This structured itinerary offers a detailed half-day visit to Luxor’s West Bank, focusing on three historical landmarks: the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon. Designed for clarity and depth, the tour balances historical context with practical logistics, ensuring an efficient yet thorough understanding of ancient Egypt’s burial practices, architectural achievements, and cultural legacy.
Included
Air-conditioned transportation.
Licensed Egyptologist guide.
Entrance fees .
Bottled water and sunscreen provided during the tour.
Excluded
Tutankhamun’s tomb entry fee (additional $15).
Meals or snacks.
Personal expenses (souvenirs, photography permits inside tombs).
Gratuities for guides or drivers.
Valley of the Kings: Tombs of Pharaohs
Begin your tour at the Valley of the Kings, the burial site of Egypt’s New Kingdom rulers (1550–1070 BCE). This arid valley houses over 60 tombs, including that of Tutankhamun, whose burial chamber was discovered nearly intact in 1922. The tombs feature intricate hieroglyphs, vivid paintings of the afterlife, and symbolic designs such as the “Book of the Dead.” Guides explain burial rituals, tomb layouts, and the significance of artifacts like canopic jars and shabti figurines.
Valley of the kings operates a shuttle system to reduce walking under the sun. Tickets include access to three tombs (Tutankhamun requires a separate pass). Highlights include the tomb of Ramses VI (KV9), with its astronomical ceiling, and the multi-chambered KV5, built for Ramses II’s sons. Recent excavations (2023) continue to uncover artifacts, such as pottery and jewelry, displayed in the on-site museum.
Temple of Hatshepsut: Architectural Innovation
Next, visit the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. This terraced structure, carved into limestone cliffs, honors Queen Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s few female pharaohs. The temple’s design—a fusion of symmetry and natural topography—includes colonnaded courtyards, chapels dedicated to Hathor and Anubis, and reliefs depicting her expedition to Punt (modern Somalia).
The temple’s Upper Terrace features a sanctuary to Amun-Ra, where priests performed daily rituals. Restoration efforts have reconstructed faded pigments, revealing original reds and blues in the Birth Colonnade. Informative plaques detail Hatshepsut’s reign and the posthumous erasure of her legacy by Thutmose III.
Colossi of Memnon: Guardians of History
Conclude at the Colossi of Memnon, two 18-meter statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Originally part of a vast mortuary complex, these quartzite figures have stood since 1350 BCE. The northern statue once emitted a mysterious “song” at dawn, attributed to temperature changes in its cracked stone—a phenomenon documented by Roman historians like Strabo.
Adjacent excavation sites, active since 1998, have uncovered remnants of Amenhotep’s temple, including alabaster slabs and statues of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet. The colossi are easily accessible, with no entry fee, making them a quick yet essential stop.
