Luxor Things to Do Tips by sachara

The Colossi of Memnon at the westbank are the remains of the temple of the king Amenotis III, once the largest temple of Thebe. The temple is destroyed by the flooding of the Nile centuries ago.
The Colossi of Memnon nowadays stand solitary as guardians for the necropolis at the edge of the desert.

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Directions: 3 KM west of the local Nile ferry.

When you cross the Nile to the westbank, the Colossi of Memnon are the first monuments you will see. The massive Colossi of Memnon, made of yellow-brown sandstone are 17,9M high. Once they were 21 M with crowns. The statues of king Amenophis, son of Hapoe, are crownless and faceless nowadays. if you have a good look, you can see at the base of the left colos Teje, the wife of the king and Moetemoeja the mother of the king.

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Directions: 3KM west of the local Nile ferry.

With the Ramesseum as example Ramses III built the large Medinet Habu temple-complex at the place where the god Amun for the first time should have appeared. The original temple of Amun, built by Hatshepsut and Tuhmosis at this place was totally overshadowed by this new complex. The complex is enclosed by massive walls
We visited the complex for the first time in 1983 and then again in 1999. In the meantime a lot has been restored.

Picture:
Caryatid pillars and columns in the palace's peristyle.

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Directions: At westbank 4KM west of the local Nile ferry.
Go to the left before you reach the valley of the queens.

The first Pylon of the temple complex has some giant very beautifull reliefs. Ramses III as victor in several wars. Special is the naval battle at the north facing outer wall off the palace. Further you can see the victory of Ramses over the Libyans and a triumphal procession.

Picture: Ramses receiving the regalia of king of Amun.

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Directions: Luxor, westbank, near the valley of queens.

When you walk around in the Medinet Habu complex there is a lot to see like the temple of Ramses II, the Palace of the Pharao, the Temple of Amun, reliefs, carved pillars....
But don't forget to look up. Also the ceilings of the entrances have colourful well-preserved paintings. So don't miss.

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Directions: West bank, near the valley of the queens.

The Ramesseum is the funeral temple built in order of Ramses II. The temple was built to the ultimate glory of himself as an eternal testimony to his greatness. His ''Castle of the Million Years'' was built by the architect Penre on such a huge scale, to overshadow other temples of that time.
Today remains little of that splendor: the Osiris pillars on the facade of the hypostyle hall and a giant fallen statue of Ramses II, not much more.

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Directions: West Bank Luxor, near the valley of the Nobles.

The Ramesseum is the name given in the 19th century to the huge funeral temple of Ramses II. The Statue of Ramses II, seated on a throne, with originally a weight of over a thousand tons and 17M high is mutilated and fallen. The temple and its ornaments had to impress others like priests, successors and gods by its large scale.

Which hand is the biggest?

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Beside the Temple of king Montuhotep (11th dynasty) the architects Senmun and Dedia built 500 years later the Temple for the queen Hatshepsut, inspired by the neigbouring temple. The temple is special by the location at the eastern cliffs of the Thebian mountains, partly harmonious built in the slopes as if nature self had done the job. The Temple has series of terraces, who ascend to the sanctuary. The first terrace is enclosed by a portico of 22 pillars and flanked by two Osiris pillars.
The ambiance is very impressing.

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Directions: Luxor, westbank.

Looking for the tombs of the nobles is very special. The tombs are between the houses in the old village Gurna. There are 400 tombs or more of the Middle Empire dynasties. There are no signs, so the local people have to tell or show you where the tombs are. In 1983 we visited several tombs of theh Nobles, not always so beautifull as the tombs in the valley of the kings, but we prefered this place because of its ambiance.

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Directions: West Bank near the Ramesseum in the village Gurna.

In the Valley of the Queens are 75 tombs of queens and princesses of the 19th and 20 th dynasties. Only 5 tombs are open for the public. We visit them all, included the best tomb of Egypt, the tomb of Nefertari, discovered in 1904 and first opened for the public in 1995.
Only 150 visitors a day are allowed to visit the tomb for 10 minutes only. "Take 5 minutes more, if you need" whispered the guard at the entrance at our early morning visit.
Ramses II, the husband of Nefertari ordered to build this beautifull tomb. The paintings in the seven chambers have very bright colours. The scenes are portraying a charming woman with beautifull face in long white transparant garments.
For many visitors it's a rather emotional experience to visit this tomb. I saw people with tears in the eyes and people who had to go out to take some fresh air before re-entering and looking at the breathtaking scenes again.
At this moment I look at the booklet with all the amazing scenes and realise this is the best I've ever seen in Egypt. So, a really must see. It's worth the money.
Entrance tomb Nefertari: 100 Egyptian pound
Entrance 4 other tombs together: 12 Egyptian pound.

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Directions: The valley of the Queens or Biban-El-Harim is not far from the ticketoffice, near Medinet Habu at the south-western side of the Theban Necropolis.