Luxor is located 740 km (460 mi) south of Cairo on the Nile River. When planning a tour of Egypt, it's a good idea to arrange more time here, because the number of sites to see combined with the amenities of the city make it a worthwhile stay.
The city was once known as Thebes and was Egypt's capital during the 11th dynasty (c.2130-1990 BC) as well as in the New Kingdom (c.1570-1085 BC).
There is little left of the ancient city except for the two pharaonic temples of Luxor and Karnak which are considerable landmarks located on the east side of the river. There are significant structures on the west side of the Nile also, including the colossi of Amenhotep III (c.1417-1379 BC), the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens which was a sacred burial site for Egyptian kings and queens, and many well preserved and elaborately decorated tombs of high officials.
