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Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis

Luxor · Egypt

Background

World Heritage since
1979
Type of site
Cultural
Capital of Egypt
Middle–New Kingdom

Thebes, the city of the god Amun, was the capital of Egypt in the Middle and New Kingdoms. UNESCO calls its temples and tombs a striking testimony to Egyptian civilisation at its height.

On the east bank of the Nile stand the temples of Karnak and Luxor. Across the river, the Theban Necropolis holds the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the Tombs of the Nobles and mortuary temples such as Hatshepsut's and Medinet Habu.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. Middle KingdomThebes becomes Egypt's capital
  2. New KingdomRoyal burials in the Valley of the Kings
  3. 1979Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Karnak Temple
    The hypostyle hall's 134 columns and the sacred lake.
  2. 2
    Luxor Temple
    Lit up after dark, at the end of the Avenue of Sphinxes.
  3. 3
    Valley of the Kings
    Painted royal tombs cut into the desert hills.
  4. 4
    Temple of Hatshepsut
    The queen's terraced temple against the cliffs.
  5. 5
    Valley of the Queens
    Including the tomb of Nefertari.
  6. 6
    Medinet Habu
    Ramesses III's temple, with relatively few visitors.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Start at Opening
Beat the heat: the GoGo guide is in the Valley of the Kings at 6:30am.
Pay by Card
Most sites take card only. Tutankhamun's and Seti I's tombs need extra tickets.
Water, Hat, Torch
Bring plenty of water and sun cover, and a torch for the darker tombs.
Allow Several Days
The GoGo Luxor guide spreads the east and west banks over a few days.
Luxor Pass and Student Discount
A Premium Luxor Pass covers all Luxor sights for 5 days. Students under 24 get 50% off most sites.

A Day on Both Banks

From the GoGo Luxor guide · Open the Luxor Guide ›

  1. 06:30
    Tombs in the Valley of the Kings3 hrs
    Painted royal tombs in the desert hills.
  2. 14:30
    Karnak Temple Complex2.5 hrs
    The hypostyle hall and the sacred lake.
  3. 17:00
    Luxor Temple at Dusk90 min
    Lit up after dark.
  4. 18:45
    Avenue of Sphinxes30 min
    The processional road between the temples.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Nov–Feb. Very hot (highs 34°C+) in May–Oct.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Jan (1 mm), driest Feb (0 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 87 · Wikipedia: Theban Necropolis · Wikivoyage: Luxor/West Bank (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Luxor guide · UNESCO listing