Flats in Luxor is now available in the following languages Deutsch Español 中文 Luxor, Egypt, one of the most beautiful and historical holiday places in the world. Tourists have been coming here since ancient times and the sites and wonders are just as interesting for the modern tourist as they were all those years ago. The good thing is you don't have to have spent years studying the history to appreciate it. It is all there, still standing on the banks of the Nile waiting to be explored by you. Many people who come to this friendly town wish to get a more hands on holiday than the big tour companies can offer. This is where we come in. Flats We originally started renting one block of flats on the West Bank and now we are Luxor’s premier source for flats West or East Bank and independent tours. Many people prefer the freedom of a self catering apartment giving them independence, flexibility and a real feel for the country. Others like to stay in a hotel but want more individual tours and a chance to contribute directly to the community.The original Flats in Luxor, built by Jane and Mahmoud, an Anglo/Egyptian couple, are situated on the West Bank, Luxor on the edge of Al Gezera village, the luxury end of the flat rental market with it’s own swimming pool and jacuzzi. Over time with increasing numbers of guests and requests for different locations and sizes we have been added to our portfolio. Some of these properties are directly managed by us, others we will make the booking with the landlord for you. But at all times it will be us, Jane and Mahmoud, you deal with and who will organise every aspect of your stay right from pick up at the airport. Tours Tours are now a huge part of our offering with many guests staying outside of the flats utilising our services. As we are part of the local economy you know you are contributing directly. The people we utilise are reliable, knowledgeable locals who have been working in the tourist market for many years. These tours can range from a taxi for a day to guided tours of Luxor. Desert trips, Cairo tours or a simple camel ride. Our most popular tour is the Quiet Tour where we endeavour to show you 3 sites where you will be the only tourist.For those of you interested in a Nile Cruise, what about trying a traditional sailing boat. More details here www.sailthenile.com Want to know more, then email us at info@flatsinLuxor.co.uk or go to the contact us link.Want to make a booking go to the availability page to check for our current vacancies and make a booking. Jane Akshar and Mahmoud Jahlan We are members of AEITB "Association of Egyptian Travel Businesses on the Internet" Flats in Luxor are recommended by the Lonely Planet and Rough Guide.

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Luxor News - Jane Akshar A visit to Early Kushite Tombs of South Asasif TT223 etc Firstly I am not going to give a big report on the excavation as lots has to wait for publication but it does mean that when Elena gives her public lecture on Saturday I will be able to expand the things she mentions knowing I am safe doing so. As a bit of background reading do have a look at this link http://www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/Pischikova_a.pdf not only does it fully describe the tomb and general area but it also has some great photographs. Obviously I was not allowed to take any. After stopping by the inspectors office to be ?officially cleared? I made it to the site just after 8. The team are working on three tombs Karakhamun, Karabasken and Irtieru, Karakhamun being the major one and they had been there since 6. When I got there some of them were busy recording and photography a buffalo skull, not quite treasure but it just shows you how archaeology has changed. Belzoni et al would have probably just thrown these things away but everything is recorded, photographed and stored. Digging is a whole different ball game these days. These tombs are from the period when the Nubians or Black Pharoahs held sway over Egypt, hence the very unusual names. The first tomb we went into was originally underneath the Abu Rassoul house so the team are not expecting to find many artefacts however there was a very lovely ceiling which had been cleaned and a number of SCA conservators working there. That one was across a narrow plank bridge and I hate heights. I kept repeating the mantra don?t think about it. These late period tombs are very large and deep, they obviously had a bob or two. The second tomb was being used as a store room and is much ruined I was completely distracted by the giant jigsaw puzzle being worked on the floor. They have a number of fragments that come from one of the pillars and were using the area to reconstruct these into a coherent inscription. Another member of the team was working using some software to record some decoration. It is personal fascination to me how technology has made it into the archaeology