TREASURES OF ANCIENT THEBES

Day 1 Arrive in Luxor

Arrive in Luxor, where you will be met at the airport and transferred privately to your hotel. The Al Moudira is a serene haven on Luxor's West Bank, set four miles from the bustle of the city centre. Settle into your Junior Suite and spend the remainder of the day relaxing in the hotel's blissful eight hectares of gardens and grounds.

Overnight: Al Moudira Hotel

Day 2 The West Bank

Accompanied by your private Egyptologist guide, visit the majestic Valley of the Kings, located across from the ancient city of Thebes. This is the burial site for pharaohs such as Tutankhamun and Ramses II, as well as queens, nobility and high priests. The tombs showcase elaborate preparations for the next world, in which pharaohs were expected to become one with the gods. The interiors are beautifully painted with scenes from Egyptian mythology and give an insight into the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period.

As you leave the Valley of the Kings, visit Howard Carter's House. Home to the British archaeologist during his search for Tutankhamun's tomb during the 1920s, the house displays original furniture, old maps and photographs, as well as some of Carter's writings and excavation tools. The garden is an oasis in an otherwise barren landscape and features an exact replica of Tutankhamun's burial chamber along with an exhibition detailing the discovery of the original tomb. Your day concludes with a visit to the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, built to honour the only female Pharaoh to rule ancient Egypt.

Option: Entry to King Tutankhamun's tomb, as well as the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari, can be arranged at additional cost.

Overnight: Al Moudira Hotel

Day 3 The East Bank

Today your guide will escort you into Luxor where you will first visit the Temple of Karnak, one of the ancient world's largest and most magnificent temple complexes in its day. It is said that every pharaoh of note had a hand in the construction, enlargement, embellishment, restoration and destruction of the Temple of Karnak. Covering more than 900 acres, it features spectacular temples, obelisks, chapels and gateways.

Continue on to Luxor Temple, located in the heart of the city, once known as the ancient Capital of Thebes. Some of Egypt's finest carvings can be found on the walls, which were thankfully preserved due to the temple being buried under the village of Luxor until 1885. Luxor and Karnak Temples are linked by the recently renovated 'Avenue of the Sphinxes,' one of the most important religious and archaeological paths in the city.

On your journey back to the Al Moudira, visit the Colossi of Memnon. These two enormous statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III have stood in the Theban Necropolis for the last 3,400 years. Your guide will explain the legend surrounding these towering sandstone figures, and there will be plenty of time for photography before you return to your hotel.

Overnight: Al Moudira Hotel

Day 4 At Leisure

Enjoy a day at leisure to relax at the stunning Al Moudira. Unwind by the sparkling swimming pool, or catch up on some reading on the serene sun terrace, which is set in rambling and fragrant gardens. The hotel's spa with its steam room, Turkish bath, and a variety of massage treatments all provide further opportunities for relaxation.

Overnight: Al Moudira Hotel

Day 5 Dendera & Abydos

Resume your explorations today with a visit to Dendera. One of the best-preserved temple complexes in the country, Dendera was used by the ancient Egyptians to worship their goddess Hathor. This goddess of love and joy was what Aphrodite was to the Greeks and Venus to the Romans. The Temple of Hathor is the largest and most impressive building in the complex, with a beautifully grand entrance, detailed carvings and decorations.

From Dendera you will continue on to Abydos, one of the oldest cities ever discovered. Abydos occupies an important place in the religious history of Pharaonic Egypt and many ancient temples were located here, including a royal necropolis where early pharaohs were entombed. It is most notable now for the impressive and very well-preserved temple of Seti I, often called the Great Temple of Abydos.

Overnight: Al Moudira Hotel

Day 6 Deir El-Medina and Medinet Habu

Option: Rise early for a hot air balloon flight over the Valley of the Kings (supplement applies)

After breakfast this morning you will set out to explore Deir el-Medina, the village of the artisans who built the royal tombs. The site reveals well-preserved tombs, remains of houses, and inscriptions that provide insight into the workers' daily routines and beliefs. They left behind beautifully decorated tombs, showcasing vibrant scenes of their lives and the afterlife. The site also contains remnants of a temple dedicated to the goddesses Hathor and Maat, adding to its historical significance.

Continue to Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramses III. Its massive walls, detailed carvings, and vivid reliefs depict dramatic battle scenes. At its height, the temple complex featured a royal palace, grand courtyards, workshops and temples, the remains of which are still intricately decorated with hieroglyphics that highlight the power and artistry of the era.

Overnight: Al Moudira Hotel

Day 7 At Leisure

Your final day in Egypt is at leisure at the Al Moudira, allowing you to recover from the previous days' adventures and enjoy some relaxation before the journey home. To fully restore your balance, you could arrange a yoga class with Al Moudira's resident yoga master, or surrender to a restorative Hammam treatment in the spa.

Overnight: Al Moudira Hotel

Day 8 Depart

Transfer to Luxor Airport in time for your flight home or onward arrangements.

Overnight: Home