MONUMENTMonument
Medinet Habu
25.3320, 31.9813
Medinet Habu is Luxor's most underrated giant, the vast mortuary temple of Ramesses III on the West Bank, and one of the best-preserved temple complexes in Egypt. Behind its fortified gateway, modelled on a Syrian migdol, lie towering pylons carved with the pharaoh's battles against the mysterious Sea Peoples, the reliefs still holding astonishing depth and, in shaded corners, their original paint.
What sets it apart is the colour: ceilings and columns that retain vivid blues, reds and golds long faded elsewhere, and far fewer crowds than the Valley of the Kings nearby. Wander the courtyards, crane up at the painted ceilings, and trace the war scenes across the walls. For many visitors it is the quiet highlight of the West Bank.
Know before you go
Go in the morning when low sun rakes across the carvings, and bring binoculars to pick out the surviving paint high on the ceilings.