Highlights
- A private guided day tour to the most important temples of Luxor
- Luxor is an important destination for discovering the ancient history of Egypt
- The Karnak Temple is the largest temple complex in Egypt
- The magnificent temple of Hatshepsut is one of the highlights for cultural lovers
- The Valley of the Kings is a unique necropolis
Description
The city of Luxor is one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt. It is located in Upper Egypt, around 260 kilometers from Safaga, and is mainly famous for the pharaoh's tombs and temples. On this private day tour, you will see the most impressive sights and highlights of Luxor such as the Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, the world-famous terraced temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon. Accompanied by your personal guide, visit the following highlights on your tour:
● The valley of the kings
The so-called "Valley of the Kings" is located in Thebes-West opposite today's Luxor and is one of the most famous and most visited necropolises from the Pharaonic times. Here the kings of the New Kingdom built their dynastic necropolis. It was once a canyon lost in the tangle of rocks. But even today, where man has built easy access roads, it still retains its mysterious attraction.
● Hatshepsut temple
The mortuary temple of Hatshepsut stands on the west bank of the Nile in the Deir el-Bahari necropolis and belonged to ancient Thebes. At the end of the green Nile land, a path leads from the temple in the valley to the lower terrace and from there on both sides with an upward ramp to the south and north hall. This elegant terrace structure is one of the most beautiful temples in Egypt. Relief-like carvings depicting some of the most important events in Hatshepsut's life. It is the only temple that has this fantastically beautiful staircase with many steps. You have the chance to look into one of the oldest temples on earth, marvel at the unique sculptures and wall paintings, and feel the special, mysterious atmosphere that prevails in the temple.
● Karnak temple
The Karnak Temple is the largest temple complex in the world, which is about three kilometers north of Luxor and directly on the eastern bank of the Nile. The holy city of Karnak, which was dedicated to the cult of Amun-Re, presents itself as a huge sanctuary for the triad of Thebes. Therefore, in addition to the temple of Amun-Re, you can also see temples here that are dedicated to the goddess Mut and the god Chons. A visit to the Amun Temple in Karnak is one of the highlights of your trip. In the course of your tour, you will experience 2000 years of Egyptian history and gain an insight into the functionality and importance of this ancient Egyptian temple in the architecture and the decoration of the walls. Worth mentioning is the columned hall with its large pylons, as well as the Holy Lake, which is fed exclusively from groundwater worth a visit. What was once the largest hall of columns in antiquity: over 5400 square meters of columns. It used to be roofed over. The current columned hall has been partially restored. The wall reliefs with the depicted cult acts are wonderful. The entrance gates are called "pylon". These are also distributed over the facility, there are 10 in total.
● The Colossi of Memnon
The Colossi of Memnon are two 20 m high seated statues, which represent the Amenhotep III. They once flanked the entrance of an Amenhotep Temple, of which hardly any foundation walls have survived. Each figure is carved out of a single block of sandstone. They must have looked even more powerful when their crowns were still intact and the bases were fully visible.
Annotation:
- Not all graves are open to the public. Some of the graves are permanently closed, while others may be closed for restoration purposes. In the Valley of the Kings, you can visit 2 to 3 graves
- If you want to see the resting place of Tut Ench Amuns, you have to pay an additional entrance ticket.
- There is now a complete ban on photos for the entire Valley of the Kings. Cameras have to be handed in when entering and are only given again when leaving.
- With the purchase of a video ticket for EGP 300, you can take photos/videography in one grave per ticket. An exception is the grave of Seti I. Tickets are only available at the ticket booth near the Colossi of Memnon, not on site. All graves now have an explanation at the grave entrance on a modern and informative board about the history, architecture, and decoration.
- Basic plans and important detailed recordings are presented. These tables were created with the support of the Theban Mapping Project by the Egyptian Antiquities Authority.
Inclusions
- English-speaking guide
- Personal guidance
- Entrance fee to the above-mentioned attractions
- Felucca Ride on the Nile
- Lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor
- Roundtrip transportation from and to your hotel in Safaga in a private car or minivan
Exclusions
- Any Extras not mentioned in the itinerary
Additional Info
- Tour type: private guided tour
- Pickup time: at around 05.30 am
- Arrival in Luxor: at around 09.00 am
- Return to Safaga: at around 08.00 pm
- Meeting / Ending point: your hotel
Good to know
- The private day tour to Luxor consists only of participants who book the trip together.
- The private tour is based on a minimum number of 2 Participants. Should the minimum number of participants not be reached, we will offer to operate the trip with a cost supplement.
- Children's price: Age 5 - 10