Another Luxor Pass review

Luxor pass.

After some initial teething problems getting the ticket sorted it was plain sailing for the next 5 days.

I was greeted with smiles each time I used it at the 40 or so tombs and temples I visited. 

I hadn't been to Luxor before and this ticket really helped make it an enjoyable stay.

Guy Thompson

Read More

Review of the Luxor Pass

One of my recent guests wrote up her recent experience of the Luxor Pass

My review of the Luxor Pass by Karen English

Reasons for buying my pass

I am a student (half price pass!) and had five days in a row to pack in as much sightseeing as I could manage – and I didn’t want to faff about with cash for each ticket individually purchased and the time involved in going to various different ticket offices! I have a bad back and knees and thus mobility sometimes causes issues for me. With one ticket, I could do as much as I liked every day without feeling obliged to overstretch myself due to having bought a ticket for various tombs – or feeling it was too much trouble to go back to the ticket office to buy extra tickets for more tombs on good days! I also had ideas of perhaps returning to Nefertari’s tomb daily for the max of 10 minutes that they permit inside it!

How did I get my 5-day pass? 

I took along my hosts husband Mahmoud to assist with finding the Antiquities Office in Luxor! He knew where it was (just up the side street from Luxor Museum) but still he got sent to various different places and kiosks until finally being shown the correct place! Go prepared – take a passport sized photograph of yourself, a photocopy of your passport and cash in US $. I also took proof of being a student (my NUS Extra card). Also, be prepared to sit in their office for 30-45 minutes as it takes them ages to sort out the paperwork (well, it is Egypt!) At least they are happy cheery people and you get to walk out of the office with your pass  Before you leave, do take Mr Ahmed Khalifa’s telephone number on his business card with you – just in case of problems accessing sites.

What was my experience of using the pass? 

After initial scrutiny of the pass – most guardians allowed access to the tomb whilst they took the pass to their managers with queries. The pass was always ready to be handed back to my guide or myself upon re-appearing out of the tomb! Some of the guardians were extremely excited by the sight of the pass - they were intrigued, calling over other guardians to see it and passing it around. Hopefully educating the other custodians! I felt really accepted and welcomed at places with my pass. I feel it showed them that I was a “serious” tourist, keen to see as much as I could in the 5 days, rather than a “happy snapper” tourist that got out of a taxi, took photos, and got back inside the taxi without paying or strolling inside the temples (yes, I saw that on my travels!)

Did I feel it was good value for money? 

 If you visit Seti 1 or Nefertari as a one-off, it is currently 1,000 LE per tomb per visit ($55-$60). So, if you went to both of those, you’ve already spent $110+. If you had to pay full price for the pass, the remaining $90 soon disappears at the other sites. For example - Karnak temple alone (with the open air museum and Mut temple etc) is $10 – and another $15 to go to the Valley of the Kings with Tutankhamuns tomb, Ramesses VI and Ay. Financially, I know I saw far more than the cost of the pass – but then I worked out I saw roughly 38-40 tombs (let alone temples etc)! For me, the feeling of being able to do as much or as little as you want to see daily was for me the main plus point of the pass. I could point at something and the guide and driver would stop and we’d visit it!

Read More

Even more Info on the Luxor Pass

This update is important as they mention Euros

Last Tuesday (22 November 2016), Karin Khalif and Marcel went to see Ahmed Khalifa, Director of Public Relations at the Ministry of Antiquities Office in Luxor, to get some answers
The Luxor Pass:

There are 4 versions of the Pass:
• The Red Pass:
Gives you access to all the museums and (open) tombs in the Luxor area, including (about 10-15 minutes) access to the tombs of Nefertari (QV66) and the tomb of Seti I (KV17)
• The Blue Pass:
Same as above, but without access to Nefertari and Seti I tombs
• The Yellow Pass (For students only):
Gives you access to all the museums and (open) tombs in the Luxor area, including (about 10-15 minutes) access to the tombs of Nefertari (QV66) and the tomb of Seti I (KV17)
• The Green Pass (For Students Only):
Same as above, but without access to Nefertari and Seti I tombs.
All Luxor Passes have a validity of 5 CONSECUTIVE days.
What does the Luxor Pass cost:
The Red Pass: U$ 200,-
The Blue Pass: U$ 100,-
The Yellow Pass: U$ 100,-
The Green Pass: U$ 50,-
Where can I buy the Luxor Pass:
To purchase a Luxor Pass, you will need a passport photograph and a photocopy of your passport details page. Take these to the Department of Foreign Cultural Relations at the Ministry of Antiquities in Zamalek or from the Public Relations Office in the Luxor Inspectorate, which is behind the Luxor Museum on the east bank of Luxor, behind the Museum. The office is open 9:00 am to 4:30 pm each day, Monday to Friday.
How can I pay for the Luxor Pass?

