Shopping for souvenirs can be hard work, as the poor benighted tourist has to constantly haggle over prices - or not, if they are prepared to pay twice as much and more, as they need. Here's a selection of shops and shopkeepers that are typical of the genre. Luxor now appears to be the hassle capital of Egypt and almost seems proud of that reputation. Even a packet of cigarettes is open for negotiation!

Carpets and wallhangings are popular with the tourists, and still a bargain. But, beware, it might be difficult to find somewhere in your house to fit something so exotic.


The best place to shop for carpets (and Egyptian cotton) is the offical government shop near the police station - about half the price of the places that taxis or caleches take you.

Gold and silver shops abound - A piece of advice - although the hotels have jewelry shops, the prices are at least twice as much as you will find on the street. You can also see which one of us was the shopaholic! Also, the shops in the popular tourist bazaar areas are much more expensive than those in the outlying areas - like Youssef's Bazaar in Karnak.
On the left is another jewelry shop - Pensee - in the main bazaar. Tariq(left) now manages Jamboree restaurant, of which more later.
There are now many papyrus shops in Luxor, ranging from the ridiculously expensive to the fairly priced. Not hard to see which ones the tour companies will take you to! This shop, managed by our friend Fakry, is next to Youssef's Bazaar (above), and although it's cramped and dusty, the prices are at the least, very reasonable.

On the West bank are many 'Alabaster factories' - but as far as I could see, nothing was being produced anywhere nearby. At least, in Luxor, they don't pretend to make them on the premises!

But, for me, these are the most appealing souvenirs, showing some of the ancient craftsmanship. Many are obviously mass produced, but some of the more expensive, show that the old traditions and craftmanship are not yet dead. The painted frontage celebrates that the owner has been to Mecca.
The stone head of Nefertari is an accurate reproduction of the original. But its weight would almost certainly mean that your luggage allowance would be well over the limit.