Hot air balloons trips were suspended in the ancient Egyptian tourist city of Luxor on Tuesday due to bad weather.

The civil aviation ministry has instructed air-balloon operating firms to ground all trips scheduled for the day because of unstable weather, which includes strong winds and dense fogs across the city and other parts of the country.

Luxor, home to a myriad of ancient temples and historic sites, is a major tourist destination in Egypt, where tourism is a key earner of hard currency.

Tourists often take early morning balloon rides over the city to enjoy a panoramic view of its main attractions.