Discover Luxor Governorate

The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun at Karnak has 134 columns. It offers a glimpse of the architecture travelers can discover in Luxor Governorate among temple precincts, tombs and museums. Ancient Thebes and its necropolis were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

Karnak, Thebes and the Avenue of Sphinxes

Karnak lies on the East Bank of ancient Thebes, present-day Luxor, in Upper Egypt. The temple complex includes the precincts of Amun, Mut and Montu, as well as Akhenaten’s temple to the god Aten. The different areas make Karnak a place where several religious and architectural influences come together within one complex.

The Avenue of Sphinxes connects the Karnak temples in the north with Luxor Temple in the south. It is about 2,700 meters long. Ancient Egyptian kings had it built between the 18th and 30th dynasties as a processional route for religious ceremonies and festivals. The avenue is thus both a physical connection and part of the temples’ recorded history.

Luxor Temple lies within ancient Thebes. It was the main venue for the Opet Festival. During the processions, people crossed the Nile to visit royal mortuary temples, including the Temple of Hatshepsut. This historical connection broadens the view from the temples on the East Bank to the sacred sites on the West Bank.

Tombs and mortuary temples on the West Bank

The Valley of the Kings lies on the West Bank of the Nile and is divided into the East Valley and the West Valley. It contains more than 60 tombs, as well as another 20 unfinished tombs that are little more than pits. The tomb of Tutankhamun dates to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1336–1327 BC) and is the only royal tomb in the valley to have been discovered relatively intact. The tomb of Seti I is also notable for its history: it was the first tomb in the Valley of the Kings to be fully decorated.

The Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir al-Bahari consists of three man-made terraces. The site was sacred to the goddess Hathor. Near Deir al-Bahari, a geological formation has a naturally pyramid-shaped peak. The architecture, religious history and landscape offer different ways to explore the site.

The Ramesseum is a sandstone mortuary temple built for King Ramesses II. Its walls depict the Battle of Kadesh. The temple also includes a statue of Ramesses II that is more than 17 meters high and weighs about 1,000 tons. The Temple of Medinet Habu, built by Ramesses III, offers another glimpse into the history of royal mortuary temples. Historically, a canal connected to the Nile and a landing stage in front of the temple allowed access by boat.

Museums and specific areas of interest

The Luxor Museum houses a collection of rare artifacts discovered in Luxor. These include several objects belonging to King Tutankhamun, discovered in 1922 in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. Carter House was converted into a museum in 2009. In 2014, a replica of Tutankhamun’s tomb made and donated by Factum Arte was installed on the grounds.

When looking for a hotel, it can help to first decide what you most want to see: temple history at Karnak and Luxor Temple, tombs in the Valley of the Kings, or the museums. Location details can also help with planning: Karnak lies on the East Bank of ancient Thebes, while the Valley of the Kings is on the West Bank of the Nile. The places you choose to focus on give your cultural trip in Luxor Governorate a personal direction.

Discover more destinations: Luxor, Al Karnak, South Sinai, Alexandria, Sohag, Beheira, Qalyubia, Beni Suef.

For the broader travel overview: Egypt.