The West Bank, Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor Temples Tour

In the morning, you will be picked up in an air-conditioned vehicle from your hotel in Luxor. Accompanied by a guide, you will be taken to the following archaeological sites:

• Valley of the Kings or Wadi el-Muluk: It is a valley in Egypt where tombs were built for the Pharaoh and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom. The valley stands on the west bank of the Nile and consists of two valleys, East and West, with the majority of the royal tombs situated in the East Valley.

• Queens Valley: It is a place where wives of the pharaohs were buried in ancient times. It was also known as Ta-Set-Neferu, meaning ‘the place of the children of the Pharaoh’. The valley is located near the Valley of the Kings. Here, along with the queens of the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties, many princes and princesses were also buried with members of the nobility.

• Temple of Queen Hatshepsut: Also known as ‘Dier El Bahari’, it was established by Queen Hatshepsut, the only woman who ruled Egypt in the Pharaonic history. As you approach it from the distance, it is as of you are looking at a modern building that has been carved out of a mountain. Dier El-Bahari was commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut as a funerary monument to honour her father, Tutmose I and herself.

• Karnak Temples: It is the largest temple complex ever built by man and represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders. The Temple of Karnak is actually three main temples, smaller enclosed temples and several outer temples. The three main temples of Mut, Montu and Amun are enclosed by enormous brick walls. The temple begins with the avenue of Rams, then the first and second pylon, then the hypostyle hall with 134 columns. At the end of the tour, you will reach the sacred lake which lies outside the main hall where a big statue of a scarab dates back to king Amenhotep III which was used for purification.

• Luxor Temple: It was constructed for the worship of god Amon Ra whose marriage anniversary to his wife (Mut) was celebrated once a year. The construction of the temple dates from Amenhotep II and Ramesses II. The entrance of the temple is a huge pylon constructed by Ramesses II. It has two huge statues representing the king seated. You will be served lunch on this tour.

After exploring the temple complex, you will be dropped back to your hotel in Luxor.