Tour the most famous sites on Luxor's West Bank in the company of an expert private guide. You will step back in time and experience Egypt's ancient history at the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple on this private morning tour from Luxor. As this is a private tour, you can determine the amount of time you will be spending at each of the sites you visit. After crossing the Nile River to the West Bank by Egypt Nile cruises, you will visit the necropolis of the ancient city of Thebes. Arriving at the Valley of the Kings, the burial place of the kings of Thebes (ancient Luxor), you will have a brief stop at the visitor's center. Guides are not permitted inside the tombs, but your guide will tell you what to look for inside the richly decorated rooms. Here you may visit the tomb of King Tutankhamun (optional, for an additional cost). Leaving the hot sands of the Valley of the Kings, you will visit the Valley of the Queens which is a place in Egypt where wives of Pharaohs were buried in ancient times. The valley is located near the better-known Valley of the Kings, on the west bank of the Nile across from Thebes (modern Luxor). This necropolis is said to hold more than seventy tombs, many of which are stylish and lavishly decorated. An example of this is the resting place carved out of the rock for Queen Nefertari (1290-1224 BCE) of the 19th Dynasty (which unfortunately is currently closed). The polychrome reliefs in her tomb are still intact. Thereafter, you will then visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, one of the most striking monuments in Egypt tours. Your guide will introduce you to the history of the temple and the story of Queen Hatshepsut, the famous female ruler of Egypt who posed as a male to gain the throne. There is free time to explore at your leisure as you wander the large courtyards and admire the intricate hieroglyphic decorations. Returning to Luxor there will be time for a brief photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon, which marks the site of the funerary temple of Amenhotep III. These two giant statues standing tall and proud on the West Bank are all that remain of the ancient complex. In addition, you will have the chance to visit an alabaster factory and purchase genuine items if you wish. After the conclusion of your tour, you will be driven back to your hotel for drop-off.
