Egypt is probably still considered one of life’s great luxury holidays, even though the price of accommodation and flights has drastically reduced in recent years.

Luxor is a real must-see destination if you’re planning a trip to Egypt.  The city of Luxor stands on the banks of the river Nile.  Just four miles over the bridge up river from Luxor is the Valley of the Kings, where the kings of Egypt were buried.  The last king to have built his tomb here was Ramesses XI, although it is not proved whether he used it.  There are a total of 62 tombs that have been discovered in the valley, including that of King Tut, although not all the tombs belong to kings, despite the name.

The most famous tomb, and the one most people have heard of, is that of Tutankamen, discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter, a British archaeologist.  Most other tombs had already been looted a long time ago, so this one was a notable find.

The chambers are a fabulous sight.  Floor-to-ceiling images decorate the chambers to show the king’s soul a guide to the afterlife.  These images are based on the Book of the Dead, the amduat and the Litany of Re.

The tombs open at 6am, so arrive early if you wish to avoid the crowds.  You cannot buy tickets at the site though, so you need to buy them from the West Bank Ticket Office.  Also, you need a ticket for each tomb, group of tombs or temple.  You can easily get to the Valley of the Kings from Luxor by a short taxi ride, take a boat across the Nile or use a private motorboat.

Bear in mind as well, that Egypt is still a traditional culture.  Women should cover their shoulders and knees in public and be completely covered in mosques.  Everybody must remove their shoes before they enter a mosque.

The locals are friendly, but it is a huge honour to be invited to their home, so if you are lucky enough for a local to invite you, you should take a good gift as they will roll out the red carpet for you.