Luxor Valley of the Kings and Karnak Day Trip from El Gouna

Karnak Temple, the largest place of worship ever built

Karnak is the great religious centre of ancient Thebes, built and expanded over about two thousand years in honour of Amun-Ra. Its courts, pylons, obelisks and sacred lake cover an area larger than many towns, and each pharaoh added his own monuments, so the complex reads like a history of Egypt in stone.

The Great Hypostyle Hall is the highlight, a forest of 134 columns, some about twenty metres high, carved with scenes and hieroglyphs that still hold traces of paint. The visit lasts about two and a half hours with your guide. If you are asking whether Karnak is worth visiting on a day trip, the scale of the hall alone answers the question.

The Valley of the Kings and the tomb of Tutankhamun

The Valley of the Kings is a dry valley on the West Bank where pharaohs of the New Kingdom, from about 1539 to 1075 BC, were buried in tombs cut deep into the limestone. Long corridors lead to burial chambers decorated with scenes from the afterlife, many still in bright colour.

Your ticket gives access to three royal tombs of your guide's choice, and this tour also includes the small tomb of Tutankhamun, famous for the treasures found there. A visit takes about two hours, with about twenty minutes in Tutankhamun's tomb. The valley is hot and exposed, so bring a hat and water. Photography inside tombs is restricted.

The Colossi of Memnon

The Colossi of Memnon are two giant seated statues of Amenhotep III that stand alone on the edge of the West Bank farmland. Each is about eighteen metres tall, and they once guarded the entrance to a vast mortuary temple that has almost completely disappeared.

The Greeks gave them their name, after a legendary hero, and in antiquity one of the statues was said to 'sing' at dawn after an earthquake cracked it. The stop is short, about thirty minutes, but the sight of the two figures against the sky is one of the classic pictures of Luxor and an easy place to take photographs.

Luxor Temple and the Nile at Luxor

Luxor Temple stands in the middle of the modern city, on the east bank of the Nile, and was built mostly by Amenhotep III and Ramses II. It was the stage for the yearly Opet festival, when statues of the gods travelled in procession from Karnak along an avenue of sphinxes.

On this tour you make a photo stop at Luxor Temple from the outside, which suits a very full day, and many guests like it floodlit from outside if time allows. The Nile at Luxor is wide and green, with feluccas and boats, and a short optional boat trip can be added at an extra cost depending on timing.

The journey from El Gouna to Luxor and what to expect

Luxor lies about four hours by road from El Gouna, across the Eastern Desert via the mountains of the Red Sea Hills. The journey is part of the experience, with desert scenery on the way, and the air-conditioned vehicle makes it comfortable. Pickup is early, about 06:00, so eat breakfast first.

A Luxor day trip from El Gouna is a long but rewarding day: about eight hours of driving and roughly six to seven hours at the sites. Wear comfortable shoes, modest clothing and sunscreen, bring a camera and some cash for tips, and expect to be back at your hotel in the evening. October to April is the most comfortable time, as summer in Luxor is extremely hot.