The rulers of the 18th, 19th and 20th Dynasties of the prosperous New Kingdom of Egypt (c.1550-1069 BCE) were buried in a desolate dry river valley across the river from the ancient city of Thebes (modern Luxor), hence its modern name Valley of the Kings. However, this moniker is not entirely accurate, as some members of the royal family besides the king were also buried here, as well as some non-royal, albeit very high-ranking, individuals. The Valley of the Kings is divided between the eastern and western valleys. The eastern one is by far the more iconic of the two, as the western valley contains only a handful of tombs. In all, the Valley of the Kings includes over sixty tombs and another twenty unfinished tombs that are little more than wells.

Hatshepsut (c.1473–1458 BC), the queen who became pharaoh, built a magnificent temple at Deir al-Bahari, on the west back of Luxor. It lies directly across the Nile from Karnak Temple, the main sanctuary of the god Amun. Hatshepsut’s temple, Djeser-djeseru “the Holy of Holies” was designed by the chief steward of Amun, Senenmut.

The West Bank of Luxor Egypt, two magnificent twin statues image of the pharaoh Amenhotep III and two smaller statues carved at his feet (one being his wife and the other his mother), rise gracefully on the magnificent horizon of Luxor. The two statues, each 60 feet tall, stand at the entrance to the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. They are famously called the Colossi of Memnon because of a phenomenon produced by one of the statues after an earthquake. Originally built at the Theban Necropolis west of the Nile River in the modern city of Luxor, the Colossi of Memnon, two colossal statues made of quartzite sandstone, which archaeologists believe were quarried at El-Gabal el-Ahmar, located near modern Cairo and then transported 420 miles overland to the ancient city of Thebes, remain after thousands of years.

Karnak Temple dates from around 2055 BC to around 100 AD Cult temple dedicated to Amun, Mut and Khonsu. The largest religious building ever constructed. The temple of Karnak was known as Ipet-isu—or “most select of places”—by the ancient Egyptians. It is a city of temples built over 2,000 years and dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khon

Take break for lunch and after take speed motorboat to cross the Nile River to visit Karnak Temples.

On the way from Hurghada to Luxor, take break for breakfast.