The Classic Full-Day Luxor Tour East & West Banks

08:00 AM | The West Bank: Land of the Afterlife Your guide meets you at your hotel or cruise ship to begin the journey across the Nile. We drive directly to the Valley of the Kings, hidden deep within the Theban Hills.

• The Experience: You will enter three different royal tombs (included in your ticket). As you walk down the sloping corridors, notice how the colors—indigo, ochre, and white—are still fresh after 3,000 years. Your guide will explain the "Book of the Dead" scenes on the walls without entering with you (guides are not allowed inside the tombs to prevent overcrowding), but they will prepare you fully beforehand.

• Optional: The tomb of King Tutankhamun requires an extra ticket. It is small but historically significant.

10:30 AM | The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut We drive to Deir el-Bahari to see the Temple of Hatshepsut. Rising from the desert floor in three majestic terraces, this temple merges perfectly with the sheer limestone cliffs behind it.

• The Experience: Hear the dramatic story of the "Woman Who Was King" and how her stepson tried to erase her name from history. See the famous relief carvings of the expedition to the Land of Punt, depicting exotic trees and animals.

12:00 PM | The Colossi of Memnon & Lunch On our way back to the Nile, we stop briefly at the Colossi of Memnon—two scarred but imposing statues of Amenhotep III.

• Lunch Break: We cross back to the East Bank (or stay on the West Bank depending on your preference) for a relaxed lunch. You will enjoy a set menu of authentic Egyptian dishes, such as tagines, grilled meats, and fresh salads, at a quality local restaurant.

01:30 PM | The East Bank: City of the Living Refueled, we visit the Karnak Temple Complex. This is the largest religious building ever constructed.

• The Experience: This site is massive. You will walk down the Avenue of Sphinxes and enter the Great Hypostyle Hall, a forest of 134 colossal stone pillars. Look up to see the original colors still clinging to the undersides of the lintels. You will also see the Sacred Lake and the tall granite obelisks of Hatshepsut.

04:00 PM | Luxor Temple We finish our day at Luxor Temple, located right in the city center on the banks of the Nile.

• The Experience: Unlike Karnak, Luxor Temple is more compact and coherent. It was built largely by Amenhotep III and Ramses II. As the afternoon sun softens, the temple glows golden. You will see the unique sight of the Abu Haggag Mosque, which is built on top of the ancient temple ruins and is still in use today.

05:00 PM | Return We transfer you back to your hotel or Nile Cruise with plenty of time to rest before dinner.