Luxor/West Bank

The West Bank of Luxor in Egypt is also the gateway to the amazing Valley of the Kings, and a string of pharaonic mortuary temples vies with the richly-decorated Tombs of the Nobles and the workmen's village, Deir el-Medineh, for the visitors’ attention.

Luxor/West Bank Halal Explorer

The West Bank is even more of an archaeological paradise than the Luxor/East Bank|East Bank. The vast majority of visitors to Luxor tend to stay on the East Bank, which is the busy Egyptian city. The West Bank has a more relaxed vibe, and has a good selection of accommodations and restaurants.

Entrance and tickets

Most sights, tombs and areas have an entrance fee of LE40-80. And as usual, students get 50% off. If you intend to visit all archaeological sights, you would end up paying around LE1,000, not to mention the inexplicable LE1,200 for the Tomb of Nefertari and the LE1,000 for the Tomb of Seti II, and LE250 for Tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings (Jan 2023). Another option you can opt for a Luxor Pass costing US$200, which allows entrance to all Luxor sights during 5 consecutive days.

If you are on a tight budget, however, a fair share of sights can also be explored from the outside for free without entering them but still having a decent picture, namely when hiking around the area—see a potential #Do|itinerary below. There are many closed tombs in the Tombs of Nobles area that are interesting to see, because often they allow a sneak through the gate—just walk around. Furthermore and the hill between the Tombs of Nobles and the large mountain range offers great views of the area, Ramesseum and the Temple of Hatshepsut. You just have to get into the Tombs of Nobles area, either directly from Deir el Medineh, directly from Deir el-Bahari, somewhere along the primary street or with a single ticket to any of its tombs from the dedicated carpark/entrance.

The major ticket office GPS 25.72288, 32.60469 is on the left at the end of the straight primary street coming from the ferry port, right when you enter the archaeological area. Except for the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens and Deir el-Bahari, you will have to get your tickets there.

Travel to Luxor/West Bank

TempleHatchepsout - The Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir el Bahari

See the Luxor page for getting to the Luxor area.

From the airport

Taxis are the only reasonable option. It is easy to find them when you arrive. If you are unused to bargaining, it is better to arrange a pick-up in advance with your accommodation. But this will most likely neither give you a better deal. Expect to pay LE50-100 depending on your bargaining skills for the 20-km ride.

From the train station

Taxis are available but, if on a budget and if you're reasonably mobile, it is a short walk to the ferry jetty from the train station. Walk straight up al-mahatta and then round the tip of the Temple of Luxor to get there. A taxi ride from the station to the jetty should run to about LE10. Hotels on the West Bank are all within easy reach of the jetty.

By ferry from the East Bank

By far the quickest, most authentic and romantic manner of crossing the Nile to the west is by ferry or motor launch.

National Ferry - baladi ferry - Be wary of the few high pressure salesmen who might be on board, hoping to snare you for a taxi fare or accommodation offers: these may or may not be bargain.

Motor launches - No set dock, but close to the National Ferry. They set out from wherever they can pick up an agreeable client. The advantage of a launch being able to get going immediately.

How to get around in Luxor/West Bank

The West Bank's archaeological sites are spread out.

Best way to travel in Luxor/West Bank by a Taxi

In summer the temperature varies from hot to extremely hot. So and the easiest way to get around is by hiring a taxi for the day. This will set you back about LE250 from the West Bank, depending on your ability to negotiate (Oct 2022). For a return trip to a particular site the price should not be more than LE100 for a shuttle van that takes up to 9 people. If your negotiation skills are reasonable, it is cheaper to hire a taxi by yourself, if not, you'll save yourself a lot of grief by asking your hotel to arrange one. In either event, bargain a bit because in Egypt the first price is always on the high side.

By tour

Many accommodations offer organised / tours with a driver from the accommodation to and between the major archaeological sites. However and their schedule is quite tight and fixed. They will not appreciate any effort by their passengers to change the pre-defined tour, schedule and visiting times, mostly only 20 min at a site. They will also sometimes try to spend 30 min at a souvenir shop of their choice to get commission. In addition, you may be expected to visit and pay for a sight, even though you might not be interested in it. Such affordable / tours start at LE50 per person. But if you find 4 people in your hostel or hotel and the taxi might be the more convenient option.

