Tourism

Air Balloons

Air ballooning is a central part of the Luxor visitor experience, and has been for decades (West, 1981). The activity is attractive as it offers the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have an aerial view ancient monuments. As part of the activities during the first workshop trip, the team and students took part in an air balloon ride over Luxor. Many of the trips take place at sunrise, which creates a sense of peace and tranquillity difficult to replicate anywhere else.

Museums and Galleries

Luxor is home to a variety of museums which present both a localised view of Luxor heritage, as well as a consideration of wider Egyptian heritage. Luxor also includes art galleries presenting contemporary art inspired by the layers of Luxor heritage.

Luxor Museum

Luxor Museum houses mainly artifacts discovered in Luxor (Sabbahy and Sabbahy, 1985, 217). The museum was designed in 1962 by the Egyptian architect Mahmud El Hakim, and opened in 1975. The museum contains both artifacts in the from they were found in (Thomas, 2022, 2), as well as restored artifacts (Fazzini and Bryan, 2021, 68). Most objects in the museum date from the New Kingdom period, as this was when Luxor initially became prominent (Sabbahy and Sabbahy, 1985, 218). The museum includes grave goods from the tomb of Tutankhamun, as well as the collection of 16 of 22 statues which were discovered at Luxor Temple in 1989.

The Mummification Museum

The Mumification Museum is located in front of the Mina Palace Hotel, overlooking the Nile river. The museum focuses on providing visitors with information and understanding on the art of mummification. Mummification is central to international understandings of Ancient Egyptian heritage, due to the long history of the practice, where intentional mummification began from 2613 BCE (Veiga, 2012, 1). Objects on display include tools and equipment used for the process, as well as decorative coffins and mummified remains.

Luxor Art Gallery

Luxor Art Gallery promotes Egyptian artists and local contemporary fine art. Their website includes a virtual tour which showcases the vibrant pieces, which are influenced by local heritage and practices. The pieces on display are varied, and provide a modern spin on traditional Egyptian art techniques, such as the reimagination of Pharaonic art by Ahmed El-Shafei, and watercolour paintings of Luxor monuments and Nubian landscapes by Enas Omara. The gallery is not solely focused on Pharaonic heritage, but instead presents the layers of Luxor heritage through Felo Halim’s inspirations from Coptic Christian heritage.

Banana Island

Banana Island is a five acre nature reserve on the River Nile which is full of banana trees, as well as guava, fig and other fruit trees. The island is important to the local Luxor population as it a place of relaxation due to its greenery and serene nature. The beauty and tranquillity also attracts tourists from Luxor, who travel on the Nile on traditional wooden sailing boats known as Feluccas. There is the opportunity to watch crocodiles and taste the harvested fruits, as well as taking in the scenery. The location encourages queries into whether such areas should be enhanced as touristic location, or kept as a heritage haven for local people. It is important to note personal connections to tourism locations such as Banana Island, to maintain local involvement and authenticity and to prevent gentrification to ensure historic understandings of the location are preserved.

The Sound and Light Show


The Sound and Light Show is a nation-wide immersive experience at various Egyptian heritage sites. For example, in Cairo, the Shows are at the Gaza Pyramid Complex, in Aswan they are at Abu Simbel and the Philae Temple Complex. During the shows, the audience is taken on a journey through the history of the monuments through the telling of stories and presentation of images. In Luxor, the Sound and Light Show takes place at Karnak Temple and brings the pharaonic heritage of the site to life. The shows are accessible to tourists, as they are in English, French, German, as well as Arabic; because of this, and the immersive presentation of heritage, they are well attended by both international and domestic tourists.

Sources:

Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (2023) Mummification Museum. Available from: https://egymonuments.gov.eg/en/museums/mummification-museum

Egyptian Tourism Authority (2023) The Luxor Museum. Available from: https://egypt.travel/en/attractions/the-luxor-museum

Egyptian Tourism Authority (2023) Banana Island for Those who Crave Nature and Tranquillity. Available from: https://egypt.travel/en/stories/banana-island-for-those-who-crave-nature-and-tranquility

Hurghada Lovers (2023) Banana Island in Luxor Egypt. Available from: https://hurghadalovers.com/banana-island-in-luxor-egypt/

WeSeekTravel (2023) 10 Things to Know Before Going Hot Air Ballooning in Luxor, Egypt. Available from: https://www.weseektravel.com/hot-air-ballooning-luxor/

Reif, R. (1981) The Little-Known Treasures of Egypt’s Luxor Museum of Ancient Art. New York Times, 18 Jan. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/18/arts/antiques.html

Veiga, P. (2012) Studying Mummies and Human Remains: Some Current Developments and Issues. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. 98(2), 1-21.

Sabbahy, L. and Sabbahy, F. (1985) The Museum Trail: the Luxor Museum of Ancient Egyptian Art. The Biblical Archaeologist. 48(4), 217-221.

Thomas, S. (2022) Ramesses, Loved by Ptah: the History of a Colossal Royal Statue. Cairo: the American University in Cairo Press.

Fazzini, R. A. and Bryan, B. M. (2021) The Precinct of Mut at South Karnak: an Archaeological Guide. Cairo: the American University in Cairo Press.

West, S. (1981) Ballooning Science. Science News. 119(15), 237-238.