In Cash only. Although the tickets are priced in US Dollars, Mr. Ahmed Khalifa told us, that they accept Euros too. The Red Pass (U$ 200,-) will cost you € 180,-. If you do the math, the following prices would apply (although these can be different, depending on the exchange rate $ - €):

The Red Pass: € 180,-
The Blue Pass: € 90,-
The Yellow Pass: € 90,-
The Green Pass: € 45,-
How long does it take to make the pass?
The pass will be made on the spot, so it shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes.
NOTES:

• The pass can ONLY be paid for in US Dollars or Euros. You CANNOT pay in Egyptian Pounds or any other foreign currency.

• There is NO possibility to pay with Credit or Debit Card
• You have to bring your passport and a pass photo. If you do not have a pass photo (which can be easily obtained in Luxor), bring a copy of your passport. This will be attached to the back of your Luxor Pass.
• Students have to bring their University pass or other proof of being a student.

Read More

Feedback on use of the Luxor Pass

I do suggest when you get the pass you ask for Ahmed's phone number to sort these teething problems

Karren Tuffs This is the reverse Jane Akshar. We have had issues We went into Luxor Museum first. They took our passes inside the museum and said they needed to take them to the manager. 15 minutes later, after one of our party became insistent that they were returned, they turned up.

Today we visited SETI I and were left waiting outside while the guardian had to leg it with our passes to find his manager. The security guy did tell us to go inside though and our passes were returned before we left.

Next was King Tutankhamen, we had a problem here and had to ring Ahmed Khalifa, Supreme Council of Antiquties who had processed our passes. After he had spoken with them there were very very apologetic.

We had no problem in KV9.

Tomorrow is Nefertari so we will keep you posted.

P.s. There is restoration in King Tutankhamen's being carried out at the mind. Please feel free to ask more ask more questions 👍🏼
v

Karen also says " I think when the Luxor pass takes off it will really be a success. We will buying another in Feb."

Read More

Seti I visit

Thanks to Robert for feedback on his visit yesterday.

You have to buy a ticket for the valley(100) as well as Seti I(1000). They were able to spend an hour and half inside. Well worth the price and no hassle getting the ticket although it was at a separate window. Roberts ticket was number 33 which suggests that there are 10 people a day visiting

Read More

Seti I, Nefertari and Luxor Pass UPDATE

• 1)      The tombs and the Luxor pass are available tomorrow 1^st November
• 2)      The ticket for Nefertari will be available at the Valley of Queens ticket office
• 3)      The ticket for Seti I tomb will be available at the Valley of Kings ticket office
• 4)      They are both 1000LE
• 5)      The Luxor pass valid for 5 days is available at the east bank tuftish(antiquities office) which is behind Luxor Museum. You should ask for Ahmed Khalifa
• 6)      $100 USD pass ($50 USD for students) is WITHOUT Nefertari and Seti I
• 7)      $200 USD pass ($100 USD for students) is WITH Nefertari and Seti I

Update with answers to the questions you asked

The office on the east bank is open 9-4:30 every day including Friday (I did ask specifically)
You need a photo and a copy of the details page of your passport to get the Luxor Pass
There is a limit of 150 people a day to Nefertari and Seti I tombs

There is also another annual Luxor Pass (thanks Annette) details here http://www.egyptologyforum.org/MOA/MoA_Newsletter_3_English.pdf

The MoA is launching a new annual pass for all open archaeological sites and museums. For the first time,

Egyptians, Arab and foreign residents in Egypt are able to purchase an annual pass, which can be obtained

from the Department of Foreign Cultural Relations at the MoA in Zamalek.

Categories and prices are: EGP 100 for pupils of Egyptian governmental, private and international schools in

Egypt; EGP 150 for Egyptian, Arab and foreign university students residing in Egypt; EGP 400 for Egyptians

and Arabs residing in Egypt; $440 for foreigners employed by

embassies and international organizations in Egypt (including

the tombs of Sety I and Nefertari in Luxor), $340 without these

two tombs; and $490 for foreign residents in Egypt (including the

tombs of Sety I and Nefertari in Luxor); and $390 without these

two tombs.

In addition, the Board of the Supreme Council of Antiquties has

approved free entry for Egyptian and resident Arab seniors (60+) to

all archaeological sites and museums open to the public.

Read More