Luxor East and West Bank Overnight Tour

Pickup

Your WOW Egypt Tours representative and driver will pick you up from your hotel, Nile Cruise, Luxor Airport, Luxor Train Station, or your location in Luxor. You will be transferred by private modern air-conditioned vehicle with your private Egyptologist guide to begin your Luxor East Bank sightseeing tour.

Karnak Temple

Start your tour with a visit to Karnak Temple, one of the largest temple complexes in ancient Egypt, covering about 100 hectares / 247 acres. Karnak Temple was the main religious center of ancient Thebes and the principal place of worship for the Theban triad: Amun, Mut, and Khonsu.

The history of Karnak Temple developed over more than 2,000 years, with major construction and expansion during the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom periods. Important additions were made by kings such as Senusret I around the 20th century BC, Hatshepsut in the 15th century BC, Thutmose III in the 15th century BC, Amenhotep III in the 14th century BC, and Ramses II in the 13th century BC.

During your visit, your private Egyptologist guide will explain the history of Karnak Temple, its religious role, and the main sections of the temple complex. You will see the Great Hypostyle Hall, pylons, obelisks, statues, chapels, the sacred lake, and carved temple walls connected with ancient Egyptian kings and gods.

The Great Hypostyle Hall, one of the most famous sections of Karnak Temple, was mainly developed during the reigns of Seti I and Ramses II in the 13th century BC. It includes 134 massive columns, with the central columns reaching about 21 meters / 69 feet high. Your guide will explain the columns, inscriptions, royal scenes, and religious meaning of this important part of the temple.

Karnak Temple is one of the main highlights of Luxor East Bank Tours and one of the most important Luxor Attractions for travelers visiting the city.

Lunch Time

Lunch is served at local restaurant.

Check-in Your Nile-View Hotel

After lunch, transfer to your Nile-view hotel in Luxor for check-in. The hotel stay gives you time to rest before continuing the evening program.

Sunset Felucca Ride on the Nile

In the afternoon, enjoy a traditional felucca ride on the Nile River at sunset. The felucca ride gives you time to see the Nile River, riverbanks, local boats, and sunset views in Luxor.

The Nile River was central to ancient Egyptian life for thousands of years. It supported agriculture, transport, trade, religious ceremonies, and the growth of ancient Thebes, especially during the New Kingdom period between the 16th and 11th centuries BC.

The route depends on wind and river conditions on the day of your tour. This activity is a useful addition to the overnight program for travelers who want a quiet Nile experience in Luxor.

Luxor Temple

After the felucca ride, continue to Luxor Temple, located in the center of modern Luxor city. Luxor Temple was built mainly by Pharaoh Amenhotep III around 1400 BC, with later additions by Ramses II in the 13th century BC and other rulers in later periods. The temple is about 260 meters / 853 feet long.

The temple was connected with the Opet Festival and the renewal of kingship in ancient Egypt. During the Opet Festival, the statues of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu were carried from Karnak Temple to Luxor Temple along the ancient ceremonial route known today as the Avenue of Sphinxes.

You will see the first pylon of Ramses II, seated statues, courtyards, colonnades, chapels, and carved temple walls. Luxor Temple can be visited in the evening when the temple is illuminated, giving a different view of the site.

Luxor Temple is one of the key monuments for understanding ancient Thebes during the New Kingdom period, especially between the 16th and 11th centuries BC, when Luxor became one of Egypt’s most important religious and royal centers.

Avenue of Sphinxes

Between Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple, you will learn about the Avenue of Sphinxes, the ancient ceremonial road that once connected both temples over a route of about 2.7 kilometers / 1.7 miles. The avenue was used during religious processions, especially the Opet Festival, when the statues of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu were moved from Karnak Temple to Luxor Temple.

The Avenue of Sphinxes was developed and restored in different ancient periods, with important work connected to New Kingdom and later rulers. It formed an important sacred route in ancient Thebes and linked two of the most important temple complexes on the East Bank of Luxor.

Parts of the avenue can be seen today in Luxor, including sections with sphinx statues that show how the ancient processional road connected Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. The modern reopening of the Avenue of Sphinxes took place in 2021 after excavation and restoration work.

Dinner

Dinner is served at your hotel or local restaurant according to the tour arrangement.

Overnight

Overnight at your Nile-view hotel in Luxor.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner Overnight: Nile-view hotel in Luxor

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon

Early in the morning, you will be picked up for your sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor. According to your hotel location and operating arrangements, you may cross the Nile by motorboat and continue to the balloon take-off area.

The balloon flight gives you a high view over the West Bank of Luxor, the Nile River, fields, villages, desert edge, and ancient sites around the Theban area. The Theban area became one of the most important religious and royal centers of ancient Egypt, especially during the New Kingdom period between the 16th and 11th centuries BC.

The flight route depends on wind direction and weather conditions on the day of your tour. The hot air balloon ride is operated according to aviation approval, weather conditions, wind direction, and safety instructions.

Breakfast

After the hot air balloon ride, return to your hotel for breakfast.

Queen Hatshepsut Temple

Visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari on the West Bank of Luxor. The temple was built during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut in the 15th century BC, during the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom. Queen Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for about 20 years and became one of the most important female rulers in ancient Egyptian history.

During your visit, your private Egyptologist guide will explain the history of Queen Hatshepsut, her reign, her building projects, and the religious role of the temple. You will see the main terraces, ramps, colonnaded halls, chapels, relief scenes, and temple areas connected with Amun, Hathor, and Anubis.

The temple was designed as a mortuary temple and was also connected with the worship of Amun. It has 3 main terraces built against the limestone cliffs of Deir el-Bahari and is located near other important Theban monuments and royal mortuary sites on the West Bank of Luxor.

Valley of the Kings

Continue to the Valley of the Kings, one of the most important burial sites in ancient Egypt. The valley was used for the tombs of many New Kingdom pharaohs from the 18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasties, mainly between the 16th and 11th centuries BC.

The Valley of the Kings includes more than 60 discovered tombs and the tombs of famous rulers such as Tutankhamun, Ramses II, Ramses III, Seti I, and other kings of ancient Thebes. The tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, making the valley one of the most famous archaeological sites in Egypt.

Your entrance ticket includes visits to 3 tombs in the Valley of the Kings, according to the tombs open on the day of your visit. Your private Egyptologist guide will explain the history of the valley, the purpose of the royal tombs, the decoration of the burial chambers, and the beliefs connected with the afterlife.

Colossi of Memnon

Continue to the Colossi of Memnon, two massive seated statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. The statues were built in the 14th century BC during the 18th Dynasty and once stood at the entrance of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III.

Amenhotep III ruled Egypt for about 38 years, and his mortuary temple was one of the largest temple complexes on the West Bank of Luxor. Although most of the temple has disappeared, the two seated statues remain among the most recognizable monuments in Luxor. Each statue is about 18 meters / 60 feet high.

During your stop, your guide will explain the history of the statues, their connection with Amenhotep III, and the ancient temple that once stood behind them. The Colossi of Memnon are usually visited as part of Luxor West Bank sightseeing tours and are an important photo stop in Luxor.

Check-out

After completing the West Bank sightseeing tour, return to your Nile-view hotel to complete the check-out formalities. Your driver and guide will assist with luggage and prepare for the final transfer.

Transfer to Luxor Airport, Luxor Train Station or Your Hotel

After completing your Luxor East and West Bank Overnight Tour, you will be transferred by private air-conditioned vehicle to Luxor Airport, Luxor Train Station, your hotel, or your location in Luxor.

Meals: Breakfast