Colossi of Memnon
The Colossi of Memnon are the second-highest statues in Egypt after those of Abu Simbel. Once those statues were decorating the entrance of the biggest mortuary temple on the west bank of the Nile for king Amenhotep III. The statues depicting Amenhotep III as a seated king on the throne with the royal symbols above his head with small figures of his mother and wife beside his legs.

Valley of the Kings

Valley of the kings is the greatest, most popular, and most visited place on the West bank of the River Nile. Valley of the kings painted tombs allow visitors a glimpse at the magical formula and the death rituals of ancient Egypt. Most of the New Kingdom Pharaohs (62 Pharaohs) were buried in rock-cut tombs in the valley of the kings. Valley of the kings is one of the MUST GO destinations in Egypt as it is the burial site for the boy king, Tutankhamun. Visit 3 tombs and admire some of the ancient sarcophagus, paintings, and the stories of the UNESCO world heritage site since 1997.

Hatshepsut temple

Hatshepsut temple is a unique mortuary temple located on the West bank of the River Nile and it is one of the most beautiful sites on the west bank of the Nile. One of the most impressive sites in Luxor and was modeled after another temple 500 years earlier temple for Mentuhotep II, founder of the Middle Kingdom. Hatshepsut was the only female monarch to rule for every long term for almost 23 years and she was the daughter of King Thutmose I, the half-sister and wife of Thutmose II, and stepmother of Thutmose III. Hatshepsut temple was designed into the cliff and it consists of 3 terraces connected with two ramps. Here you can see some of the most important stories on this temple like the divine birth of the queen, Punt expedition, Hathor chapel, and Anubis chapel.

Lunch

Enjoy your lunch in a quality local restaurant

Karnak temple

Karnak temple, also the temple of Amun is the largest religious temple in the world. Karnak is a complex of Pylons, Obelisks, Chapels, columns, statues, Sacred lakes, and sanctuaries dedicated to the triad of Luxor Amon, his consort Mut and their son Khonsu. Karnak temple is famous for the vast Hypostyle Hall, the Earth ramp on which they built the pylon. Karnak is considered an invaluable historical site and resource of information about the evolution of ancient Egypt. Listen from your guide to the stories behind each part of the temple and how it was saved between 2001-2003 with a long-term conservation treatment plan. Most of the New Kingdom kings added parts to the Karnak temple-like Tuthmosis III, Ramses II, Seti I, Hatshepsut, Amenhotep III, and Akhenaton.

When your tour is concluded in Luxor, we will drive you to Luxor train station to take the first-class air-conditioned train to Aswan. Upon arrival, your guide will help you to check in your hotel in Aswan.

Morning picks up to Abu Simbel temple from Aswan. Abu Simbel is about 280 KM to the south of Aswan and the road is long and straight with no traffic. Abu Simbel is one of the most important and incredible places you can visit in Egypt and among many people is a must and it is so worth it. It takes around 03.30 hours in a stunning view on both sides and you will see many little mountains take a pyramidal shape.

The great temple of Ramses

You will have enough time to enter the two temples of Ramesses II and his beloved wife Nefertari. Check how one of the greatest Egyptian pharaohs loved his wife to the point that he wrote on the façade of her temple” TO WHOM THE SUN SHINES”.
Explore the fabulous reliefs of the King's war against the Hittites in Qadesh and the beautiful offering scenes of the vestibule with the side rooms served as treasuries and storerooms. End your visit to the temple with the sanctuary where you can see the four statues of Ptah, Amun-Re, the pharaoh himself, and Raharakhty.

The small Abu Simbel temple of Nefertari | Hathor temple

Few meters far from the great temple is the small temple or Nefertari temple. Small facade decorated with 4 statutes for Ramses and his wife Nefertari each 10 meters high. One of the exceptions in Egyptian history here, Nefertari rendered the same size as Ramses. Normally females are represented on a small scale comparing with the king but it shows how important was Nefertari.

Saving Abu Simbel temples

In 1960, a new dam was built by the River Nile threatened to submerge the Abu Simbel temples. UNESCO organized fundraising to rescue and preserve as many of the archaeological monuments and sites as possible. Some temples were saved but also some still underwater till now like the fortress of Buhen.
Listen from your guide how it was hard to save the temples and how hard was the mission of the engineers to achieve their job as they had a deadline by 1966. That was the year when Lake Nasser should reach full capacity. In 1963, after many ideas were created and rejected, they came with the right one that Abu Simbel temples should be cut and relocated to a higher spot.
After 5 years of hard work, more than 3000 works, and a cost of about 42 million dollars, they cut the temples into pieces between 2-5 till 20 tons. They rebuilt them precisely as they were but 225 meters to the west of the original one and 60 meters higher. It was an epic achievement.

After two hours between the two temples, you will start your way back to Aswan for lunch. After lunch starts Aswan attractions like High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, Phaile temple with a motorboat. Then the first-class train to Luxor for overnight.

Breakfast at your hotel with the chance to go for a Hot Air Balloon ride early morning(optional). after that, we drive you back to El Gouna.