxor

Luxor

Description

Luxor is located on the east bank of the River Nile, on the site of the ancient city of Thebes. It is a charming place of remarkable history. With its numerous prehistoric temples, monuments and sepulchres, it can be described as perhaps the greatest open air museum in the world. Luxor is a must for those who visit Egypt as it is one of the most fascinating holiday destinations in the country. The number and size of the ancient sites is irresistible, while lavish hotels offer a serene retreat away from the sightseeing throng. Luxor has an array of brilliant temples and tombs, plus the Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon, Hatsepshut, Karnak and Luxor Temples. Travelling to Luxor, one will know why it is one of Egypt's most amazing tourist destinations. A handful of interesting museums, galleries and churches can easily fill a couple of days of sightseeing.

Shopping

Shopping in Luxor is a treat for one and all. The best shopping hub of the town is outside the temple complex where you will discover lots of local hawkers sitting down with a range of items. If you want to buy some mementos for loved ones back at home, then visit this place. There are plenty of shops around the sites of attractions from where you can buy diverse food and drinks, and vendors trade magnets, t shirts, post cards, tourist guide books and various other items from their stalls.

Restaurants

The food available here is authentic and fresh. Apart from the local Egyptian cuisines, visitors can also relish a wide array of international delicacies. To treat your taste buds visit the Ali Baba restaurant which provides superb food at inexpensive prices. Hamees, Jamboree and Sindbad are also amongst those worth a visit.

Night Life

There isn’t much for the night birds. Though there are a few bars, nightlife is centred in the hotels, which proffer an array of evening pursuits with conventional music and belly dancers. For a taste of the local nightlife, an evening saunter around Luxor Bazaar presents the opportunity to sample local drinks and pick up some reasonably priced souvenirs.

Activities

Communications

The international access code for Egypt is +20. The outgoing code is 00 followed but the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). The city code for Cairo is (0)2. There are high surcharges on international calls from hotels; it is cheaper to phone long-distance from the 24-hour Post, Telephone and Telegraph (PTT) offices that are available in the major cities. For international directory phone enquiries dial 120. The local mobile phone operators use GSM 900 networks and have roaming agreements with all major operators. Internet cafes are available in the main tourist areas.

Contacts

Egyptian Tourist Authority, Cairo: +20 (0)2 285 4509 or www.egypt.travel
Egyptian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 895 5400.
Egyptian Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7499 3304.
Egyptian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 234 4931.
Egyptian Embassy, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6273 4437.
Egyptian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 343 1590.
Egyptian Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 660 6566.
United States Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 2797 3300.
British Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 2794 0852.
Canadian Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 2791 8700.
Australian Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 2575 0444.
South African Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 2359 4365.
Irish Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 2735 8264.
New Zealand Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 2461 6000.
Emergencies: 122 (Police); 123 (Ambulance).

Currency

EGP

Attractions

Visitors to the city will never be bored, with such a variety of things to do in Luxor. The striking multifaceted temple in the city is a place which draws many travellers, attracted to its exquisiteness and superb architecture. The Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the Tombs of the Noble are also unforgettable tourist attractions of the ancient Egyptian Civilization, as are the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Luxor, Temple of Karnak, and Mummification Museum. Travellers who are engrossed by Eqyptian history and want to learn more will be truly enthralled by Luxor.

Language

Arabic

Language Description

Arabic is the official language although English and French are widely spoken, especially in the tourist areas.

Tipping

Tipping is known as 'baksheesh' and some small change is expected for most services, though small change can be hard to come by. 'Baksheesh' can be a useful practice in order to gain entry to seemingly inaccessible places, or for extra services - a small tip can open doors, literally. A service charge is added to most restaurant and hotel bills but a 5% tip is normally given directly to the waiter. Taxi drivers are tipped about 10%.