1. From Hurghada: Dendera & Karnak Temple Tour with Boat Ride
One popular day trip from Hurghada is a tour of several of these temples, including Dendera Temple, Karnak Temple, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon. The tour typically begins with transportation by air-conditioned vehicle from Hurghada to Luxor, which takes approximately three hours. Along the way, visitors can enjoy views of the beautiful desert landscape and small towns and villages. The first stop on the tour is Dendera Temple, located about 60 kilometers north of Luxor. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor, who was associated with love, music, and dance. The temple is famous for its stunning ceiling decorations and well-preserved reliefs that depict scenes from ancient Egyptian mythology. Visitors can also see the remains of the Temple of the Birth of Isis, which was built during the Ptolemaic period (305-30 B.C.E). After visiting Dendera Temple, the tour continues to Karnak Temple, which is one of the largest temple complexes in the world. Karnak was built over a period of more than 1,500 years and was dedicated to the god Amun, his consort Mut, and their son Khonsu. The temple features a variety of impressive structures, including the Great Hypostyle Hall, which has 134 columns that are 23 meters tall. Visitors can also see the sacred lake, which was used for ritual purposes. Next on the tour is Hatshepsut Temple, which is located on the west bank of the Nile River. This temple was built by Queen Hatshepsut, one of the few female pharaohs in ancient Egypt. The temple is known for its impressive architecture, including a series of terraces that were built into the side of a cliff. Visitors can also see the famous statues of Hatshepsut, which depict her wearing traditional male pharaonic attire. The final stop on the tour is the Colossi of Memnon, which are two massive stone statues that depict the pharaoh Amenhotep I.I.I. These statues were built around 1350 B.C.E and are some of the largest ancient statues in Egypt. Visitors can take photos with the statues and learn about their history from their expert guide. After visiting the Colossi of Memnon, visitors can enjoy a relaxing ride on a traditional felucca boat along the Nile River. The tour typically includes lunch at a local restaurant, where visitors can sample traditional Egyptian cuisine.