Excursion to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings from El Gouna by minibus
The route: From El Gouna to Luxor
The journey from El Gouna to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor is approximately 280 to 290 kilometers (driving distance only). The entire trip by minibus takes about 3.5 to 4 hours each way.
Pickup and start:
- Your hotel pick-up in El Gouna will take place very early in the morning, usually between 4:30 am and 5:30 am.Since we only stop at one or two hotels during pickup in El Gouna, we save a lot of travel time.
- You will usually be picked up in a modern, air-conditioned minibus with 12 seats (for our small group tours).
The route (approx. 3.5 - 4 hours):
- The journey initially leads through the eastern desert of Egypt.
- After about 1.5 to 2 hours, a short stop is often made at a rest area to stretch one's legs and use the toilets.
- The route leads west and then south, where it enters the fertile region of the Nile Valley near the city of Qena.
- This section is scenically beautiful, as you transition from the barren desert to the densely populated areas and fields along the Nile.
- Safety notice: There are several (typically 2 to 3) police checkpoints along this route where vehicles will be briefly stopped. This is standard procedure and is for your safety.
this excursion from El Gouna to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, you will travel in a small group of 4-6 people. Your tour guide is a private English-speaking Egyptologist. Your tour guide will tell you many interesting facts about the country and its people and will of course be happy to answer all your questions.
Visit to Karnak Temple
When you arrive in Luxor, you will start by visiting the river on the east bank of the Nile Karnak-Paste with his big one Hall of Columns, the Hatshepsut Obelisk, it Thutmosis obelisk and the holy lake. Karnak Temple is located in a village about 2.5 km north of Luxor and is the largest temple complex in Egypt. The oldest remains of the temple still visible today date from the 12th Dynasty under Sesostris, an ancient Egyptian king of the 12th Dynasty who died in 1919 BC.
Sesostris is considered one of the most important pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom. The temple complex was repeatedly expanded and rebuilt until the Roman Empire. In the temple, sacred cult acts such as sacrificial offerings, prayers and songs were carried out by the king or the high priest representing him.
After Amun-Res of Thebes was elevated to the status of local god, the rulers of the early Middle Kingdom began building a temple, which was expanded over millennia to become the temple complex we see today. Temples were also built for Amun's wife, the goddess Mut, and their son Chons. Together they form the Triad of Thebes.
Nile trip by motorboat
The shortest way to get from the eastern to the western part of Luxor is to cross the Nile directly. Enjoy a wonderful 45-minute motorboat ride on the Nile.
Once in Thebes West, continue to the famous Colossi of Memnon. The Memnonkolosse are called “el-Colossat or es-Salomat” in Arabic and are two ancient Egyptian colossal statues from the 14th century standing next to each other.
They represent King Amenhotep III sitting on a throne. which looks towards the Nile. The statues are now around 18 meters high including the base.
Afterwards you go to a restaurant and fortify yourself with a delicious meal Lunch.
Visit Valley of the Kings
After lunch you will drive to Luxor, about 5 km northwest of Luxor Valley of the Kings. In ancient Egyptian times, the Valley of the Kings was referred to as “Sechet-aat,” which means “great field.” There are over 70 rock-carved tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
In particular, the graves of the rulers of the new empire, i.e. the 18th - 20th dynasty (approx. 1550 to 1069 BC), are buried in the Valley of the Kings. To protect the mummies, they were removed from the tombs and hidden in other tombs in the 22nd Dynasty. In 1922, Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered by Howard Carter, which was largely intact.
The Valley of the Kings is one of the main tourist attractions in Egypt. Only a small part of the graves can be visited because a changing part is closed for conservation reasons. Your guide will show you three tombs and explain the drawings on the tomb walls.
Visit to Hatshepsut Temple
At the end of your trip to Luxor, explore the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. The Temple of Hatshepsut is a terraced temple complex and a masterpiece of Egyptian architecture. Hatshepsut is assigned to the 18th Dynasty.
According to Egyptian chronology, she ruled from 1479 to 1458 BC. Her husband was Thutmose II. The name Hatshepsut means “the first of the noble women whom Amun embraced”. The entire temple was built of limestone and is the best-preserved western bank temple in Thebes.
Around 4:00 p.m Start your journey home back to your hotel in El Gouna. You will certainly often think back to this beautiful excursion with its many interesting impressions.
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