Getting Around Luxor

One way to get to/from Luxor is by plane. EgyptAir fly from Luxor to Cairo, Aswan and Abu Simbel (to name a few places).

Once our Nile Cruise ended, we flew from Luxor to Cairo, which took around 40 minutes.

However, expect delays when you travel in Egypt.......

Our early morning flight was delayed due to smog in Cairo - the airport there was shut.....but the pilot didn't find this out until we had taxied out to the runway. We then turned back, and sat on the tarmac for over 4 hours!!

We were unable to leave the plane, as the small terminal building was filled with passengers waiting to depart on other flights... what fun!

One of the best ways to see the most important sites in Upper Egypt (Southern Egypt), is by taking a Nile Cruise. Most of these ships are 5 star hotel type services.

We sailed on the M/S Jasmin, and it was very nice.

One of the ship's crew mentioned to me that there are over 500 ships sailing between Luxor and Aswan at any time.

Due to the heavy travel volume, several of the locations in Luxor instituted a travel trolley system to get you closer to the monuments without having to keep buses right up on top of them.

Here is a picture of the trolley we took to Hatshetsup's Temple.

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Excursion buses in Egypt were convenient and comfortable enough the whole trip. During travel over Egypt we have spent significant enough time in the bus.

So, the road from Hurghada to Luxor in view of all stops has taken us about 6 hours. We have spent just those 6 hours in the bus during the excursion to Abu-Simbel. We were traveling from Cairo to Alexandria during three hours and three hours were traveling back. The way back from Cairo to Hurghada took us 8 hours. That means we have spent in the bus in the sum more than the whole day and night.

The presence of the conditioner in the bus let us being alive! Our bus has been filled with tourists only on two third. Therefore there were empty seats. I took an advantage of this situation and usually occupied two armchairs and settled down with convenience. There always was cold potable water in the bus in cost of 1,5 LE a bottle of 0,5 liters.

There was an opportunity to show video films, but the video recorder has never been switched on. There weren’t usual restrictions on using of a biotoilet. Two drivers operated bus professionally enough without recklessness and haste.

Well, the 8th day of our tour was coming to a close, and boy was I tired! I had already left the cruise ship, and toured the city all evening... all I wanted to do was SLEEP!

And sleep I did, since it took almost 2 hours to wait for the buses to take us from the terminal to the plane!

We take the buss from Hurgada to Luxor.
After 9 o'clock in the morning we were at Hurgada buss station. In reality we must wait for some time, because buss hasn't arrived in the time. But as said ticket seller - it's normaly "Arabic time" ;-)
Buss was good (better as buss which we had when we were going to Luxor with tourist group!!!)

The way to Luxor takes about 4 hours (1 stop).

Ticket: 22,50 LE

The motor boat is an alternative way of getting from the East Bank to the West Bank instead of the tourist ferry. If you go on a tour through your hotel or if you buy a 'package' through a tout on the East Bank, you will often travel on their personal motor boat to the West Bank before eg boarding your taxi.
Beware if taking a private motor boat when ascending and descending - children will meet you to help you on or off and expect a tip in return!

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Tourists often rely on horse carriages, called "caleches," for transport.
The sizes of "the city of alive" are those that it is quite possible to move on foot around the city. A popular type of transport in Luxor - a fiacre (hantur). However it is necessary to agree about the price in advance.
You can take this carriage for a ride through the town or for a visit to the Temple of Karnak.