Breakfast at your hotel in Luxor and then your Egyptologist tour guide will pick you up to start your Luxor full day tour on the west bank of the River Nile. Your first stop will be at the Colossi of Memnon, are two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
Move on to the Valley of the Kings, the burial site of almost all the kings (pharaohs) of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties (1539–1075 BC), from Thutmose I to Ramses X. You will visit three rock cut tombs of the richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. Your tour guide will explain the history and legends of these remarkable people, and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics.
Proceed to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which is considered by historians to have been one of the most successful rulers of ancient Egypt. Both the setting and the construction of her temple make it unique among the landmarks of Egypt.
Later on, you will proceed with your Luxor tour to visit the east bank of the Nile. You will visit Karnak Temple, the largest religious building in Egypt. Entering the temple through the sphinx avenue, built by Ramesses II, you come to the immense pylon entrance. Walk in to the huge Courtyard are three chapels dedicated to the gods Amun, Mut and Khonsu. Entering the remarkable Hypostyle Hall with 134 towering columns, each carved with scenes of gods and pharaohs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions adorn the outer walls.
Continue to Luxor temple, enter the temple through the great pylon with two enormous statues of Ramses II still stand, along with a pink granite obelisk (its mate stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France). Continue on to an enormous interior courtyard, where the Abu Haggag Mosque once stood atop the ruins of the temple. You can still see a ghostly remnant of the mosque on the east side of the courtyard, high above the columns, its arched doorway opening into thin air.
Later on you will be transferred to Luxor Airport for final departure. Your flight has to be after 17:00 to be able to do this tour.
Optional: A spectacular hot air balloon flight over the west bank of the Nile is available this morning (expect an early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises).
Meals: Breakfast