You save a lot of money doing your own thing and you get to do things at your own pace. One thing I try to do is if I strike up a conversation with anyone who lives in the area and they have nothing to do I usually pay them to show me around. It's a lot cheaper than buying a guide and sure you won't get the historical information but if you have them take you around the city and show you good places to eat and visit you can't go wrong.

Just a point to note, if you want to see Dendarah, then you do have to travel in a the convoy which leaves Luxor at specific times during the day, and your taxi driver has to say exactly where you are going.
My advice would be to see Abydos at the same time, take a taxi for the full day and combine the 2 temples. Abydos has to be seen to be believed! The colours of the reliefs are amazing!

As for drinking tea on feluccas..... I have always done that and have never suffered any ill effects. If you are unsure, ask if they have mineral water to make the tea with. I always drink the local water if there is no alternative, it tastes like **** due to the chlorine, but its safe.

Mushtaq...... I have been visiting Luxor for 9 years and I still havent seen it all! Lol, how long do you have?

And I do agree with everyone, do it yourself, the tour companies rush you around and you really dont get a feel for the place. But if you are really interested in egyptology, then it is always a good thing to get a guide. But do make sure they are a real guide, and not just a tour leader.

Hi Isis.I have never even heard of Abydos, sounds like I have missed something. One of our Pal's is a Taxi Driver and I know that we didn't take in a Convoy when he took us to Dendarah. Are we just lucky to still be here ?

Ian

No Rik, you arent lucky to be here.... its just that they think we are safer with a police escort. If you managed to get your taxi driver to take you the back route, great! They're the kind of taxi drivers I like! But it would be virtually impossible to see Abydos without being in the convoy. Abydos is wonderful, its a Seti 1 temple, with Ramses 2 additions and the burial place of Osiris. Its magnificent. I highly recommend it!
Have you read the Autobiography of Omm Seti? An english woman who lived and worked at Abydos..... brilliant book.

Thank you for suggesting this book. I love to read and this looks like a book right up my alley. Has anyone ever done a tour though and been left behind? This happened to my when I was in Mexico once. My own fault though because I am a lollygagger when it comes to visiting and seeing new places.

Hi Isis. I stand corrected.We did go in a convoy. Must have been the Stella the night before.The one who remembers everything has just put me right.
We will be there in 4 weeks but not sure if we will have time as we live in Turkey and of course it's a Turkish Tour and the brochure is in Turkish.So don't quite know the free time we will have.Thanks for the info on Abydos We are definitely going to try and get there with our Taxi friend.

Ian

beware of the turkish companys sorry to say not good I can not say much but better to do it yourself . The group that went to Cairo were hungry and shattered when the got back to Izmir I myself was a x travel manager so took my group myself and delcined the tours that were offered. Isis you are very lucky have seen many sick from drinking the water
and they did use water from the nile for tea

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Denise

This is what we usually do for the first trip around a new area. See it with a tour guide first and take in everything they're saying and then go exploring on our own later (if the area is safe).

Definitely do the trips yourself. I would be dismissed if caught saying that.

One 'must see' site in the Valley of the Kings is the Tomb of Nefertari. As only a limited number are allowed in per day, get there just after 6.30 when the ticket office opens. It is absolutely stunning.

While on the West Bank a trip to both the Ramesseum and Medinet Habu are also well worthwhile visiting.

Denderah is absolutely amazing.

There is a small tourist information office in Luxor, just along from Aboudi's bookshop (the best I have every found) who will be able to give you info on the Sound & Light Show i.e. English nights, cost etc. Just be patient though with the staff.

Luxor Temple - I like the history attached to this one but there is an oddity.
When the re-building was done, and don't ask me how I spotted it, one of the corner stones was placed upside down. So much for the so called experts. I challenge anyone to find it. Proof must be given by photograph.

How close are hotels and such to the major temples and such? Is there any way to be close enough that you don't have to travel half a day to get to them? I can see getting someplace just as it's about to close.