Day 01
Luxor West Bank and the Valley of the Kings
- Ride in a minivan and journey to the west bank of the Nile River. As you travel, listen as your guide tells tales about the Valley of the Kings, the mountain-cut royal necropolis of the capital of Thebes that once stood on the site of Luxor. If you have any particular areas of interest, let your guide know.
- Soak up views of the rugged mountains and, on arrival, enjoy a brief stop at the valley's visitor center. Then, explore the inner rock-cut chambers and tunnels. Guides are not permitted to accompany you inside the tombs, but your guide will describe what to look for before you enter.
- Walk through colourful, hieroglyph-covered corridors and see painted chambers that once contained the remains of ancient Egypt's rulers. If you wish, pay an additional direct cost to enter the tomb of King Tutankhamun.
- Next, drive to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a vision of geometrical colonnades hewn into a cliffside. Learn about the temple's history and the life of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's first female ruler. Stroll around the courtyards and terraces, and admire the statues and hieroglyphics that adorn them.
- Then, stop for photos at the Colossi of Memnon: two towering statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III that once stood at his now long-gone funerary temple. Hear the stories and legends surrounding the statues, and inspect the Roman-era graffiti engraved in the stone.
- After five hours, finish your tour with a drop-off at your hotel or cruise ship.