arena and is making a huge difference. The old fashioned ways of pieces of paper on the walls are being ditched in favour of digital pens and pads. Obviously you have to have two skills now, artistic and use of the software. Lastly we went to the tomb of Karakhamun which is huge, what is it with those late period guys. There is loads of colour, inscriptions and excavation still to be done. A huge task and one that relies on voluntary funding. Have a look at the website if yould like more info ad sponsorship details http://southasasif.com/Map.htmlSome of the stuff I saw was charming, really lovely. He does not appear to have had much family, only a brother has been identified, perhaps further excavation will reveal more. It took two Egyptians to get me back out of the tomb, it really is deep but it was worth it. I have to give my thanks to Moustafa Waziry for giving me permission, Elena Pischikova for inviting me on the site and Meg Gundlach who actually did the tour and held my hand over narrow plank bridges and up and down hillsides. (Eventually some nice strong Egyptian men came to our rescue and pushed and pulled me up.) more ... BA in Egyptology online, is there a demand? As you know I am doing the Certificate in Egyptology with Manchester University. I am totally loving it as do my fellow students. A number of us having been asking if it was possible to do a BA. At the recent graduation ceremony for the Certificate students Rosalie David announced that they are looking into this. Now my understanding is it will take a while and they have to get formal approval. obviously with financial cut backs etc they are going to have to put a good case and I suspect the course will have to be self funding. I have set up a Facebook page We-want-an-online-BA-in-Egyptology so people can register an interest. This is not an official page but I am sure it will help them put there case if they see a lot of people on there. If you are not a Facebook person why not put a comment here, saying yes I would be interested and any questions you might have and I can cut and paste them there. more ... New method could revolutionize dating of ancient treasures Not Luxor news but non the less very relevant. It constantly fascinates me how much archeology is changing and how new scientific methods are giving us information not thought possible just a few years ago. I attended a lecture where they were analysing the paint using non destructive methods and able to identify different artists. But this one could be totally revolutionary. New method could revolutionize dating of ancient treasures: "In conventional dating methods, scientists remove a small sample from an object, such as a cloth or bone fragment. Then they treat the sample with a strong acid and a strong base and finally burn the sample in a small glass chamber to produce carbon dioxide gas to analyze its C-14 content. Rowe's new method, called 'non-destructive carbon dating,' eliminates sampling, the destructive acid-base washes, and burning. In the new method, scientists place an entire artifact in a special chamber with a plasma, an electrically charged gas similar to gases used in big-screen plasma television displays. The gas slowly and gently oxidizes the surface of the object to produce carbon dioxide for C-14 analysis without damaging the surface, he said. - Sent using Google Toolbar" more ... Mummification Museum - Popular Worship at Luxor Temple and the Rekhyt Rebus - Ken Griffin This lecture was different to our normal ones as Ken presented a new theory. I have read his published paper on this so if you want to know more I do suggest you read this. You can also search Google using ?Rekhyt rebus? as keywords. His argument was convincing and well presented. This link http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Socle_de_statue_01.jpg/280px-Socle_de_statue_01.jpg is a picture of the rebus which will help understanding the lecture. The lecture was divided into three parts; who were the Rekhyt, the Rekhyt rebus and the people?s gate. Who were the Rekhyt? In 1868 Brugush was the first to define the word as people and many others have come after using definitions like volk, plebeians, mankind, and common folk, lowest level of people. There is also another word, ?Pat? people which means nobility. Others have had more controversial ideas but these are not widely accepted, Nibbi thought they are Libyans and Hodge Indo-Europeans They are symbolised by the lapwing bird with its wings pinned back and human arms raised worshiping. Birds are still seen in this position in markets in Egypt today. The Rekhyt Rebus The rebus itself consists of a bird ? the people, a basket ? all, and star ? worship. Finally a cartouche (e.g. Ramesses). So it reads as ?all the Rekhyt-people worship Ramesses?. Why was it put on the temples? Traditional view has been that this was a symbol to direct the common people to where they should