Luxor is located in upper Egypt 675 km south of Cairo on the right bank of the Nile river. The city includes the village of Karnak (Karnak Temple) to the northeast on the Luxor map and the ancient monuments and the burial ground, Valley of The Kings, on the other side of the Nile, and, of course, the Luxor Temple.

The name of the city comes from the Arabic word el-Uqsur, the plural of el-Qasr, meaning encampment or fortification, with reference to the two military camps built there in Roman times.

Luxor is highly influenced by tourism. You will find modern hotels and large bazaar areas and a growing stream of Nile cruises sails between Luxor and Aswan. A little south of the city there is a bridge crossing the river. Despite of the influence of tourism Luxor is still a minor city with old houses and buildings.

The city has next to no industry, but its surroundings illustrate traditional farming methods, and on its small streets there are hundreds of workshops manufacturing souvenirs. Luxor has a harbour and a ferry line to cross the Nile.