Under $100: Luxor

Gardens, greenery and graceful colonial-era buildings, Luxor is a beautiful oasis along the banks of the Nile River, hundreds of miles south from the hustle and bustle of Cairo. An ancient Egyptian capital, the city is known today as the world’s great open-air museum, boasting incredible amounts of temples, tombs and artifacts from the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Temple of Luxor © Holgs | iStock

Pack an on-the-go breakfast in order to start your morning early and beat the heat. Begin on the East Bank and end on the West Bank, two areas considered in ancient Egyptian times as symbolizing life and death. The Temple of Luxor is a must-see site, showing the history of the country from the 18^th dynasty of ancient Egyptian rule to the 14^th century AD when a mosque was built in the complex. Admission costs about $6.

Luxor Temple Complex © Ramblingman | Dreamstime

Next, visit Karnak Temple Complex, home to three main temples and several smaller enclosed temples that show the might of many generations of ancient builders over a period of 1,500 years. Entry costs about $8.

Visit the city’s bazaar located on the East Bank near Karnak and the Temple of Luxor for lunch and to pick up some souvenirs to take home. A simple lunch won’t run you more than $5.

Boat cruising on the Nile River © Donyanedomam | Dreamstime

Spend the afternoon exploring the ancient site of Thebes on Luxor’s West Bank. You can easily spend several hours in the Valley of the Kings, the ancient burial ground of many of Egypt’s New Kingdom rulers. Here, you can step into King Tut’s tomb, discovered almost intact in 1922. For the price of about $10, you can visit three of the more than 60 tombs on-site. Visiting King Tut’s requires an additional ticket, for the price of about $13.

Temple of Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings © Icon72 | Dreamstime

Close by is the Temple of Hatshepsut dedicated to Amon-Ra, the sun god. Featuring classical architecture, the temple includes a beautiful sun court, chapel and sanctuary as well as intact temple reliefs depicting the tale of the divine birth of Hatshepsut and trade expeditions to the Land of Punt, in modern Somalia today. Admission costs approximately $4.

For a delicious dinner on the banks of the Nile, visit the Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa, boasting a variety of dining venues serving a range of cuisine, from the best in Egyptian to international fare. Savor goodies fresh from the grill and a beautiful, cotton-candy sunset at Olives Poolside Restaurant, offering an outside setting and dishes from about $10.