Day 4 – Monday, March 11: Morning Flight to Luxor, Luxor/Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Overnight in Luxor
Today started really early. With a wake-up at 3:30 a.m. and breakfast boxes waiting for us at 4:15, we loaded the bus and left our hotel at 4:30 en route for the Cairo Airport. We read from Psalm 100 on the way. Following the check-in procedures, we flew 480 miles south to Luxor, the highlight of Egyptian archaeology and history. We arrived at 8:45 a.m. and drove directly our hotel for some relaxing time along the Nile River and by the pool. At 12:30 we boarded our bus for lunch before visiting the Karnak Temple. Today’s weather was once again sunny, with perfect high temps in Luxor about 80.
Temple of Karnak
Following lunch, we made our way to the Karnak Temple. It is really a massive complex of five temples. This temple was first built around 2100 BC (conventional dating). Many Pharaohs are honored here, including Thutmose III (who had 18 military victorious campaigns and took Megiddo in Israel), Seti I, Ramses II (who reigned 67 years and lived until 91 years of age, 1303-2113 BC, conventional dating). We also saw the many pylons, the Hypostyle Hall (built by Seti I. It consists of 122 columns), the obelisk of Hatshepsut (the largest one), the Sacred Lake, and the relief of Shoshenk. Some suggest he was one in the same as the Pharoah called “Shishak” in the Bible (I Kings 14:25-28 – although there are historical and archaeological inconsistencies with this theory). The grandeur of Karnak was incredible!
We left Karnak and visit a papyrus shop. How this ancient paper is made was interesting.
“Following an early-morning wake-up to catch our flight to Luxor, we enjoyed our second day here in Egypt. We were blown away at the size of the Karnak Temple and the beauty of the Luxor Temple all lit up at night!”
Temple of Luxor
We then continued to the Luxor Temple. This temple is primarily in honor of Ramses II. He was the great Egyptian pharaoh of the 13th century BC. To see this temple eliminated with lights at night was spectacular.
We drove back to our hotel for another wonderful buffet dinner and overnight. We wake up up early tomorrow for our hot-air balloon ride on the west side of the Nile River.
Day 5 – Wednesday, February 19: Luxor: Sunrise Hot-air Balloon Ride, Valley of Kings, Temples of Medinet Habu and Hatshepsut, Felucca Boat Ride on Nile River, Evening Flight to Cairo
