Luxor 1-Day Tour w/ Hot-Air Balloon & Felucca Boat Rides

Overview

Cover Luxor's major attractions and must-do activities in a single day on this private tour! From morning to early evening, you'll visit Luxor's East and West Banks — as well as ride a hot-air balloon at sunrise and a felucca boat at sunset.

Highlights

Key Information

Description

The ancient, historically significant city of Luxor is known as Egypt's open-air museum because of its many relics from the distant past: ruins of temple complexes, monuments, tombs, and more. Here, you don't have to go far to experience the ancient world; you can find these historical sites all over the city — and what better way to see Luxor than from as many perspectives as possible? Enjoy Luxor on the ground, from the air, and out on the water on this full-day tour! You'll start with a hot-air balloon ride early in the morning, at sunrise. Our friendly staff will pick you up from your accommodation (or another landmark in Luxor, such as a train station); then, enjoy some soft drinks before taking a motorboat to Luxor's West Bank. You'll be taken to the venue for your 45-minute hot-air balloon ride. From there, take flight and see the Luxor's archeological sites and other historic attractions from the skies! Then, it's time to explore Luxor on a full-day tour! For maximum convenience, you'll be transported around the city via an air-conditioned vehicle, allowing you to visit Luxor’s East Bank and West Bank alike in comfort — and at a leisurely pace, since this is a private tour. Your guide, a qualified Egyptologist, will take you to the following attractions: 1. Colossi of Memnon Both depicting Pharaoh Amenhotep III, the Colossi of Memnon are two towering statues that are the largest ancient statues in Egypt. They date back to Amenhotep III's reign. 2. Valley of the Kings The next stop is the Valley of the Kings. Located on the West Bank of Luxor, this was part of the necropolis (large-scale burial ground) of Thebes, the old capital of Egypt during the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom eras. This great, majestic necropolis is a must-see for Luxor travelers, as you'll find many royal tombs here. On this tour, you'll visit four of them: the tombs of Ramesses IX, Merenptah, Ramesses III, and Tutankhamun. 3. Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari After visiting the royal tombs, you'll head to the impressive Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Deir el Bahari), the only woman ever to reign over Egypt as Pharaoh. This queen was an ancestor of King Tutankhamun and belonged to the same dynasty. 4. Temples of Karnak This complex of temples on Luxor's East Bank is considered one of the world’s greatest architectural masterpieces. Construction of this complex took place during different pharaohs' reigns. With multiple iconic structures such as the Avenue of Sphinxes, the Hypostyle Hall with its 134 gigantic columns, the Obelisks of Queen Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis I, the Temple of Amon adorned with lotus and papyrus designs, the Granite Scarbeus of Amenophis III, and the Sacred Lake, Karnak beats every other pharaonic monument. It's simply one of the most beautiful ancient monuments in Egypt. 5. Luxor Temple Another must-see sacred site for visitors to Luxor, this temple is dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amun-Ra, Mut, and Khonsu. Here, you'll also see granite statues of Ramesses the Great (Ramesses II). To cap off your long day of sightseeing, you'll cruise the Nile River Valley on a felucca at sunset. A felucca is a traditional wooden sailboat that's common in some countries by the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Relax and take in the magnificent view as your day comes to a close. Finally, you'll be dropped off at your accommodation (or a different landmark in Luxor).