Luxor

Located in the heart of the modern city on the east bank of the Nile, Luxor Temple is a stunning testament to the continuous history of Egypt. Unlike other temples in Thebes, it wasn't dedicated to a cult god.

Constructed primarily by Amenhotep III and Ramesses II, with additions by Tutankhamun and Alexander the Great, the temple is famous for its grand colonnades.

The Karnak Temple Complex is arguably the most astonishing religious site in the world. Developed over more than 2,000 years by successive pharaohs, it was the principal religious center of the god Amun-Re.

The sheer scale of Karnak is overwhelming. Its crown jewel is the Great Hypostyle Hall—a breathtaking forest of 134 massive sandstone columns.

Standing like silent sentinels on the West Bank of Luxor, the Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. For the past 3,400 years, they have sat here.

Towering at 18 meters high and weighing roughly 720 tons each, the statues gained immense fame in antiquity when an earthquake caused one to crack.

Hidden within the arid cliffs of the Theban Necropolis on the West Bank lies the legendary Valley of the Kings. For nearly 500 years, this valley was the secret burial ground for the Pharaohs.

Boasting over 60 excavated tombs—including those of Ramesses II, Seti I, and the famous boy-king Tutankhamun—the walls of these subterranean crypts are adorned with incredibly well-preserved scenes.

Situated near the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens—known in ancient times as Ta-Set-Neferu (The Place of Beauty)—was the primary burial site for royal wives, princes, and princesses.

The absolute highlight of this valley is the stunning Tomb of Queen Nefertari, the beloved Great Royal Wife of Ramesses II.

The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, located beneath the towering cliffs of Deir el-Bahari, is considered a masterpiece of ancient architecture. Designed by her architect Senenmut.

As one of the most successful female pharaohs, Hatshepsut utilized the temple's brilliant reliefs to immortalize her divine birth and her famous trading expedition to the Land of Punt.

Located north of Luxor, the Dendera Temple complex is one of the best-preserved in all of Egypt. The main structure, the Temple of Hathor (the goddess of love, joy, and beauty), was built largely during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.

Dendera is famous for its breathtaking, recently cleaned astronomical ceiling, which retains its vibrant blue colors.

Abydos is one of the oldest and holiest cities in ancient Egypt, revered as the cult center and burial place of Osiris, god of the underworld. The main attraction is the magnificent Temple of Seti I.

The temple is celebrated for having some of the finest and most delicate bas-relief carvings in Egyptian art. It also houses the Abydos King List.

Medinet Habu is the spectacular mortuary temple of Ramesses III. Second only to Karnak in size, it is widely considered the best-preserved New Kingdom temple in the Theban region.

Approached through a massive, Syrian-style fortified gatehouse (the Migdol), the temple's massive walls are deeply incised with dramatic reliefs depicting Ramesses III's military victories.

Located between Luxor and Aswan, the Temple of Edfu is dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Built during the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BC, it stands today as the most completely preserved temple in Egypt.

Buried under desert sand and river silt for centuries, its massive 36-meter-high pylon gateway and immense inner sanctuary are perfectly intact.

Sitting picturesquely on a bend in the Nile River, Kom Ombo is an unusual double temple built during the Ptolemaic dynasty. The complex is perfectly symmetrical along its main axis.

Fascinating highlights of the temple include a relief depicting ancient surgical instruments and medical tools, an ancient nilometer used to measure river levels, and a nearby museum housing mummified crocodiles.