How to travel around Luxor/West Bank on a bicycle ?

Bicycles are available for rent at hotels (LE10-20) and beyond the ferry jetty on the West Bank (LE30-40). In summer, be aware that the heat can be quite intense and the bikes tend to be primitive. Carry plenty of water. However, with a bicycle, you cannot walk much around, like between Deir el Medineh and the Valley of Nobles and the Temple of Hatshepsut.

By micro bus

Regular micro buses leave from the ferry to Gurna. If you can find your way onto one you'll get there on the affordable for LE2. The sites are usually 0.5 to 1 kilometers away from the primary street so you'll have to walk to get there.

Walk in Luxor/West Bank

Once you get to the archaeological area, by taxi or mini bus, it is entirely feasible to hike the area at the foot of the mountains. There are small police stations along the hill tops. They should not hassle hikers. If it is too much hassle to find a micro bus towards the beginning of the archaeological area, walk the 3.5 kilometers from the ferry port to Medinet Habu.

For the Valley of the Kings you may need to use a taxi or another mini bus to get there.

It is no longer feasible to hike up the mountain to the Valley of the Kings. Any such attempt will be prevented by the local police officers paying close attention.

What to see in Luxor/West Bank

It's a place of the Theban Necropolis, which was used for ritual burials for much of the Pharaonic period, especially during the New Kingdom. One of its most remarkable parts - the burial place of most of the pharaohs of Egypt of the New Kingdom - described in a separate article Valley of the Kings 25.74025, 32.602358 }}.

Medinet Habu - Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III - A remarkable temple built by Ramses III that gets relatively few visitors. If you do not want to enter but simply walk around the temple and take a picture from the outside viewpoints, enter from the sealed road just southeast of the dirt road, which starts from the primary street (between the ferry port and the archaeological area) just about 150 m before this primary street turns right. The sealed road leads directly to the entrance of Medinet Habu, but without ticket you won't get in.

Colossi of Memnon - Two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who reigned in the 18th Dynasty.

Valley of the Queens - Valley of the Queens Valley of the Queens by Zureks

Tomb of Nefertari - QV66 - The Great Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II's tomb was discovered by Ernesto Schiaparelli (the director of the Egyptian Museum in Turin) in 1904. It is often called the Sistine Chapel of Ancient Egypt. Often closed for restoration through long periods, in 2006 the tomb was restricted to visitors once again, except for private / tours of maximum 20 people purchasing a license . The Getty Conservation Institute monitors the tomb regularly.

Tomb of Amun-her-Khepeshef - QV 55 - Amun-her-Khepeshef was the eldest son and appointed heir of Pharaoh Ramesses III. The tomb includes a sarcophagus, but the colors seem to be too strong to be thousands of years old.

Tomb of Titi - No. 52

Tomb of Khaemwaset - QV 44 - Built for a son of Pharaoh Ramesses III.

Deir el Medina - Originally called Set Maat (the Place of Truth) and the village was built to house the Royal tombs' workforce of literate priest-craftsmen (the "Servants in the Place of Truth"), on the reign of Amenhotep I and the community's patron, worshipped here along his mother Ahmose-Nefertari. Its abundant domestic and written remains (thousands of ostraca) make it the very best-studied Ancient Egypt community to date.

Ptolemaic Temple

Tomb of Ramose - The tomb of a famous Scribe in the Place of Truth. It consists of a court and a chapel. The chapel is decorated with scenes showing Amenhotep I, Ahmose Nefertari, Horemheb and Tuthmosis IV. Another scene shows King Ramesses II followed by the vizier Paser offering before the Theban Triad: Amun, Mut and Khonsu

Tomb of Senedjem - The burial place of Servant in the Place of Truth Sennedjem and his family. It was found undisturbed in 1886.

