Luxor Travel Forum

My guide book (a new Globetrotter) says to wear long trousers and long sleeve shirts so not to offend what are conservative Muslims. Is this correct? Has anyone been in shorts and t-shirts and found a problem?

I have just read on a website that all tourists must travel on the overnight sleeper train between luxor and cairo. Is this true? i wanted to take the 23.15 express train as it is so much cheaper. Can anyone enlighten me?
Thank you

Could anybody recommend a taxi driver for the West Bank of Luxor and (another day) for Abydos and Dendara? I would really appreciate suggestions from travellers only (no sales pitches please).

Thank you!

Im thinking of going to luxor. Because it will just be a city break, could anyone tell me if the travel companies do excursions to hurghada ? Say an overnight trip? And how much will it cost?

I was wondering if I need a whole day to do this trip by taxi? Is it a few hours drive from Cairo?

Thank you.

Is there any plans of re-opening it, or any kind of private tour (that isn't only for the rich and famous), or is this just wishful thinking?

Thank you!

Hi
I am reading different messages from people/sites that say " no photos permitted in Ramses 6th tomb" but then I see some tourist photos taken inside!
Can someone help me understand what I can expect to encounter? I am willing to pay a little "bribe" to take non-flash pics inside several of the tombs I will be visiting. If this is an exceptable action to whom would I give the "bribe" ? :)
Thanks
Doug

Friends of mine just returned from Luxor and tell
me they were unable to go to Hatshepsut because it was "closed". Could you tell
me what is going on? I am coming in July and certainly hope to see this
wonderful site.
Thank you,
Doug Hutchinson
Guod7@yahoo.com

We are looking for the best way to see the luxor sights and we have desided on two must see's and from our travel agents, who are Tompson, we have been quoted £53 pp to see the west bank for a total £5 hours and for Karnack £32 pp for a total of 1 hour and 15 minuets.

There is two of us going, and we want to make the most of our trip which will be our first time in Egypt and we feel that this is not enough time to see all the sights.

Does anyone have any sugestions to an alternative company or way to see the sights or are we getting the best we can out of our trip?

Thanks in adavance!

Hello All -While visiting Cairo, We want to take the sleeping train to Luxor -First off I am wondering how are we going to get around once we will arrive at 5am and we won't have to be back on the train untill 7pm -Can someone suggest an itinerary for us ...We want to go to the Valley of the Kings will we have time for the other sites and what would be the top thing to do - Thank You in advance-Meg

Can anyone tell me whether it is possible to rent a car in Luxor.? I have checked the main car rental companies but apparently they mostly have offices in Cairo or the Red Sea Area.
I had in mind renting a car in Luxor, for two days, and drop it off in Aswan.
Thanks in advance

Where is the bus stop in Luxor to catch a bus to Hurghada. I hear mixed info, either it is near Luxor Temple or airport.

Hi - My friend and I will be travelling to Luxor (flying Gatwick-Luxor) at the beginning of March. Last time I went to Cairo and got my visa at the airport when we landed - bit of a scrum but manageable! I see from the Egyptian Consulate web site that you can send off for one (or apply in person!) but that would mean sending off passport to them - I definitely do not want to do that! So is it possible to get them at the airport - I am assuming that Luxor airport may be smaller than Cairo and therefore less of an ordeal. Any help/tips/details of cost etc., would be very gratefully received.
Many thanks,

I am going to Luxor again in a few weeks, can anyone recommend any good pubs or places to eat out @.
I went last year and did a cruise, that was great, and really fancied coming back and seeing more of Luxor. I have booked to stay in the Nile palace, is this good hotel to stay @ and is it expensive.

Thanks for any replies received.

Love laura

Hi,

I will be in Luxor soon and had a question about the hot air balloon ride. I heard it is highly recommended. My concern is that I will most likely be coming into Luxor via a cruise ship, check-out ~ 8 am.

- Is it possible to take a hot air ballon ride after 8 am?
- How should I go from the East bank to where the balloons depart?
- How much do the balloon rides cost?
- What is VOTK? (I read somewhere that the balloon rides are over VOTK).

Please advise as soon as possible. I will be leaving for Egypt this week, and plan to take the balloon ride on Dec 20th.

Thanks!!!

Hi

Nile cruising with a weeks chill out beginning January. Can anyone tell me what temperatures and general weather to expect please?

Regards

D.

Hi,

Trying to book carparking, my initial travel documents don't tell me which terminal I fly from. As usual when you want information the travel agent and airline are now closed until Monaday morning.

Flying MON4176 Gatwick to Luxor 29th December. Anyone know whether it is north or south terminal please?

