luxor temple

It's fair enough not to be allowed to snap away inside the tombs of the Valley of the Kings (unless you're Sandro Vannini , see why here). Flash photography - and that's what you'll need - can have a damaging effect on the delicate tomb paintings, some of which are around 4,000 years old. But jobsworth Egyptian officials denying you a snapshot outside the tombs? According to Egypt's antiquities chief Zahi Hawass, that's not on.

Today, Zahi Hawass and Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities are celebrating the completion of five major projects in the city of Luxor, which have totalled of 127 million Egyptian Pounds (£13.9 million). They include work to restore and develop the famous ancient sites of Luxor Temple and Deir el-Bahri Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, as well as the more recent attractions of Abul Hagag El-Loxori Mosque and Howard Carter's rest house.