Been to Eqypt twice and toured the Luxor region both times. I will say that a guide would be my preference but the guide experience is dependent on the guide and their knowledge, personality, charisma, speaking ability.
Both guides we toured with were Egyptologists but the one I experienced in 2008 was far better than the one in 2015.
Both times we toured the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut's temple, Karnak's temple, and some other sites, and did a short cruise on the nile.
There are typical stops at alabaster shops, perfume shops, blown glass shops, and papyrus shops....all these are places to drain your wallet via overpriced goods....but if you are into those kind of souvenirs with limited time to shop perhaps that is not an issue for you. Realize that your guide gets a kickback from the shops when you buy stuff.
A good guide is a great way to get a deep dive (no pun intended) into the history as you immerse in antiquity.
My first time in Egypt, I was active duty Navy and my ship pulled in to Safaga, the 2nd time I went with a dive club and we stayed in Hurgada. It was a very long bus ride from those cities to the Luxor region, and guide that knows their s%#t and has some charisma and storytelling ability helps make that slog enjoyable.
-Z
Both guides we toured with were Egyptologists but the one I experienced in 2008 was far better than the one in 2015.
Both times we toured the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut's temple, Karnak's temple, and some other sites, and did a short cruise on the nile.
There are typical stops at alabaster shops, perfume shops, blown glass shops, and papyrus shops....all these are places to drain your wallet via overpriced goods....but if you are into those kind of souvenirs with limited time to shop perhaps that is not an issue for you. Realize that your guide gets a kickback from the shops when you buy stuff.
A good guide is a great way to get a deep dive (no pun intended) into the history as you immerse in antiquity.
My first time in Egypt, I was active duty Navy and my ship pulled in to Safaga, the 2nd time I went with a dive club and we stayed in Hurgada. It was a very long bus ride from those cities to the Luxor region, and guide that knows their s%#t and has some charisma and storytelling ability helps make that slog enjoyable.
-Z