Cheers

Derek

Hi,
Myself and my husband are going on a nile cruise next september and then a week in a hotel in luxor. Have never been abroad for 20 years. I am doing all the hard work on the internet forums to try to learn everything we need to know before we go. Have learned a lot but MONEY. I am at my wits end as to how much to take and how to take it as there is so many different views on cash, travellers cheques and sterling(i am scottish). Any ideas folks? It would be much appreciated

les x

Has anyone experienced the Dahabeya Dinner Cruise, which is advertised in the Nile Palace Hotel? I would like to know how the meal was, and if you thought it was value for money? That's all, thank you!

I would like to go to Luxor from Marsa Alam and then by night train to Cairo. I would like to ask some questions:
1) is there some regular bus service from Marsa Alam, or i had to take a tour from marsa alam (but it is not quite reasonable, because i use this bus only in 1 way) ?
2) is it safe to travel by train in Egypt? Can i lock the compartment door ?
3) how are the compartments in night trains in Egypt, can i sleep good there?
4) need i buy the train tickets in advance, or is it sufficient to buy them just in luxor ?
thanks

Hi,
I am travelling to Luxor in a couple of days, and although I have checked various websites, I am still not sure what is an acceptable taxi fare for a 6 mile (approx 11km) ride. Can anyone help please? S

I will be in Egypt in October and would like to visit Luxor. But i have some doubts whether do this tour, because I am afraid of too hot weather there on that time. So I would like to ask you, how is the weather in Luxor in the middle of October, and whether is the full day tour of Luxor doable.
i would like also know, whether I can hire a guide with car, which would take me to all places in Luxor, what should save my time and energy (i cannot imagine walking from place to place under the strong sun). Thank you for every advice.

do they serve english food in the mercure hotel also can you wear shorts to go out in i mean women as i was told we cannot wear shorts and a sun top to go on trips please can you let me know as i go on monday the 8th september

Where should I start & end (Cairo, Luxor, Jerusalem, Petra)?

I am planning a trip for the end of the year. I have a free flight that I have to take before the end of the year with American Airlines and I want to visit the following sites:

- Cairo (Giza and the Pyramids)
- Luxor
- Petra
- Jerusalem

I am not sure what city I should fly into to begin my trip. American can get me to either Tel Aviv or Cairo. From there I have had many suggestions:

- Take a train (at night) from Cairo to Luxor and then fly to Tel Aviv. After seeing Jerusalem, take a tour bus into Jordan (after switching buses) and spend a couple days in Petra then take a bus to Amman or back to Tel Aviv and fly back to Cairo for my return home.

Has anyone taken a train from Cairo to Luxor? If so, how was it?

Is there a train to Jerusalem from Cairo?

Has anyone taken one of the many tours from Jerusalem to Petra? How was it?

Any suggestions you could provide would be great!!

I have tried a couple travek agencies but they all include airfare and I already have the free flight that I have to use.

Thank you!

Has anyone travelled on the Sonesta St. George I Nile Cruise Ship as detailed here
http://www.sonesta.com/Nilecruises/index.cfm?fa=StGeorge.home

Next week I fly to Luxor for a week on board this ship and a week at the Sonesta St George Hotel and I wondered if anyone has any experiences of the cruise ship, good or bad?

Thanks,
Iain

Hi!
I'm heading to LUXOR in just over two weeks with my girlfriend. I haven't been in Egypt since 1990 and no doubt lots of things have changed. We are staying at the Sonesta St. George Hotel which I have heard is fantastic. When it comes to eating and drinking, what are the rules? I've heard that no ice in drinks, no salads that have been prepared for us, cut fruit or ice cream, is this really all true?

Also, I suffer badly with sun burn, so, I have PLENTY of factor 30spf cream but, besides a baseball cap, was contemplating buying a Shemagh before heading out there to keep the sun off the head and shoulders in the mid day sun if I can't get out of it. Do I need to have any thoughts about colour or pattern as I don't want to offend anyone or be considered to be part of any "group". Clearly I wont be buying a khaki or "sand brown" colour or any other from an ex military shop, but, clarification would be good.

Thanks,
Iain

Help wanted please..... i cannot decide what hotel to pick for our holiday in October, after doing a cruise. Me and my wife and 2 children aged 12 & 16 are thinking of stopping in The Pyramisa Isis /Nile Palace Luxor or Sonesta St. George Hotel i know we will have to stop in 2 rooms unless we pick the isis but would be grateful of any feedback.

Can anyone recommend which language school in Luxor to study Arabic. I know of Ahlan College, Almasa School and Al Sanabil language centre but I don't know if they are any good or which of the three is the better one.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

There have been many questions on this before as people were wondering which boat to choose etc. My husband and I are going to Egypt for 10 days in Dec and we don't have a big budget. Over $100 a night per person is a bit much for us and I was hoping to get something cheaper. Does anyone know of any cruises (3 nights)that are not luxury but decent still??

thanks soo much!
radha

We have booked flights from Luxor to Cairo (day trip) Where would be the best place to get a good guide for the day? And how much can I expect to pay?