LUXOR & ASWAN SOUTH EGYPT

Luxor is the world's greatest open - air museum, filled with the awe - inspiring monuments of ancient civilization. It contains nearly one third of the world's antiquities.There is hardly a place in Luxor which has not a relic that reflects the greatness of the ancient Egyptians and their civilization that dates back to seven thousands years ago.

During the new kingdom (1567-1085)the capital of Egypt was Wesset which means "mace"to express the extreme authority of this city ,then the name was changed to "Thebes" and Homer described it as " City of the Hundred Gates".The Arabs called it "Luxor" means" The city of Palaces"because they were impressed by its magnificent edifices and huge buildings.
It still attracts hordes of visitors from all over the world to enjoy the monuments of the eternal city and its temples with their towering pillars

On the two Banks of the Nile

On the east bank of the Nile, in the city of the living, Luxor and Karnak temples greet the sunrise.The sunset on the west bank throws shadows through the City of the Dead: the Tombs of the nobles, the valley of the kings,Queen Hatshepsut's temple.
Recently,a bridge connecting the east and west banks has been constructed to speed up tourist traffic to the west bank.

The visitor of Luxor can make a journey to enjoy the wonderful tourist sites of Luxor soaring in a ballon above the temples on the east and west banks.Some agencies organize daily ballon journeys which last for one and half hour.

It is situated on the eastern bank of the Nile 899 km south of Cairo. Aswan is considered the most beautiful winter resort not only in Egypt, but also in the whole world as it is distinguished by its fascinating nature and serenity far from the bustle of cities,and its warm weather which is characterized by dryness and sunshine throughout the year.

One can spend a pleasant time wandering along the Nile corniche where the sandy tourmaline desert merges with granite rocks around aquamarine isles covered with palm trees and plants.One can also take a Nile cruise with sail-boats at sunset or a tour in the market which abounds in handicrafts,local products,spices and perfumes.
Main tourist's sites:
Elephantine Island
It was one of the most powerful forts on Egypt's southern borders. It lies opposite the old Cataract Hotel. On the island there are the relics of stone temples of various eras including the temple of Khnum,erected during the old Kingdom and reconstructed at the turn of the Pharaonic era.The island houses "The Nilometer" dating back to the Roman era and also a museum containing an important collection of relics of the Greco-Roman eras which were discovered in Aswan and Nubia.
Plantation (Kitchener) IslandIt lies in the mid-stream near Elephantine Island. It is a natural exhibition of exotic plants and trees imported from all over the world.It is the best place for spending leisure time relaxing in expansive shades.Philae TempleThis temple was dedicated to goddess Isis. It was over flooded by the Nile. Philae temple was dismantled and reassembled in a new site on Agilika Island,about 500 km from its former site on Philae Island.
The unfinished ObeliskA huge obelisk incompletely carved,about 41 metres high and more than 1150 tons in weight. It owes its importance to the fact that it shows the techniques the ancient Egyptians used in carving obelisks.
There is the Fatimid cemetery which includes hundreds of tombs built of mud brick that dates back to the ninth century. The Nubian MuseumThe construction of the museum in Aswan is regarded as a great success of the international campaign for saving the monuments of Nubia which was supported byUNESCO.

The museum houses three thousand artifacts representing various archaeological periods throughout the history of Egypt (prehistoric, Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Coptic and the Islamic).
The Culturual Centre in AswanThe Cultural Centre in Aswan by Corniche El Nile,presents evening shows of Nubian folk art. The performances reflect local traditional life pattern of Nubians covering dance,music and ethnic festivals.