Luxor

Luxor is the most important tourist centre along the Nile in the upper Nile valley. The sights in Luxor represent Egypt's greatest attraction after the pyramids, since no fewer than eight of the twelve highlights of ancient Egypt are found here. Luxor lies on the site of ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, the ceremonial capital of ancient Egypt and its administrative capital during the 11th dynasty. Touristic and archaeological highlights in or near Luxor include the temples of Luxor and Karnak on the east bank of the Nile river, the Valley of the Kings and Queens and the temple of Hatshepsut on the western bank. Luxor is a good basis from which to explore the sites of Dendera and Abydos further north and the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu further south along the Nile valley.