Travel to the west bank of the Nile from your hotel in Luxor or the Luxor river port by minivan. As you travel, your guide will tell tales about the royal necropolis of Thebes, the capital of which once stood on the site of Luxor, the Valley of the Kings. Let your guide know if you have any particular interests. We can customize the itinerary and commentary to meet your specifications. Visit the visitor center at the valley's entrance and take in the stunning views of the mountains. Continue to explore the inner rock-cut chambers and tunnels. There's no chance of your guide accompanying you into the tomb, but he or she can explain to you what to look for before entering. Among the colorful, hieroglyph-covered corridors are painted chambers that once held the remains of ancient Egypt's rulers. The entrance fee for King Tutankhamun's tomb is direct if you wish.
You can then visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, an interpretation of geometrical colonnades carved into the Cliffside. Get to know the temple's history and the life of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's real first female ruler. Take a stroll through the courtyards and terraces and admire the statues and hieroglyphs that decorate them.
Afterward, you can stop and take photos of the Colossi of Memnon: two towering statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, once located in the long-gone funerary temple of the pharaoh. Discover the stories and legends relating to these statues, as well as the Roman-era graffiti engraved in the stone. You may wish to visit an alabaster factory before your tour ends and purchase some hand-cut pieces as souvenirs.
Once your day tour is over, we will transport you back to your hotel or to your Nile cruise.