Tomb of Peshedu - The burial place of Servant in the Place of Truth Pashedu and his family

Ramesseum Ramses statue - |Ozymandias "King of Kings"

Ramesseum - Mortuary Temple of Ramses II - the Great - The site of the Ramesseum includes the fallen colossal statue of the pharaoh that inspired the sonnet Ozymandias by Shelley, now the focus of a major restoration project. It stood 17 m (69 ft) high, weighed in excess of 1,000 tons and was transported from Aswan in a single block. The pylons of the temple preserve depictions of the famed Battle of Qadesh waged by Egyptian forces under Ramses II against the Hittite Empire and the city of Qadesh lying in central Syria and then the contested boundary between the two great ancient empires. Behind the pylons, where visitors now enter the temple and the Second Court features a portico fronted by massive statues of Ramses II in the form of Osiris and the god of the underworld. A hypostyle hall occupies the centre of the temple, featuring a impeccably maintained and painted ceiling. The stone-built temple buildings are surrounded by the remains of a mud-brick royal palace and storage magazines.

Temple of Merneptah - Found immediately adjacent to the Ramesseum and the mortuary temple of Merneptah (the 13th son and eventual successor to the long-lived Ramesses II) was re-opened in 2002 as a new attraction after the careful and effective reconstruction of the temple foundations and lower courses by a Swiss archaeological team. (The temple was first excavated by the famous English Egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie in 1904 and was the scene of his discovery of the so-called Palestine Stela, featuring the earliest recorded mention of Palestine in ancient sources, now to be seen in Cairo's Cairo/Midan Tahrir|Egyptian Museum). Although not featuring the inscribed wall reliefs and towering columns associated with many Egyptian temples and the Merneptah temple nonetheless now provides an unsurpassed impression of the layout of a 19th dynasty funerary temple with many interesting architectural details. A small partly-subterranean museum is also to be found on site, in which many of the magnificent painted reliefs and sculpture (many usurped by Merneptah from the nearby Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III) are displayed. Sadly neglected by many visitors to the West Bank and the site and museum are nonetheless well worth a visit.

Tombs of Nobles

Tombs of Nobles - Sheikh Abd el-Gurna - Named after the doomed tomb of the local saint. This is the most frequently visited cemetery on the Theban west bank, with the largest concentration of private tombs.

Tombs of Khonsu, Userhat and Benia

Tombs of Menna, Nakht, Amenemopet

Tombs of Ramose, Userhat and Khaemhat

Tombs of Sennefer and Rekhmire

Tombs of Neferenpet, Thutmose and Neferskheru - Khokha

Deir el-Bahari

Deir el-Bahari - A complex of mortuary temples and tombs. The first monument built at the site was the mortuary temple of Mentuhotep II, it was constructed during the 15th century BCE. Amenhotep I and Hatshepsut also built extensively at the site.

Temple of Hatshepsut - One of the more impressive sights on the West Bank and different to most other temples in Egypt. Beautifully located at the foot of the mountain, making for a great picture.

Temple of Montuhotep II

Tombs of El-Assasif

Tomb of Parennefer - TT188 - Unusual tomb, carved and decorated solely during the early years of the rule of Akhenaten. The tomb is decorated with sculpted scenes, some of which were painted. The scenes were all badly damaged and the name of Parennefer was carefully removed. Its scenes may be the first to show Queen Nefertiti.

Dra' Abu el-Naga'

Seti I Temple at Qurna - Mortuary temple of Seti 1

The necropolis of* Dra' Abu el-Naga' NA, NA Dra' Abu el-Naga' DraAbuNagaSite is located just by the entrance of the dry bay that leads up to Deir el-Bahri, and north of the necropolis of el-Assasif. It was probably used as a royal Necropolis for the kings of the Seventeenth Dynasty, and contains the feasible tomb of Amenhotep I, Tomb ANB. It was also used as a cemetery for officials of the New Kingdom administration in Thebes.

Temple of Seti I -The memorial temple (or mortuary temple) of Ramses the Great's father. The entire court and any pylons associated with the site are in ruins, and much of the eastern part of the complex is buried under the modern town

Tomb ANB - It's the feasible tomb of Amenhotep I.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Luxor/West Bank

Hike the hills and area at the bottom of the mountains, between the temples, tombs and sights.
Hot air ballooning, see Luxor#Do|Luxor.

Itinerary

The most recommended sights are: Medinet Habu, Ramesseum, Temple of Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings.
If you are on a tight budget and just want to hike around and take some pictures (from the outside) consider the following route (6 kilometers): Medinet Habu, Deir el Medineh, Tombs of Nobles (directly or with any single ticket to the tombs), Temple of Hatshepsut, Ramesseum (from the road).

