Luxor holds more ancient monuments per square mile than almost anywhere on earth. This single well-planned day crosses the Nile from the realm of the dead to the realm of the living, and covers both banks properly.
Overview
Luxor holds a remarkable share of the world’s ancient monuments, and a single well-planned day is enough to meet its most important ones. You cross the Nile from the west bank, the ancient realm of the dead, to the east bank, the realm of the living, and see how the Egyptians mirrored life and afterlife in stone.
Starting early beats the heat and the crowds. In the Valley of the Kings you choose three royal tombs from those open that day, then continue to the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt’s female pharaoh, set against the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari, and pause at the Colossi of Memnon, the two giant statues of Amenhotep III. The cooler morning hours also give you the best chance of walking through the tombs and temples before the tour buses arrive, which makes a real difference to how much you enjoy them.
After a relaxed lunch on the west bank you cross to Karnak, the largest temple complex in Egypt, walking from the avenue of sphinxes into the Great Hypostyle Hall and its forest of colossal columns. The day ends at Luxor Temple as the late afternoon light turns the stone gold.
This Luxor day tour is perfect if you have only one day in the city, or if you want a private Egyptologist to connect the dots between tombs and temples. EgyptLens arranges the driver, the guide, the entrance fees and lunch, and you can add Tutankhamun’s tomb or other special tombs on the day with extra tickets.
Highlights
- Three royal tombs of your choice in the Valley of the Kings
- The terraced Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari
- The Colossi of Memnon
- Karnak Temple and the Great Hypostyle Hall
- Luxor Temple in golden afternoon light
- Private Egyptologist, lunch and hotel pickup included
