Luxor4u

A bit short notice but this just came up on Ahram on-line this morning.

To celebrate this year's World Heritage Day, Egypt's antiquities ministry has decided to open its archaeological sites for free to visitors on Friday and Saturday, April 18 and 19.

Antiquities minister Mohamed Ibrahim told Ahram Online that this decision is not only to celebrate World Heritage Day but also to encourage Egypt's local tourism and raise citizens' cultural awareness, especially of sites that are on the World Heritage list such as Abu Mena Monastery in Alexandria, the Giza Pyramids and Islamic Cairo.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/99136.aspx

BBLUX wrote:A bit short notice but this just came up on Ahram on-line this morning.

To celebrate this year's World Heritage Day, Egypt's antiquities ministry has decided to open its archaeological sites for free to visitors on Friday and Saturday, April 18 and 19.

Antiquities minister Mohamed Ibrahim told Ahram Online that this decision is not only to celebrate World Heritage Day but also to encourage Egypt's local tourism and raise citizens' cultural awareness, especially of sites that are on the World Heritage list such as Abu Mena Monastery in Alexandria, the Giza Pyramids and Islamic Cairo.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/99136.aspx

My bet is that only the normal places will be open for free and that specially ticketed places like the tombs of Nefertari, Set I, etc. remain closed. I will be asking around on the off-chance though!

Brian Yare wrote:

BBLUX wrote:A bit short notice but this just came up on Ahram on-line this morning.

To celebrate this year's World Heritage Day, Egypt's antiquities ministry has decided to open its archaeological sites for free to visitors on Friday and Saturday, April 18 and 19.

Antiquities minister Mohamed Ibrahim told Ahram Online that this decision is not only to celebrate World Heritage Day but also to encourage Egypt's local tourism and raise citizens' cultural awareness, especially of sites that are on the World Heritage list such as Abu Mena Monastery in Alexandria, the Giza Pyramids and Islamic Cairo.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/99136.aspx

My bet is that only the normal places will be open for free and that specially ticketed places like the tombs of Nefertari, Set I, etc. remain closed. I will be asking around on the off-chance though!

But even if it's 'only the normal places will be open for free' - surely that's something to be pleased about.

Brian Yare wrote:

BBLUX wrote:A bit short notice but this just came up on Ahram on-line this morning.

To celebrate this year's World Heritage Day, Egypt's antiquities ministry has decided to open its archaeological sites for free to visitors on Friday and Saturday, April 18 and 19.

Antiquities minister Mohamed Ibrahim told Ahram Online that this decision is not only to celebrate World Heritage Day but also to encourage Egypt's local tourism and raise citizens' cultural awareness, especially of sites that are on the World Heritage list such as Abu Mena Monastery in Alexandria, the Giza Pyramids and Islamic Cairo.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/99136.aspx

My bet is that only the normal places will be open for free and that specially ticketed places like the tombs of Nefertari, Set I, etc. remain closed. I will be asking around on the off-chance though!

No way will Nefertari or Seti1 be opened for general (and free) viewing on these 2 days. They were closed to save them from damage....imagine what a mass invasion would do !

will try Luxor temple Friday, don't expect much luck.

Excellent idea we just spent a fortune last week end visiting a lot of the tombs

My local contacts know nothing about this, but questions will be asked tomorrow.

My current plan is 6am Friday, VotK, KV62.

May I suggest, that a visit to Karnack Temple would be good value here, as it is the only temple in Luxor that is offering continued restoration since most of the ex-pats probably visited a such temple. The main restoration work has been done in the Khonsu Temple which is to the south of Ramesses lll Temple within the complex. Do not enter this area through where you see a bar barrier, you will be refused. Walk through the area known as 'the lost jig-saw' area. You will be approached by the guardian of that temple, be polite, and he will show you much of the recent restoration here, which is truly fantastic. I am certain that a separate ticket will be required in the future to visit this area., please give this guardian a well earned tip for his help .

Talking of separate tickets, perhaps maybe a look at the open museum at Karnack, will certainly open your eyes since your last visit, which would have cost much less than its present ticket price of 40LE. The lack of general maintenance throughout this area is so telling of how tourist pay for so little.

With regards to KV 56, any one who saw this tomb 10 years ago, certainly saw it in much better condition than they will see it today.

I can confirm what I learnt from an inspector last night - the free offer is for Egyptians only. So instead of my driver staying outside or going for breakfast he came into the VotK with us. He visited a few tombs with Helen while I paid the extra to do Ram V/VI and Tut. Ram V/VI is as good as I remembered and well worth the extra charge but Tut is a complete rip-off. Of course the tourists wanted Tut for its reputation. They were not impressed that they had to go back to the main ticket office for special tickets. I checked, and the information was available about this, but very poorly sited. On my previous visit these extra tickets were purchased near the tombs. But of course Egypt does not want tourists to visit the tombs!

Brian Yare wrote:I can confirm what I learnt from an inspector last night - the free offer is for Egyptians only. So instead of my driver staying outside or going for breakfast he came into the VotK with us. He visited a few tombs with Helen while I paid the extra to do Ram V/VI and Tut. Ram V/VI is as good as I remembered and well worth the extra charge but Tut is a complete rip-off. Of course the tourists wanted Tut for its reputation. They were not impressed that they had to go back to the main ticket office for special tickets. I checked, and the information was available about this, but very poorly sited. On my previous visit these extra tickets were purchased near the tombs. But of course Egypt does not want tourists to visit the tombs!

No surprise there then Typical of Al Ahram to be 'economical with the truth'

Was it uncomfortably busy? Or were you early enough to avoid the rush? Maybe Friday prayers will take priority?

Brian Yare wrote: On my previous visit these extra tickets were purchased near the tombs.

That must have been some years ago then Brian.

A-Four wrote:

Brian Yare wrote: On my previous visit these extra tickets were purchased near the tombs.

That must have been some years ago then Brian.

1) it was extremely quiet at 0615 - we were there before most of the guardians. Even at 08:00 there were fewer than 100 tourists in the VotK as we headed back for breakfast.

2) About 5 years ago for Ram V/VI. Jan 2009 according to my pictures.

The extra tickets were sold at the office in the Valley near Tut last year..so not that long ago.

Not quite sure how free tickets for Egyptians actually benefits tourism?I just re-read the report and it does say "local tourism"

Because Egyptians can be tourists too. Of course, some businesses in Luxor won't let them past the front door.

I totally agree Glyph. Actually we have commented on the increase in Egyptian tourists we have seen lately. Friday and Saturday are of course the Egyptian weekend so that the timing makes sense.

The main reason for increased prices to the monuments and tombs was that Zahi Hawass had his own printing company, that produced said entrance tickets and he took 50%, not a lot of people knew that....

Oh that's only the tip of the iceberg of his business empire....

Read a recent article by him that says that he is still stopped in the streets of Cairo, when there, by young children who asks for his autograph, I'm surprised they do not confuse him with Indian Jones, but then again, I am lead to believe he still goes around in his 'stage' costume.

Where was this article?

Who2 wrote:The main reason for increased prices to the monuments and tombs was that Zahi Hawass had his own printing company, that produced said entrance tickets and he took 50%, not a lot of people knew that....

What are you saying here Who2 ? Surely the admission money (and the recent increases) all goes to the Ministry of Antiquities? What has the cost of printing tickets got to do with anything

Come to think of it, Hawass would benefit from the need to print a whole load of new tickets with the new prices