Luxor Day Tour: Karnak Temple, Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut

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Luxor

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Spend an unforgettable day in Luxor. Visit the Karnaktempel, the tombs in the valley of the kings and the terrace temple complex of Hatshepsut.Enjoy a day with your guide, an Egyptologist, in the historical Luxor with its many temples and tombs.

Duration: 14 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Temple of Karnak - At approximately 5:00 a.m., your tour guide will pick you up in a comfortable, air-conditioned minibus. A knowledgeable German-speaking Egyptologist will join the group. The journey to Luxor takes about 4 hours, passing through the Nile valley with views of fields and farmers’ homes. This excursion is conducted in a small group, with a maximum of 8 participants. Your guide will be available throughout the trip to answer any questions. Upon arrival in Luxor, our first stop will be the Karnak Temple, the largest temple complex in Egypt, located on the eastern bank of the Nile. One of the most significant areas of the temple is the large columned hall. The complex is divided into three walled sections: the Amun area (ancient Egyptian Ipet-sut, “place of election”), the Month area, and the Courage area. The oldest visible remains of the temple date back to the 12th dynasty under Sesostris. The temple complex was expanded and rebuilt multiple times until the Roman Empire. Notable among the ruins are the temples of Amun-Re with its ten pylons. You will also see the sacred lake, measuring 120 × 77 meters, located south of the central temple building and fed by groundwater. Admire the large columned hall, statues, pylons, and obelisks.
Valley of the Kings - After lunch, we will drive to the Valley of the Kings, situated about 5 kilometers northwest of Luxor. In ancient Egypt, the Valley of the Kings was known as the “Sechet-aat large field.” The valley contains over 70 tombs carved into the rock, primarily the tombs of rulers from the New Kingdom (circa 1550 to 1069 BC) of the 18th to 20th dynasties. To protect the mummies, they were relocated in the 22nd dynasty and hidden in other tombs. In 1922, the largely intact tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered. Systematic exploration and excavation of the tombs began with Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt. The Valley of the Kings is a major tourist attraction in Egypt. Only a portion of the tombs is open to visitors, as some are closed for conservation. Since December 2009, photography and filming have been prohibited, but since 2018, photography without flash is allowed with the purchase of a photo permit for around 15 euros.
Colossi of Memnon - After visiting the Karnak temple complex, we will proceed to the famous Colossi of Memnon. Known in Arabic as “el-Colossat or es-Salomat,” these two adjacent statues date back to the 14th century and depict King Amenophis III seated on a throne, facing the Nile. The statues stand approximately 18 meters high, including the base.
Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari - Our final stop will be the terrace temple complex of Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut, an ancient Egyptian queen of the 18th dynasty, reigned from 1479 to 1458 BC. Her spouse was Thutmoses II. The name Hatshepsut means “The first of the noble women who embraced Amun.” The entire temple is constructed of limestone and is the best-preserved temple on the west bank in Thebes. At around 4:00 p.m., we will begin our return journey, bringing you back to your hotel with wonderful and memorable experiences.

What's Included

Private transportation
Tour guide by an Egyptologist
Visit to the Karnak Temple in East Thebes
Visit to 3 burial chambers in the Valley of the Kings in Thebes West
All entrance fees for the activities mentioned in the process
Lunch
All services and local taxes
Colossi of Memnon in Thebes West
Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Thebes West

What's Not Included

Gratuities
Drinks in the restaurant
Any additions that are not mentioned in the process
Personal expenses

Location

Temple of Karnak

Karnak,

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

5.0

(74 Ratings)

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1 star

U2235cjstefaniel

Jul 9, 2024

Unforgettable trip to Luxor! - We booked a private excursion from Safaga to Luxor. Super punctual we were picked up at 4.40 am by our driver Hilal. He is an excellent driver and on the way, he has already told us a lot about the country.He spoke good German. We were allowed to help ourselves to soft drinks, so the ride passed like in flight. Nash joined our guide in Luxor. He speaks flawless German and is incredibly likeable. He showed us the sights. It was so impressive! We were always there before the other tourists because Nash changed the tour schedule. So we were in the Valley of the Kings at the beginning, which was perfect in the heat. It was incredibly interesting and educational.Nash is a university professor, he even read hieroglyphics to us. We could always ask questions and he explained a lot about Egyptian history. Our 11-year-old son also loved it. Lunch at the restaurant was also great. Furthermore, we took a boat trip on the Nile. Nash invited us for tea and coffee. Finally we went to the Karnak temple, where there was hardly anything going on, because of the great planning. We have never had such a great guide like Nash!!!! Just great!!!! Then we went back to the hotel. Our driver Hilal even gave us mangoes that were very delicious. We say thank you very much! It has been an unforgettable trip. When we are back in Egypt, we will make excursions only with Zakharious Tours planen!