layanluvstotravel

Hi Everyone,

A LOT of people are recommending we skip Luxor/Aswan since we'll be traveling there in July. I was thinking that we'd visit the sites early in the morning (6am?) and then retreat to our hotel until the evening. Now that one of my daughters is recovering from an illness, do you think it would be wise to just skip Luxor/Aswan/Abu Simbel this trip?

If we do skip it, do you think we'll get enough ancient Egypt history from Cairo? (then we'd go to Cairo/Alexandria/Sharm Al Sheikh which would probably be less expensive and more relaxing an itinerary). What do you all think?

qwovadis

Luxor is the high point with Valey of the Kings Karnak

A do not miss for me do at leats a.couple of nights there

Lots prettier than metro Cairo and far more history

MissGreen

Many of the great temples are in those areas, e.g. Abu Simble, Philae, Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and Kom Ombo. I would advise against missing Aswan and Luxor.

sf7307

As would I - I'd skip Cairo before I'd skip Luxor.

sf7307

P.S. We were there in August, and yes, it was brutally hot. We went out early, and spent the afternoon in or in-the-shade-by the pool, which was quite a lovely way to spend the afternoon! One afternoon we decided to 'do' Karnak so we could spend the entire next day on R&R. Karnak is/was my favorite of all the antiquities we visited, but I've never been so hot in all my life (and I've been in Palm Springs in summer!) Still, I wouldn't skip Luxor.

losaltos

I totally agree with the earlier posts. These places are magical (including Abu Simbel, Philae, etc) and not to be missed. Just be smart, go early, hydrate and then go home to the hotel and swim!

sandi

Another vote for not missing Luxor/Aswan/Abu Simbel. Hot, sure, but as you indicate... go out early and return by 10am and retreat to indoors,under a tree or pool. And, "maybe" you can catch some sites late-late afternoon.

Cairo is interesting, where 3-4/days works, but down south (Upper Egypt) has some of the very best offerings. Shame to travel so far and miss this.

120aks

I don't know who these people are that are recommending you skip Luxor and Abu Simbel but I doubt they have been to Egypt if that is their take. When you booked the trip for July I'm sure you knew it would be hot and that didn't stop you so don't give in now. Luxor and Abu Simbel ARE EGYPT in my opinion and to skip them would be a huge mistake. I would rather reschedule the trip than to skip these amazing sites !

Casual_Cairo

It's probably the Egyptian relatives that are helping to plan the trip that are suggesting to skip Luxor. Egyptians are quite the weenies when it comes to hot weather, but remember they are fully covered all the time (unless they are A class travelers and maybe Coptic). Nothing short of a major catastrophe in Cairo would get the average Egyptian to Upper Egypt in summer time.

MissGreen

When I was in Upper Egypt in September I was hot and sweaty just leaving the airport for the short drive to Abu Simble... I commented about to heat to our guide and he said.... "we're all loving the weather... it's 31 degrees (Celcius) today so for us it's cool"!

tinydancer

If you skip Luxor, you may as well skip Egypt. Bring a travel umbrella to protect your head and upper body from the hot sun. It's much cooler than a hat and you'll bring the shade with you wherever you walk.

sf7307

31 degrees Celsius? That IS cool. When we were there in August '08, it got up to 43 degrees C.

Grcxx3

<<If you skip Luxor, you may as well skip Egypt>>

I agree.

dutyfree

Abu Simbel is a place that took my breath away when I saw it two years ago-we flew down there from Aswan and it was well worth the extra price of airfare.
Flying into the area of Abu Simbel, I was sitting on the left side of the plane when it came into view.(I don't know how old you are but I still remember them moving them back in the 60's from Life magazine when I was little and thought that it was an amazing task.)Then to actually see them up close was incredible!The bus tour people seemed to have deserted the place at 10am and our family was there with less than 50 people which allowed us the soak up the history without crowds.Abu Simbel and Mont St.Michel in France are some of my favorite wonders of my traveling!

layanluvstotravel

Thank you everyone!!! You guys/gals are wonderful. One more question-- we got a Nile cruise package for 7 days (Abercrombie Sunboat IV cruise) for about 700 US dollars per person. It includes a lot of sites/activities between Luxor and Aswan but not Abu Simbel. Does that sound reasonably priced to you? Would staying at a hotel in Luxor/Aswan be less expensive and more enjoyable?

sandi

At only $100/day/person is more than reasonable. Probably because it's the hot-hot months and few people travel during that time, as apparently your Egyptian relatives are conveying.

That said, however, what is the route for 7/days. Most cruises are only 3-4/days trips between Luxor/Aswan or Aswan/Luxor, so are they simply cruising back-n-forth between OR also including the areas north of Luxor as Dendera. Maybe some days are spent on the boat for sleeping but docked either at Luxor or Aswan with day touring on land? Suggest you find out from them what the actual cruise schedule is - where you're stopping.

If they don't include sightseeing while in dock at Luxor or Aswan, maybe a shorter cruise and instead a hotel in either of these towns for land tours to temples and Valley of Kings/Queens, etc. Assuming also that you can get comparable hotels at the same $100/person/nt or lower.

Ask questions before booking the 7/days.

Abu Simbel is usually a separate tour. Either fly direct from Cairo (maybe w/ a stop at Aswan) to AS, or fly from either Luxor or Aswan depending on where cruise concludes to AS and spend a day and overnight... you have the time. Then back to Cairo, Sharm or time with family.

layanluvstotravel

Yes, it includes Dendera. Here's what it includes:

West bank of Luxor, Valley of Kings, Valley of QUeens, Temple of Hatshepsut, and stop at Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Hathor at Dendera, Temple of Horus at Edfu, Temple of Philae on Agilika Island, the Unfinished Obelisk at the Ancient Granite Quarries, Felucca tour around the islands of Aswan, passing by the Botanical Gardens, Temple of Sobek at Kom Ombo and sail to Edfu, East bank of Luxor, Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple.

Casual_Cairo

I would be willing to bet that once you are there, all it will take is a request that you'd like to see Abu Simbal and your guide will organize that for you. The price will be whatever it is, but shop around a bit in Aswan for a better price if you want. Every travel agency along the cornishe will be willing to sell you this tour.