The Valley of the Kings is located in Luxor, on the West Bank of the River Nile, and is the site of many historical attractions. There are over 60 tombs with over 120 chambers in the Valley of the Kings. This is where the pharaohs were buried and was believed by them to be the place they hoped to meet their gods in the afterlife. You will also find the area that the tomb of Tutankhamen was discovered. Unfortunately the majority of the tombs are not open to the public. This place is truly unique, and has been a popular spot for archaeological exploration since the 18th Century. As one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, it became a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Luxor Temple
The Temple at Luxor is right in the centre of Luxor, so if you do head to Luxor you shouldn’t miss it. The annual festival of Opet was celebrated at the temple, which was built in around 1400BC. Well over 3000 years old, this place will leave you awestruck. The complex is lit up spectacularly, so an evening visit is well worth it. The temple is a deservedly popular attraction.
The Temple of Karnak
This vast complex of ruined temples, pylons and chapels is located near Luxor. It has been noted in history as on of the most important places of Ancient Egypt’s worshiping. Hieroglyphics decorage everything around. The result is spectacular. You can also find historical performances and sound and light shows here explaining much more about the history of Karnak’s Temples.
The Egyptian Museum
Located in Cairo, the Egyptian Museum is home to over 120,000 items of treasured found around Egypt. As the museum is one of Egypt’s most popular attractions, it is advised to arrive there early. As well as many treasures that were discovered within the tombs, you will also find over 20 real mummies in the Royal Mummy Room. However the star attraction here is the tomb of Tutankhamen and all the treasures that were buried along with it. A good crowd usually gathers around the solid gold mask that rested on the king’s head. This mask weighs 24.five pounds of solid gold, and the face is believed to bear an uncanny resemblance to the King’s face.
The Great Sphynx of Giza
The Great Sphynx is the largest statue created from one piece of stone. With the body of a lion and a human head it was believed to have been built by ancient Egyptians in around 3000BC. The complete Sphynx was only fully uncovered in the 1920s prior to that it was up to its neck in sand.
The Pyramids of Giza
If you are at the Sphynx then there is not a chance that you will be missing the Pyramids. There are three main pyramids in Giza, one which is the Great Pyramid. Originally the Pyramids exteriors were made from smooth polished limestone, but as the years of weather have eroded this away, we are left with step like structures to the top. The only remaining limestone is at the top of the smallest pyramid, but even this has lost its polished texture due to years of erosion. There were seven wonders of the ancient world. The Great Pyramid is the only one that still exists.
A trip to Egypt is one you’ll never forget. If you are taking advantage of the cheap Sharm holidays that you find, then you cannot afford to miss any of these amazing attractions that this awe inspiring country has to offer.
