Luxor is the one everyone must see at least once in a lifetime, its Arab name ?City of palaces?. In 1799, Nelson sailed down the Nile in pursuit of the French. When the expedition landed at Luxor on the 27th January, the troops were so impressed with the magnificence of the temples of Abu Simbel that they broke into applause, forming ranks and presenting arms. As well as ancient Thebes, the Temple of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and The Colossus of Memnon, many smaller sites lie half-forgotten beneath the palms and offer exquisite friezes in bas-relief.
As the prime archaeological site worldwide and with its central Egyptian location, Luxor is a particularly attractive investment prospect. A series of sweeping governmental reforms has been aimed at attracting foreign investment capital to Egypt in general. Luxor has been enjoying a program of infrastructural upgrading since 2005. Despite the opening of the international airport in 2004, prices are still affordable for the moment.
