The ancient Egyptian capital, Luxor is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world annually. The city is famous for its monuments, contributing greatly to the economy of the modern city. Being a destination with such valuable historical sites, you need to be prepared well-in-advance to avoid any confusion during your trip. To make it easy for you, here are some Luxor travel tips you should definitely not miss out in order to make your planning process simpler.

12 Luxor Travel Tips

The ultimate guide to Luxor travel tips: from the best time to visit to what you must pack, here are some of the best tip you should keep in mind before you fly to modern day Egyptian city, Luxor.

1. Pick The Best Time To Visit Luxor

This is one of the most important travel tips for Luxor Egypt.The best time to visit Luxor is from October to April when the temperature is pleasant. December and January are considered the peak tourist season, therefore, prices start increasing in November. During this time, iconic sights like the Pyramids of Giza, the Temples of Luxor, and Abu Simbel can get crowded and may make your visit uncomfortable. Though you will enjoy sightseeing and tomb exploring when the temperature is bearable.

2. Apply For Your Tourist Visa

Most visitors require a visa to travel to Luxor. It is always suggested to get one in advance. There are special rules for longer stays and also for people who are entering for diplomatic and a range of other reasons.

3. What To Pack

It is advisable to wear light clothes for the day. A fleece for the evening is essential if you are in Luxor between November and March. If you are planning to visit mosques, you should keep all covered clothes (covering the knee if possible) Women should carry a veil/shawl or you can even buy it at most souvenir shops.

4. Where To Stay

Almost all kinds of accommodation from tent pitches to 5 star hotels are available in the city, The Nile river splits the Luxor city into two areas – East Bank and the West Bank. The East Bank is the modern city where will you find more conveniences, hotels while the West Bank is mostly ancient sites. If you want to explore the museums, Luxor Temple, and markets, it is better to stay near the East Bank. You can decide your stay according to your planned itinerary.

5. What To See

Luxor travel information also includes the highlight of the city.There are well decorated tombs and prominent temples which is a must-visit place when in Luxor. The city is famous for its historical sites. You can even go for air, helicopter and balloon tours. Luxor is also well known for its Nile cruises.

6. Drink Plenty Of Water

Dehydration is the greatest health risk when in Luxor. Since it is extremely hot all year round, always take plenty of water. You will get safe bottled water at every place. Avoid drinking really cold water as it might upset your stomach.

7. Some Emergency Details

If you unwell while exploring the city in and out, no need to worry. Most medicines are easily available and are cheap. You will find English speaking doctors at every hotel. Luxor also has quite good hospital.

Emergency numbers
Police: 122
Ambulance: 123

8. Start sightseeing early

In order to save yourself from the heat, start exploring the city early in the morning. It gets increasingly hot during the day which will make you uncomfortable.The other benefit is that you will get to see a lot of temples and tombs.

9. Watch for the “guides”

It may happen that many of the security guards in temples as well as tombs will try to show you the temple around and expect some money. Be careful and tell them immediately if you don’t need a guide. Also, these people are helpful if you want to go into closed off areas for getting yourself clicked. In this way their offers pay off.

10. Bargain Hard

You have to show your art of bargaining when in Luxor. Most people attempt to sell the Westerners at triple or four times the cost. Be careful of these sale touts. Also, like all other places, Luxor is no different in bargaining while shopping.

11. Traveling Around Luxor

The best way to travel in Luxor is by felucca boat. To enjoy the beauty, make sure to hire a boat around sunset. When you are in the East bank, you can walk on foot in between most of the sites as the different temples and museums are fairly close together. If you are really tired, you can book a taxi but make sure to negotiate. Traveling between the East Bank and West Bank of Luxor will require a ferry ride. If you are in the West Bank alone, you will need to hire a taxi for the day as it is more complicated.

12. Places to Eat and Drink

There are several restaurants in Luxor offering the authentic taste of Egyptian cuisine. It is known for its abundance use of fruits and vegetables which grow bountifully in the Nile valley. If you are a vegetarian, fret not. There are good Indian restaurants in Luxor that offer you quality Indian dishes and let you choose from a wide variety of options.