Day 01
Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank
- Ride by minivan to the Temples of Karnak on the Nile's East Bank.
- As you travel, hear how Luxor stands on the 4,000-year-old site of Thebes, Egypt's ancient royal capital, and how Karnak is the largest of its temple complexes. Discover how this vast collection of buildings was developed by more than 30 pharaohs, including Amenhotep IV and Ramses II.
- On arrival, walk along the Avenue of the Sphinxes to the gateway, and then explore inside with your Egyptologist guide. Hear how the huge pylons at the entrance were constructed, and marvel at the courtyards and sanctuaries beyond. The deeper you go into the complex, the further back you step, with the oldest ruins dating back more than 3,000 years.
- Gaze in awe at the showpiece Hypostyle Hall, crowded with 134 massive columns that tower above you like an ancient forest. Crane your neck upward and learn about the ingenious methods used to raise them by the ancient Egyptians.
- See the sacred lake where pharaonic offerings were purified and enjoy leisure time strolling around the site.
- Continue to Luxor Temple, an ancient temple in the center of Luxor laid parallel to the Nile. Hear how it was built around 1,400 BC and added to by Tutankhamun, Ramses II, and even Alexander the Great.
- When the time comes, finish your tour with a drop-off at the start point.
