For unbeatable views of
Luxor's
famous temples, take a hot-air balloon flight over the Nile River's west
bank. Away from the crowds in the peaceful glow of dawn, your sunrise
flight over Egypt's ancient monuments promises to be a highlight of your
visit
Hot air balloons are commonly used in
Egypt to provide tourists with an aerial view of the country's landscape
and famous landmarks. In
Luxor,
such rides offer views of the Nile River, the temple of
Karnak,
and the Valley of the Kings, among other attractions.
the idea of a balloon ride over
Luxor's
west bank as a little too touristy. But it was archaeologists who first
launched hot air balloons over
Luxor
as a new way of mapping the Theban Necropolis. This fact gave the
balloon ride enough credibility for sign up for the trip.
The
steps of your tour
The start before sunrise
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The day began in the
chilly early morning, just before sunrise. Transfer in a car across to
the other side of the Nile from our hotel (most hotels are located on
the Nile's eastern bank). you can arrange your through your tour guide
or tour leader.
Assembling the balloon
Assembling, along
with dozens of other tourists, at the launch site and wait for
confirmation that the weather safe enough to fly.
What to see through this tour
The dawn sky
The dawn sky over
the Nile's eastern bank creates the favorite image of the morning.
Colossi of
Memnon
Floating over the Colossi of
Memnon,
two massive statues that have stood in place for over 3400 years and
once guarded the mortuary temple of
Amenophis
III, ninth pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty. Thebes is home to thousands of
tombs and temples, and is one of the world's most important
archaeological sites. The Theban Mapping Project, led by American
Egyptologist Dr. Kent Weeks, aims to map and photograph every tomb and
temple. It was Weeks who first introduced hot air ballooning to the area
for this purpose.
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The Mortuary Temple of
Hatshepsut
Best known of the few female pharaohs,
Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for around
22 years and was often depicted in masculine form, wearing a beard and
kilt. Her temple sits beneath the sheer, hanging cliffs of the Theban
Hills and features great ramps and courtyards.
The
Ramesseum
The mortuary temple of
Ramses
II, third pharaoh of the 19h Dynasty.
Ramses
II is often described as having been obsessed with building great
monuments to himself - the twin 65-foot statues of his likeness at Abu
Simbel are testament to this.
However, the Ramesseum's position
by the edge of the Nile floodplain meant that it was inundated by the
river's annual flooding for around 3000 years and today stands in ruins
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Tombs of the Nobles
More numerous
and less elaborate than their royal counterparts in the Valley of
the Kings, the Tombs of the Nobles are the final resting places for
high officials, scribes, and priests of the New Kingdom era.
The landing
The balloon makes an effortless
landing in a sugarcane field while a farmer looked on it's really
amazing
advernture.
Essential Information About the Hot Air
Balloon
Luxor
Tour
Departure Point: Centrally located
Luxor
hotels or
Luxor
Port
Departure Time:
Early morning departure (between 3am and 5am depending on sunrise),
exact time to be advised at time of confirmation
All flight times
are approximate and subject to change due to weather conditions and
weight restrictions.
Total Experience
Duration: 1.5 - 2 hours
Flight Duration:
30-45 minutes
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Return details:
Returns to original departure point
Inclusions:
Hot air balloon
flight
Flight
certificate and souvenir
Hotel/port
pickup and drop off
Exclusions:
Gratuities
(recommended)
Food and drinks,
unless specified
Accessibility Info:
All passengers
must be able to climb into the basket with minimal assistance
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