stand as stated by Brand, Bell, Teeter, Wilkinson and others. You can see it at the 1st courtyard at Luxor Temple which is variously referred to in hieroglyphs as a Place of Supplication, Court of Appearances or Festival Court. It only appears on the columns on the south east area (the north east is under the mosque and has not been studied) and some believe that this meant that the common people were only allowed into this eastern side of the court. The corresponding columns on the west side have a cartouche flanked by the goddesses Wadjet and Nekhbet. All the birds face towards the central aisle. Ken also pointed out that the statues flanking the doorway to the colonnade of Amenhotep III were also identified for popular worship so common people must have had access to them. Also the triple shrine in the North West is a place for supplication with both the Mut ad Khonsu chapels mentioning the Rekhyt people as well as the false door in the Amun chapel. This had the mystical function, a bit like an ancient telephone booth with direct dial to Amun. There is also a statue (provenance unknown) of a noble called Panhesy which mentions the Rekhyt people presenting gifts to the statue in order to have Panhesy deliver the pleas to the god who la within. People?s Gate This is the entrance just by the mosque and the inscriptions says that the Rekhyt adore in order to be given life. The Pat people were on the other door jamb back in 1983 but have now vanished. It is possible that this gateway was used by the king coming and going from his east bank palace. As well as the Pat-people there are also examples of various other peoples including foreigners as seen at Abydos. Now Ken started to put his case against the rebus being a positioning glyph for common people. So at Luxor temple we should consider when deciding where the common people were allowed. - Name of the court - Open courts could by default be described as being open for worship - Triple Shrine - Ka Statues - Rekhyt Rebus positions - People?s Gate Ken had examined the occurrence of the Rekhyt-rebus in New Kingdom temples, in the courtyards, hypostyle halls and inner sanctuaries. If the Rekhyt rebus was a sign indicating ?you may stand here? then one would have expected it not to appear past the courtyards. He has looked at a variety of temples and found occurrences along the axial ways in courtyards and hypostyle halls but also in inner sanctuaries like the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut, the way stations of Hatshepsut, Seti I temples at Gurna and Abydos, and Ramesses II temple at Abydos. So this is found throughout temples, even in their private most secret places. Doorways in the Pyramid Texts and Coffin Texts restricted access to the hereafter but in the New Kingdom they became physical doorways. They had symbols which were both greeting and worshiping. The Rekhyt image can be a bird, a person with a birds head or a person with the little crest of the lapwing on the back of their head and there is an example from the Third Intermediate Period of a bird with a flail as opposed to wings. They appear to flank the processional route with the few exceptions explained by poor reconstruction or missing elements. Ken believes that this was part of upholding Maat and that without these images continually worshiping and greeting the both the pharaoh and the gods then Egypt would be thrown into chaos. So a much more mystical purpose than the traditional view. more ...

News feed from our popular Flats In Luxor Blog

Flats in Luxor Excellent apartment and lovely host - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor Excellent apartment and lovely host - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor: "?Excellent apartment and lovely host? - Sent using Google Toolbar" Nice to get a review on TS after a break of 5 weeks and from such a nice family as well more ... Location, Location, Location How nice of Google Earth, they have just released up dated satellite pictures of Egypt. So at last you can see where all out buildings are. You might want to select the actual image to see it properly. When selecting accommodation in Luxor you want to make sure where you are in relationship to central Luxor and the sites. You want to be in the centre of things not miles out like and needing a taxi when you want a loaf of bread, the bank or a visit to the sites. Egyptian Experience is a classic example of a poor location, over 9km from central Luxor. The more popular hotels are in south Luxor, around the area of our East Bank building and this is where you will find a whole variety of restaurants and shops as well as banks. Central Luxor is situated around the railway station, our Al Gezera building is just across the Nile from there. The ferry goes from Luxor temple to Al Gezera village where our original flats are located. There are lots of Egyptian restaurants here; prices are much reduced