Luxor - Valley of the Kings

"The valley of the Kings" is a glorified graveyard for the kings. A similar graveyard for the queens exist nearby. Unfortunately, cameras are not allowed inside the Tombs and so, I don't have any pictures of the tombs.

Entrance :

Entry into tombs require a entry ticket that also includes a ride to the tombs. More than 60 tombs are said to be here of which only about 15 of them are open to public at any given time. The tombs include the tomb of Tutenkhamun although, the mummy and the relics are moved to Cairo Museum.

All I could manage to get was a picture of the road leading to the tombs.

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Luxor - Colossi of Memnon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossi_of_Memnon

Probably the oldest monument unearthed so far in Egypt. This is a reconstruction in progress and more such statues are being unearthed as I write this. The work is progressing rather slowly given the political and economic situation of the country.

The name Memnon might seem familiar to those who have watched the movie "Troy". There is a link that is explained in the wikipedia page.

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Luxor - Reaching there

Once we've covered Cairo, it would be wise to travel south to look at the awesome monuments in Luxor and Aswan. The best way to reach Luxor is by Train from Cairo. The train is very comfortable and takes about 12 hours to reach Luxor. But the timing is almost unpredictable. They almost stopped releasing a schedule for the trains. 

The city is build around the banks of Nile and offers a multitude of options to enjoy the beauty of this massive river. A boat trip on the Nile at sunset is something one should not miss.

Once in Luxor, there are a couple of places that may interest you. Luxor is probably the enticing place after the Pyramids.

    Temple of Karnak
    Luxor Temple
    Valley of the Kings
    Colossi of Memnon
    Deir El-Bahari
    Luxor Museum

Precautions
Just like in Cairo, be very careful with your money and your water. 
The locals almost survive on tips and would require a decent tip for even the smallest of favors. So, carry loose change if possible. Convert about 50 dollars into egyptian pounds and use it for tips.

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Shopping In Cairo

Egypt is famous for its cotton. But I am guessing most of the raw cotton is exported instead of developing a good textile industry within.

For tourists, Egypt has its amazing glassware, perfumes and other small souvenirs.

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Sphinx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx

The Sphinx, irrespective of the confusion about its purpose, is a majestic structure. It was apparently buried below the desert sand and was later excavated. The Sphinx is very near to the Giza Pyramids and entry tickets can be bought together. An evening laser show would also be a nice add-on.

The Sphinx with the Pyramid of Khufu#Giza in the background

The Sphinx, Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Khufu in a line

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Great Pyramids of Giza

Giza is a city that is right next to Cairo. The nile separates the two cities. The city's traffic is pathetic. Plan for double the time if you really have a... plan. 

While in Cairo, we wouldn't want to miss the Great Pyramids of Giza & the Museum where the mummies are on display. Of course cameras are not allowed inside the museum. While at the museum, don't miss the golden mask of king Tutenkhamum. Other than that, Cairo has very little to offer. A stroll in the evening on the banks of Nile could be a little dangerous. But the local food is great.

The Great Pyramids of Giza includes three mega structures accompanied by three smaller pyramids. The smaller pyramids are probably the tombs of the wives of the king Menkaure

Pyramid of Khufu - The largest of the Giza Pyramids.
Camel Rides that take you into the desert behind the monuments. Behind the camels, the pathway into the pyramids is visible. This was a makeshift entrance into the pyramids and not the actual entry.

The Pyramid of Khafre -  The second largest of the Giza Pyramids and the only one that still has a little bit of the outer coating.

Pyramid of Menkaure - The smallest of the three great Pyramids of Giza. Apparently, there is a vertical dent in one of the faces of the pyramid that was caused during one of the attempts to destroy it. 

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Egypt-Lore Begins

Travel to Egypt has been on my list ever since I read about the pyramids and the civilization it held a few thousands of years ago. So, when I had the time and the resources, I planned a trip to Egypt.

I am starting a series of blogs, I am writing every tip and advice needed for someone traveling to Egypt

General Advice / Precautions

1.     Be very careful with your money.
2.     Do wear a scarf at all times. Dust storms are pretty common.
3.     Water is extremely scarce and expensive. Carry a bottle always try to fill up when you get a chance.
4.     Keep a lot of change with you. Everyone would want a tip. Even the airport security.
5.     If possible, travel with an English speaking tour guide.

    

Planning

Most travel agents would have a decent itenary for first timers that would include the most popular historic locations. But it is wise to tweak the plan a bit to suit our needs. Some of the important cities that you may want to visit are Cairo/Giza, Alexandria, Luxor & Aswan. If time permits, you may want to visit the Suez Canal as well.   

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