4-daagse rondreis 'Hoogtepunten van Luxor' - PMDL 3

In the morning, your Egyptologist guide will collect you from your hotel to visit the two magnificent temples of ancient Thebes, located on the East Bank. Step into the Karnak Temple, the largest ancient temple dedicated to the Theban Triad: Amun, Mut, and their son Khonsu. The Karnak Temple was connected to the Luxor Temple by an avenue of sphinxes, used during the Opet Festival. During this festival, the statues of the Theban Triad were carried in a procession from the Karnak Temple to the Luxor Temple, allowing Amun-Ra (the solar form of God Amun) to meet Amun-Min (the form of Amun in the Luxor Temple).

Wander through the papyrus field of the Hypostyle Hall, where 134 columns shaped like papyrus will leave you in awe. The walls will captivate you with their colorful engravings and hieroglyphs. At the rear of the Amun-Ra precinct, discover a charming sacred lake of natural spring water, used by priests to purify themselves before entering the temple. Developed over more than 2,000 years, approximately thirty pharaohs contributed to the construction of the building, making it unique due to its size, elaborate details, and diverse styles.

After lunch, you'll continue your journey to the Luxor Temple. Enter the site facing the immense pylon of Ramses II, his monumental colossi, and the distinctive obelisk (the other was gifted to France by Viceroy Mehmet Ali). Once a year, during the Nile's flood season, the temple welcomed the statues of the Theban Triad for the Beautiful Feast of Opet. Over twelve days, various rituals and celebrations took place within the temple. During this time, Mut renewed her marriage with Amon annually and gave birth once more to Khonsu. This rebirth ceremony radiated onto the pharaoh, allowing him to renew his power over all of Egypt. The site also houses a Roman chapel and a mosque, which you can admire atop the ancient columns of the temple.

We'll start the day by picking you up from the hotel and head to Luxor west bank.

First, discover the Valley of the Kings, a symbol of pharaohs' glory. The pharaohs chose this valley as their royal necropolis after the pyramids of Lower Egypt were stripped of their treasures.

The site contains 63 tombs excavated into the mountain rock, the most famous being that of the young King Tutankhamun. Venture inside a royal tomb and examine the colored scenes on the walls, providing insights into the beliefs and funerary rites of the Ancient Egyptians.

Continue your excursion to the Memorial Temple of Hatshepsut. Upon arriving at the site, the impressive cliff will undoubtedly capture your attention. However, the real wonder lies at the foot of this natural masterpiece: the Hatshepsut Temple.

Later, you’ll stop by the Colossi of Memnon, two colossal statues of quartzite sandstone 60 feet tall that sit proudly guarding Amenhotep's memorial temple that once existed and disappeared due to floodings.

Finally, we'll take you back to the hotel.

At 8:00 AM, your guide will pick you up from your hotel to begin your tour.

Start your tour with a visit to the magnificent Ramesseum Temple, the memorial temple of the famous King Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great. It contains remnants of the Colossus of King Ramses II, the largest granite statue ever fashioned to such a high standard. Continue your tour by visiting the worker's village of Dier El Madina, the home of the artists, craftsmen, and workers who built and adorned the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings.

Then visit the Tombs of the Nobles, the burial place of powerful courtiers of the ancient city, including high-ranking government officials, scribes, and powerful priests. This site provides an irreplaceable record of scenes from everyday life and funerary customs.

Conclude your tour with a visit to the Valley of the Queens, known as the "place of beauty" in ancient times, which served as the burial site for the royal wives and princesses of Egypt's New Kingdom.

Finally, we'll return to the hotel.

Upon breakfast, we’ll be moving to the Temple of Seti I in Abydos, which has a unique L shape and is adorned with many carvings and colorful paintings that picture King Seti I honoring the god Osiris. 

Following lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll be moved to The Temple of Hathor in Dendera, which still has its colors and carvings well intact since the Ptolemaic and Roman era and consists of 24 gigantic columns in the Hypostyle Hall with a colorful ceiling, a replica of the Dendera zodiac as the original sits in Louvre Museum, the Sanctuary, and inner chambers. 

Its ceiling is still intact and decorated with majestic scenes of Egyptian zodiac signs and mythical creatures of the afterlife.

After your trip, you will be transferred back to your hotel.