Luxor: A Living Museum
Although Egypt has many attractions for the tourist, it is widely held by tourists that the jewel in the crown is Luxor, a city which retains an extremely strong link with the history of the country. There is good reason for the city being referred to as the world’s largest open-air museum, as it is home to some of Egypt’s most stunning temples as well as featuring several individual museums, including one dedicated to the process of mummification. There is real variation here, as the Luxor travel experience is in fact split into three separate areas.
The city itself is home to Luxor Temple among other attractions. This temple was built by order of the Pharaoh Amenophis III. Although stunning and intricate, it is also quite a manageable destination even for tourists who are mobility-impaired, as it is compact enough to be seen in its entirety in the course of an hour. The Mummification Museum is another fascinating attraction, featuring everything you could possibly wish to know about mummies themselves and the history of mummification. Perhaps the first destination for any tourist visiting Luxor, though, is the Luxor Museum, as it enables a better understanding of the ancient and modern city, improving your experience of other sites in the area.
The second part of Luxor which must be seen is Karnak. With the history of Egypt being so strongly tied to Temples, it is important to see the Temples of Karnak. Karnak was once known as “Ipet-isut” (the most select of places). It is believed to be the largest religious site surviving in its original form in the world today. The site itself measures 1500 meters by 800 and was built over the course of a millennium and a half. If you want to get a feel for the history of Egypt and experience Luxor travel to its fullest, then Karnak is an essential destination.
Finally, a complete Luxor travel experience is topped off by a visit to Ancient Thebes. Again there is much to see in this historically rich site, but the three destinations you cannot miss are the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the Colossi of Memnon. All are well worth a visit.