Home to almost a third of the world’s archaeological treasures, and with the legendary Nile separating its east and west banks, Luxor is not a difficult sell for agents.
In addition to being a major stop on Egypt’s historical and Pharaonic circuit, Luxor is the launch pad for scores of Nile cruises. Among its highlights are the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, Karnak and Luxor temples, and the Winter Palace hotel, where Agatha Christie sought inspiration for Death on the Nile.
A typical itinerary heads south to Aswan, taking in the Valley of the Kings and the temples of Karnak, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and Abu Simbel.
Refurbishments and infrastructure developments are boosting Luxor’s product offering, and the pound’s strength in this non-eurozone destination, coupled with some keenly priced packages, means affordable luxury for clients this winter.
Add-ons include hot air balloon rides, tours to the West Bank and the Karnak Sound and Light Show. Book tickets through Attraction World and Keith Prowse Attraction Tickets.
Discover Egypt’s top-selling product is the seven-night Nile Cruise. The operator launched its expanded 2009/10 brochure with various styles of cruise, including the new five-star Royal Viking, the most luxurious in the fleet. A week in early December leads in at £899 full board.
Discover Egypt managing director David Wiles says: “Feedback has been fantastic and word-of-mouth recommendations mean that we won’t need to advertise the boat again this year.”
Bales Worldwide has introduced a collection of four restored 19th-century wooden sailing craft, called dahabiyyas, to its Egypt portfolio. Middle East and Africa product manager Phil Ellis says: “The vessels use private moorings away from the larger towns and itineraries, and menus and activities can be tailored to meet client requests.”
Here’s a round-up of developments in Luxor.
Luxor town
Efforts to ‘beautify’ Luxor are well under way. An impressive, tree-studded, white-tiled plaza flanks the new visitor centre at Luxor Temple, and the much-maligned New Winter Palace building, an eyesore that has marred Luxor’s waterfront for decades, has finally been torn down and grassed over.
Most Egypt specialists agree that the most dramatic impact will come from the creation of a new marina, five and a half miles south of Luxor City, to house the burgeoning number of cruise boats that currently clog the waterfront of the east bank.
As a result, diesel fumes will be banished from town and the move will also pave the way for a much wider corniche. The riverside strip will be lined with cafes and restaurants that afford fantastic views of the sunset over the west bank. The completion date is set for 2010.
Accommodation
With one five-star property re-opened following a major facelift, and the ink still wet on a new Four Seasons, Luxor’s accommodation offering is on course for a long overdue shake-up.
InterContinental Hotels, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and Kempinksi Hotels are all rumoured to be interested, but leading the charge is Hilton, with a $45 million refurbishment of its Nile-front property at Karnak.
With restaurants, infinity pools and alfresco bars spilling on to 170 metres of prime Nile frontage, and a world-class spa to boot, the newly refurbished Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa is the city’s first true luxury offering. Guests can even book rooms with their own private spa suites.
A Gazetteers user from Thomas Cook, Wilmslow reviewed the hotel on May 15, writing: “A brand new hotel and you can tell (in a good way). The staff were really friendly and the hotel was very clean and well looked after. The rooms, pool area and restaurants looked very nice. It overlooked the Nile and the spa facilities are among the best I have seen – very modern.”
The five-star Sonesta St George has added three deluxe floors, and is currently building an exclusive rooftop restaurant. Clients looking for an out-of-town alternative should look no further than the boutique Al Moudira, a 55-room Nubian Village-style property set in lush gardens on the west bank, not far from the Valley of the Kings.
Nile Cruising
The launch of the much-lauded luxury cruiser Oberoi Zahra in 2007 signalled a shift upmarket for the cruise scene, with on-board spas, whirlpool baths and even tailor-made itineraries now de rigueur.
Offering an affordable alternative to the Zahra is the five-star deluxe Royal Viking, exclusive to Discover Egypt.
This cruiser launched in January with 68 spacious, air-conditioned cabins featuring large French windows, plasma TVs and teak-floored bathrooms. There are interconnecting family rooms, and four suites have a Nile-view whirlpool bath.
Featuring six luxury en suite cabins, Bales’ dahabiyyas – Amber, Nesma, Musk and Zahra – are available for private cruises, and offer good value for money for families or groups of friends.
Monuments and Antiquities
Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities claims only 30% of Egypt’s monuments have been discovered.
Recent finds in the Luxor area include a clutch of artefacts from the 18th Dynasty, while plans to unearth up to 400 buried sandstone statues, which were once part of an ancient road connecting the temples of Karnak and Luxor, are well under way.
The creation of the Avenue of Sphinxes will take centre stage in Luxor’s six-part plan to become the world’s ‘greatest open-air museum’ by 2030, but it has not been without controversy – its development has involved the clearing of thousands of family homes.
Sample packages
Discover Egypt offers a twin-centre trip with a week’s full board on Royal Viking cruise ship and a week at the Hilton Luxor with breakfast, from £1,198 per person. discoveregypt.co.uk, 020 7407 2111
A six-night dahabiyya cruise with Bales Worldwide costs from £675 per person including meals, a comprehensive sightseeing programme and a guide. Clients who book an eight-day cruise on Musk or Amber receive two free nights at the new Villa Belle Epoque hotel in Cairo (valid until December 13). balesworldwide.com, 0845 055 6675
Libra Holidays has introduced an all-inclusive supplement of £14 per person (valid on departures to October 31) to its five-star Domina Prestige Emilio Nile Cruise, in addition to the standard full-board offering. A week’s cruise starts from £515 per person with flights and transfers. libraholidays.co.uk, 0871 222 8181
Book three months in advance for 30% off room-only rack rates at the Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa (below). Standard doubles start at $280. hiltontravelagents.com, 0870 590 9090
