Luxor

On the east bank of the Nile, temples soared skyward, built to honor the gods in the light of day. Across the river, in the shadow of the cliffs, tombs were carved into silence, where the sun sank each night into the land of the dead.

Between them, the river carried kings, priests, and processions, binding life and afterlife into one eternal cycle. This was Thebes, city of temples and tombs—where the living worshiped, the dead awaited eternity, and Egypt reached for the divine on both sides of the Nile.

Explore the Pharao’s Holy City

Desert mountain landscape with stone walls and a pathway, with a clear blue sky.

Valley of the Kings

Beneath the cliffs of western Thebes, pharaohs carved their journey to the afterlife (The fields of Reed).

Tourists walking towards the Lincoln Memorial at sunrise or sunset with Mount Rushmore's dark mountain backdrop.

Temple of Hatschepsut

Rising in terraces against the cliffs, it tells the tale of a queen who ruled as king.

Ancient Egyptian temple with tall columns inscribed with hieroglyphics, under a clear blue sky.

Karnak Temple Complex

A city of gods built over two thousand years—with towering columns and avenues of sphinxes that echo of greatness.

Aerial view of a historic archaeological site with ancient ruins, buildings, and terraced structures, set in a mountainous desert landscape.

Deir el-Medina

City of the builders of tombs, who painted gods and stars for their pharaohs, and left their own lives carved into humble walls of stone.

Ancient Egyptian temple ruins with large stone columns, clear blue sky, and stone pavement

Luxor Temple

Raised in the heart of Thebes, it was the stage for renewal—where pharaohs came to be reborn in the eyes of gods.

Valley of the Queens

In the stillness of the western cliffs, queens and princes were laid to rest. Within painted chambers, love and devotion.

An aerial view of an archaeological site with ancient temple ruins surrounded by desert and sparse trees.

Ramesseum

Ramesses II built his house of eternity on the west bank of Thebes—vast halls and towering statues proclaiming his glory.

Ancient Egyptian stone columns with hieroglyphic carvings and painted decorations in a temple.

Medinet Habu

Behind massive walls, Ramesses III carved his battles and his gods—victory and devotion bound together.

A black and white photograph of an Egyptian statue depicting a seated woman with a headdress, on a dark background with people and light sources.

Luxor Museum

The treasures of Thebes gather in quiet halls—statues, reliefs, and jewels that let the city’s gods, kings, and artisans speak again through stone and gold.

Two ancient stone statues with a desert landscape and mountains in the background.

Colossi of Memnon

Two giants of stone sit in silence at the edge of Thebes. Once guardians of a vanished temple, they have watched the sun rise over the Nile for millennia.

Experience other Stories & Sights

Close-up of an old metal window frame with a view through the window showing a long wooden corridor with a handrail, in what appears to be a historic stone building.

Stories & Sights