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Luxor/West Bank

Souvenirs, alabaster, perfume, etc.

Halal Food & Restaurants

Tutankhamun Restaurant GPS 25.7029499, 32.6316152 200 m south of the ferry landing. Fixed menu, with a choice of mains that varies with what is in season.

Sunflower Restaurant | Rooftop restaurant with a great view, very good food, and friendly staff. Very relaxed.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Luxor/West Bank

Luxor/West Bank - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Luxor/West Bank, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Luxor/West Bank. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Luxor/West Bank and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Luxor/West Bank. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Luxor/West Bank. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inLuxor/West Bank: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Luxor/West Bank.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Luxor/West Bank: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Luxor/West Bank, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Luxor/West Bank.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Luxor/West Bank, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Luxor/West Bank, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Luxor/West Bank and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Luxor/West Bank, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Luxor/West Bank, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Luxor/West Bank without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Luxor/West Bank is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Luxor/West Bank.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Luxor/West Bank is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Luxor/West Bank, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Luxor/West Bank Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

halal.io//2023-09-16&checkOut=2023-09-17&6668&&Al+Salam+Camp&hotelId=4401976&&.Zze4ae7c06887b451caf61983-206204 Al Salam Camp - Bedouin-style hospitality - Peaceful, friendly family-run hutted camp ideal for independent travellers and close to all the sites. Children are welcome and will find many playmates. Very well, wonderful food, trips and activities, and a real taste of local life.

halal.io//2023-09-16&checkOut=2023-09-17&6668&&Hotel+Sheherazade+Luxor&hotelId=275745&&.Zzf7d85548edac428fb39c5fc-206204 Hotel Sheherazade - A delightful hotel with simple but perfectly adequate rooms around a courtyard. The staff are excellent. Breakfast is included and the restaurant is open most of the day serving a mixture of foods, including excellent Egyptian style food.

halal.io//2023-09-16&checkOut=2023-09-17&6668&&Al+Moudira+Hotel&hotelId=275746&&.Zz4c1e37a36802464293dea56-206204 Hotel al-Moudira - 54 double rooms with a distinct Oriental feel: domed ceilings, latticework, hand-painted frescoes. Swimming swimmingpool and spacious grounds.

halal.io//2023-09-16&checkOut=2023-09-17&6668&&Nile+Valley+Hotel&hotelId=275724&&.Zz0ccc66 bdcecc4bceb8c353f-206204 Nile Valley Hotel - Small family hotel with swimming pool, 21 rooms with attached bath, AC, TV, fridge, and a rooftoop restaurant with views of the Nile and the temple of Luxor. Airport/railway station pickup available.

Stay Safe

Carry plenty of water, wear sensible shoes and a hat, strongly consider sunscreen. The West Bank is too amazing to be spent in pain and discomfort, and bring a torch as some of the tombs are quite dark.
Hiking up and down the mountain was an issue in the past and some travelers slipped along the way up or down the Valley of the Kings. This is not permitted anymore. However, take care when ascending any other things, which are far less solid than used to in Europe.
Do not use a credit card as some shops are masters at fraud. You may get your money back at home, but best to use cash and bargain.

Cope in Luxor/West Bank

The sites in Luxor are nothing short of spectacular. So, it is best to be organized.

A flashlight! It is dark in the tombs and the lights don't always work either because they don't or because the caretaker can't be bothered with turning them on.
Plenty of small notes and coins. Parting with LE1 notes/coins is almost the cost of being a tourist in Egypt and can magically open 'closed' tombs, light up dark chambers, or get rid of a particularly pesky tout.
Each of the tombs has a guardian who will let you in, show you around, tell you that photos aren't permitted, but he'll look the other way for a little bakhsheesh. Some will be happy if you slip them LE10 or 20, others will pester you for more if you "only" give them LE50. The guardians are paid very little as almost anybody in Africa, but tips are at your discretion.
Water is available outside most of the sites but not always readily available inside. However, it is advisable to take enough water with you. At the Temple of Hatshepsut and the cafe will gladly sell you a soft drink for LE50, but that also allows you to sit the only shade available. Drink sellers in the bazaar by the ticket office will charge LE20.
If you don't know Osiris from Anubis, it might be a good idea to read up a bit before you go. Otherwise, you'll wonder what the fuss is all about.