Luxor

Built on the site of ancient Thebes, once the capital of Egypt at the height of its power, Luxor is often called the world's greatest open-air museum. On the East Bank of the Nile stand the vast Karnak Temple Complex and the elegant Luxor Temple, while the West Bank holds the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings, the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Many Nile cruises begin or end here, and a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the West Bank is one of Egypt's most unforgettable experiences.