VIP Day Trip from Makadi Bay to Luxor in a Private Vehicle

Highlights

• Experience the cultural highlights of Luxor on our private guided day tour
• The ruins of Karnak are among the largest and most important ancient temple complexes in the world
• The mortuary temple of Ramses III was built around 1200 BC. as a sign of the god-like status of the king
• Medinet Habu: The mortuary temple of Ramses III. is the best-preserved classical mortuary temple of the New Kingdom
• The ride on the traditional felucca is a special experience
• The world-famous Valley of the Kings is a collection of tombs of Egyptian rulers
• The mortuary temple of Hatshepsut: The best-preserved terraced temple impresses with its enormous dimensions and its artistic wall paintings

Description

Enjoy an in-depth discovery tour of the most important and interesting sights of Luxor. The city is associated with the most famous pharaohs: Ramses, Tut Ankh Amun, Sethos, Amenophis, Thutmose, and Hatshepsut left a legacy of monumental architecture here. The most impressive temples, idyllic scenery along the Nile, and fascinating history make Luxor unique. Accompanied by your private guide, see the following highlights on your tour:

● The valley of the kings
On the western bank of the Nile, across from the city of Thebes, is Thebes necropolis Valley of the Kings. According to ancient Egyptian belief, the area lies in the so-called "Empire of the West", the realm of the dead. The pyramid-shaped mountain El-Qurn rises above the valley. At its foot are the graves of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom. The most famous is the tomb of the children's pharaoh Tut-Anch-Amun, discovered on November 4, 1922.

● Marvel at the mortuary temple of the pharaoh Hatshepsut in the west of Luxor
The structure is made entirely of fine sandstone and consists of several terraces and a sphinx figure. Hatshepsut was arguably one of the most powerful women in ancient Egypt. The 22-year rule of Hatshepsut is considered to be one of the heydays of Egypt, as countless important achievements can be ascribed to this extraordinary queen, including the construction of her mortuary temple in Deir el-Bahri. The stepped platforms, the colonnades, and the lively reliefs make the building one of the most famous architectural masterpieces in the world. Even more remarkable is the powerful queen who commissioned the building of the temple.

● Karnak temple
The ancient Egyptian temple of Karnak is one of the main attractions in Luxor. The oldest building remains of the temple still visible today come from the 12th dynasty under Sesostris I. In addition to various temples, the enormous complex of Karnak includes a holy "lake", several obelisks, huge statues, Amun temple, three chapels, and an avenue of sphinxes which was once 2.5 km long, consisted of 365 statues. Until the Roman Empire, the temple complex was repeatedly expanded and rebuilt. The temple complex is entered through access along an avenue of ram sphinxes. The temple complex of Amun-Re was secured by ten pylons - double-tower-like buildings, connected by a gate structure, which form the entrance of a temple. The imposing statues, obelisks, and pylon gates that can be seen today are only part of the temple's former wealth. The construction time lasted about 1700 years.

● Medinet Habu mortuary temple of Ramses III. in West Thebes
In the area of Medinet Habu, there is a large mortuary temple of Ramses III, which was also dedicated to Amun and represents one of the most stylistically perfect buildings in Egypt.
Medinet Habu is part of the ancient necropolis of Thebes-West on the edge of the fertile land of the Nile. First among the buildings of Ramses III. stands his huge mortuary temple in Medinet Habu, which should overshadow that of its role model, Ramses II, by its size and splendor. This complex is one of the best-preserved temple districts in the New Kingdom. Ramses III. had his huge mortuary temple surrounded by a thick stone wall with round battlements. Inside the district, there was enough space for the palace and the holy lake.

● The Colossi of Memnon
The Colossi of Memnon are about 18 meters high twin statues made of quartzite. They are located not far from the Valley of the Kings in West Thebes. In the past, the statues were placed in front of the pylons at the entrance to the temple of Amenophis III, a pharaoh of the 18th dynasty. A large part of the temple was completely destroyed by the time of Pharaoh Merenptah at the beginning of the 13th century BC.

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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