Ever wondered what it’d be like to time travel back to ancient Egypt, where pharaohs ruled and you could witness Egyptian civilization, practices, and rituals firsthand? Luxor is the next best thing. You’ll get to travel from Marsa Alam and dive into this ancient treasure trove with sites like Karnak and Valley of the Kings. Ahmed Assem, one of our local guides and Egyptologists, says, ‘The ancient art and architecture in the Valley of Kings will blow your mind. The tombs are carved into the desert cliffs, and only be able to imagine how they accomplished such dazzling buildings.’

You’ll kick off your adventure at the Karnak Temple Complex, one of the largest religious sites in the world. Here, you’ll explore ancient Egypt’s soul, snapping pics of temples, chapels, sphinxes, and hieroglyph-embellished obelisks. Plus, you’ll weave through the carved columns of the great Hypostyle Hall, ‘it’s an area large enough to fit Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral’, Ahmed Assem adds. Then, you’ll cross the River Nile to explore Luxor’s west bank.

Here’s where the real magic happens. The Valley of the Kings – yes, this site’s definitely bagged UNESCO’s seal of approval – is where ancient Egyptian pharaohs had their tombs built for nearly 500 years. It’s home to 63 tombs of legendary pharaohs like Seti and Remses, and it’s the famous resting place of King Tutankhamun. This is definitely something to scream and shout about. Before wrapping things up, you’ll check out Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. What a way to end the day staring up at these two 60-foot stone statues that have stood for more than 3,000 years.