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Luxuriating in Luxor

  • Story Highlights
  • Hot air balloons make an early morning journey over the Valley of the Kings
  • Karnak Temple opens at 6am so visitors can avoid the hordes at this popular site
  • The Hotel Al Moudira offers Arabesque luxury and serenity just outside Luxor
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(CNN) -- This month in Sunrise to Sunset Business Traveller escapes the city to find time for sightseeing and relaxation around Luxor, the site of the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes.

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Sunrise over the Valley of the Kings.

Hot air and temples

For a stirring sunrise try a hot air balloon ride over the ancient monuments in the Valley of the Kings on the west of the River Nile.

Hod-Hod Soliman Balloon runs early morning trips for US$125 per person passing sights such as the Hatshepsut Temple.

On the other side of the Nile is Karnak Temple, the second most visited historical site in Egypt. This vast complex of ruined temples, chapels, pylons opens at 6am and closes at 5pm. But be warned, get there early to avoid the swarms of tourists that arrive later in the day. Entry fee is US$15. Video Watch the video. »

Fact Box

Visas for Egypt can be bought on arrival for US$15.

Domestic flights between Cairo and Luxor cost around US$70 and take two hours.

The journey from Sharm el Sheikh takes one hour.

Luxor's center is 15-minute taxi ride from Luxor Airport International and the journey should cost US$20-25.

Arabian nights

The Hotel Al Moudira, located on the West Bank of the Nile, is an oasis of serenity set away from the bustle of Luxor. The town center can be accessed by ferry and taxi; the Valley of Kings is 4 km away; and the temples on the Nile's East Bank are an easy drive.

Fitting the tradition of an Arabian palace, the boutique hotel features ochre domes and arches, flower-strewn patios, gardens of guava, mango and palm, Turkish baths, a solarium, swimming pool, and Egyptian craft furniture. For more information visit their website.

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Sunset on the Nile

No time for a cruise down the Nile? Then try a ride on a felucca, or traditional wooden sailing boat. These can be hired by the mooring stations of the cruise boats on the Nile at Luxor. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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