from tourist town. All our other West Bank properties are with 1km of there and are within sight of the temple of Hatshepsut. So here are close ups of all our buildings, first Al Gezera This was the first building we built 7 years ago consisting of 4 three bedroom two bathroom flats and a penthouse. The pent house is sold and the owner is mostly resident but occasionally rents it. I live on the second floor and my spare bedroom is available for rent. The other 3 flats are available for sale or rent. We refurbished the entire building in June 2010, installing a second bathroom and painting it from top to toe. The flat names are Osirus, Isis, Horus and Ra is the penthouse. There is a swimming pool, pool table, garden and chef will deliver. Next along the road is the Arabesque House; we bought this building and completely refurbished it. It has 2 two bedroom 1 three bedroom and a penthouse. Just along the road from Goubli residents can use the facilities there e.g. swimming pool, restaurant, Wi-Fi, library, washing machine. This building is decorated in an Arabic/Islamic style. The flat names are Nigma, Amar, Layla and Noor. Next we have the villas, at the time of the satellite picture they were being built but you can at least see the foundations lol. They have their own special website http://www.nubian-eco-village.com the villa names are Manga, Limon, Tofa and Tine. Next door is Goubli with 7 three bedroom two bathroom flats 2 have owners but only one is resident so 6 available for rent and 5 available for sale. This building has free Wi-Fi, restaurant, swimming pool, garden, library, washing machine and a resident?s lounge. The flat names are Maat, Mut, Hathor, Bast, Neith, Selket, and Sekhmet. Lastly the East Bank building, that is in the heart of tourist town and great for those wanting more nightlife. This building consists of 3 three bedroom flats and 2 one bedroom. One flat is sold and the owner is in residence, another Shu, the owner keeps one bedroom locked so it is available as a two bedroom two bathroom. The other flats are Geb, Anubis and Seth. more ... Al Gezera Refurbishment Completed If you have been following the photo diary on Facebook you will know that we have been refurbishing Al Gezera the flats we first built 7 years ago. They now have a second bathroom in the big main bedroom, the outside is terracotta and each room has a feature wall with a paint effect that looks like wall paper. The stairs have a paint marble affect. It all looks really smart, ready for the winter season. It looks like we are going to have a busy winter as our forward bookings are good, Christmas is pretty full but we still have vacancies, especially at the villas. more ... Buying Property in Luxor When buying property, flats, apartments and villas, in Egypt it is important to buy from an owner with a proven track record who you have some kind of hold over. This gives you power in the business relationship and makes sure your investment is protected. With a strange legal system, in a language you cannot read or understand, you need this added protection. We are that owner. I have a public traceable record going back over 30 years, do have a look at my LinkedIn profile with recommendations for my business career going back to the 80?s, search on my name it is unique, well known and traceable, look at our business recommendations on Trip Advisor, Lonely Planet, Rough Guide and Responsible Travel, and finally read the articles about us in the Boston Globe, Sunday Times and Daily Telegraph. Our business Flats in Luxor Group is registered and licensed in Egypt. We are owners you can trust, with a proven business record and an established business which we want to protect. You can buy with confidence from Jane Akshar and Mahmoud Jahlan PS applies to long term rentals as well Price List Currently I have 20 flats and 6 villas for sale so plenty of options. Prices range from $50,000 USD with the three bedroom places starting at $150,000 USD. The Desert and Ezba villas would be projects with the owner deciding on design and finish so aren?t priced. ? East Bank o One bedroom ground floor o Three bedroom 2 bathroom first floor ? West Bank o Arabesque house (access to Goubli facilities) ? Two bedroom ground floor ? Three bedroom first floor ? One bedroom penthouse o Goubli (with swimming pool and restaurant) ? Three bedroom 2 bathroom (g, 1, 2, 3 floors) ? One bedroom penthouse (planned) o Al Gezera (with swimming pool) ? Three bedroom 2 bathroom (1, 2, 3 floor) ? Villas o One bedroom domed villas (access to Goubli facilities) o Ezba villa partially complete o Desert Villa partially complete If there isn?t something in that little lot that takes your fancy I will be surprised. All these properties have proper papers and we would arrange transfer. We would be prepared to manage any property sold for 15% of gross rentals. I would love to take you round and let you have a look. more ...