VIP Day Trip from Safaga to Luxor in a Private Vehicle

Highlights

• Go on a private sightseeing tour to Luxor and explore Egyptian history
• Luxor is an amazing city full of history and a great destination for cultural lovers
• The large mortuary temple of Ramses III is located in the area of Medinet Habu.
• Karnak Temple - The pillared hall is impressive, as is the vast expanse of this temple complex
• Explore the mortuary temples and tombs of the pharaohs on the west side of the Nile
• The Hatshepsut Temple is a grandiose structure, which is carved deep into a mountain
• The Valley of the Kings refers to a necropolis in ancient Egypt

Description

Luxor has a lot to offer historically and a private day trip to the imposing temple complex is an absolute highlight of your vacation. Our private day tour starts with a decent piece of world history. Luxor is probably the largest open-air museum in Egypt! Temples, palaces, graves, and other buildings from ancient Egypt can be found and marveled at around the banks of the Nile in the former capital. Accompanied by your personal guide, see the following highlights on your tour:

● The Valley of the Kings
Luxor is brimming with sights, a highlight of your day tour in the Nile city is a visit to the famous Valley of the Kings. On the west bank of the Nile, in Thebes-West, archaeologists found the important graves of all the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, from the 18th to the 20th Dynasty, in a mountain range that extends in a semicircle. Over 60 graves were carved into the tunnels to different depths to create their final resting place for the pharaohs. However, for reasons of restoration, not all graves are open to visitors, rather the resting places alternate, some of which are more reminiscent of palaces, such as that of Seti I.

● Hatshepsut Temple
The Hatshepsut Temple, an enormous terraced building, is dedicated to the only female pharaoh and is one of the most impressive monuments of ancient Egyptian culture. Pharaoh Hatshepsut was born in the capital Thebes around 1495 BC. The epoch in which she ruled over Upper and Lower Egypt is called the "New Kingdom". The architecture of this temple is extraordinary. Viewed from a certain distance, one has the impression that it is a 3-story building because the two terraces are then not noticeable. A perfect optical illusion!

● Karnak Temple
The largest temples in Egypt are located on the east bank of the Nile near the village of Karnak. In 1979 the Karnak temple complex was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The whole facility now covers an area of ​​around one square kilometer. The temple complex consists of three walled areas. The largest area covers an area of ​​about 600 by 600 m and houses the great temple of Amun-Re, the temple of Chons, and a small sanctuary of Ptah. Above all, the large columned hall with the high, mighty columns and the large ceiling beams is impressive. The great pillared hall; the middle row of columns is one of the most imposing structures in all of Egypt. All columns are provided with reliefs. Remains of paint can still be seen below on the mighty ceiling beams.

● Medinet Habu mortuary temple of Ramses III. in West Thebes
In the very south of Thebes West is the largest and best-preserved of the Theban mortuary temples of the New Kingdom, the mortuary temple of Ramses III, which was built from 1180 to 1155 BC. Ramses III was a great admirer of his ancestor Ramses II, who was the warrior king of the 20th Dynasty. His temple at Medinet Habu is entirely dedicated to the memory of his exploits. The area was a sacred place due to its proximity to the old sanctuaries of the 18th dynasty. The well-preserved building of the main temple on an area of over 7000 m² is known, among other things, for the relief depictions of the Victory of Ramses III. over the sea peoples at the beginning of the 12th century BC. The inner and outer walls of the mortuary temple enclose warehouses, barracks with horse stables, priestly apartments, fountains, small ponds, and gardens.

● The Colossi of Memnon
The Colossi of Memnon represent the Pharaoh Amenophis III. and they were in front of the pylons of the entrance of his mortuary temple. Pharaoh Amenophis III. ruled the ancient Egyptian New Kingdom in the first half of the 14th century BC. The seated figures of the Colossi of Memnon depicting him were built in 1379 BC. on the sides of the entrance to his temple and memorial in Thebes. The temple of Amenhotep III was made of mud brick, so only the quartzite statues have survived.

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.

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