Day 1 : Luxor East Bank Tour
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.