Adventures of Luxor & Makadi Bay

Upon arrival in Luxor, you will be collected for your road transfer to your hotel in Luxor. Check in to El Gezira Garden Hotel. Nestled on Luxor’s serene West Bank, it is the perfect place to find tranquillity surrounded by trees and fragrant citrus fruits—ideal for unwinding after a day of riding and sightseeing. The hotel boasts amenities such as a swimming pool with sun loungers and a bar and provides air-conditioned rooms with complimentary Wi-Fi. Conveniently located just a 10-minute drive from the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut, the hotel offers accommodations with a simple yet cozy décor featuring warm colors. Each unit includes a private bathroom and a balcony with views of the pool, garden, or village. The El Gezira Garden Hotel will be your home from home for the next 4 nights.

As guests will be arriving at different times, we encourage everyone to arrive in the afternoon so that they can join the team for dinner at 8 PM. It’s a great way to meet your fellow adventurers as well as get to know your host and guides.

You will start your day with an introduction to the land of the Pharaohs. This non-riding morning gives insight as to why the Valley of the Kings is so important – the burial place of the New Kingdom – close to the source of the pharaohs’ dynastic roots in the south.

You will have the chance to visit three amazing historical sights, including the Tomb of Tutankhamun, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Carter House. The Tomb of Tutankhamun or “The Boy King” is considered to be the best-preserved and most intact tomb ever found in the Valley of the Kings. Hatshepsut is one of the most famous females in Egyptian history and was a pharaoh of Egypt from roughly 1479 to 1458 BC. Her temple reflects her beauty with terraces reaching almost 30m (100 feet) high. The three terraces are connected by long ramps which were once surrounded by gardens with foreign plants including frankincense and myrrh trees. To complete the history circle, stop at Carter’s House, where Howard Carter lived during his search for Tutankhamun’s Tomb and his excavation of the Valley of the Kings. It’s a simple but mesmerising piece of history, a step back in time. You can see the photo lab he used, along with his cameras and other photography equipment. His original desk is still in the house, as is the library he kept and items relating to the excavation of King Tutankhamun’s Tomb which are on display.

After lunch, you will travel by tuk-tuk to the stables where you will be introduced to the horses. The Bedouin-style yard, crafted by local Egyptians, is based on the West Bank of the Nile boasting several lush plantation fields. Here you will find the carefree horses grazing happily in the green fields against the backdrop of the mountains. The stables is home to horses, donkeys and camels and very much holds a “farm atmosphere”.

The first ride is relaxed and gives you a chance to get to know the horses in preparation for a full day trail ride the following day. You’ll ride through the villages on horseback under the palm trees along to the River Nile, a peaceful place where you can often see buffalo grazing along the banks. On return, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Dinner will be a local Egyptian feast, eating with your hands whilst sitting on the floor on plush cushions; a must when in Luxor!

OPTIONAL EXTRA: Visit the Valley of the Queens where the wives of pharaohs we buried in ancient times. Nefertiti’s tomb is considered of the most stunning tombs in Egypt, and although an expensive entry fee, this should not discourage visitors from witnessing such unimaginable beauty so well preserved.

Your first full day with our horses – prepare to fall in love with both Arabian and Baladi (local breed) horses who are famed for their beauty and endurance. These wonderful breeds are chosen for their ability to form a cooperative relationship with humans and they are good-natured, quick to learn and eager to please.

Longer trails allow you to experience the traditional country life, and you will see farmers working their fields just as their ancestors did. By mid-morning you will be amazed by a panoramic view of Luxor as you ride behind the Valley of the Kings and to the top of Mount Thebes.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before riding past the Colossi of Memnon; two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who reigned in Egypt during the Dynasty XVIII and offer an incredible photo opportunity on horseback. They have stood in the Theban Necropolis for the past 3,400 years!

Rise and shine for a 7am departure, time for another tick off the bucket list for many visitors to Luxor – a visit to Madinet Habu Temple. Leaving the stables early, it takes us about 2 hours to ride up to Habu Temple, passing through local villages and sugar cane fields. On arrival, dismount and tether the horses outside in the shade before heading inside this magnificent complex to explore and learn more about its fascinating history.

Built as a mortuary temple for Ramses III, one of the great pharaohs of ancient Egypt, Habu Temple was built on land that was considered to have magical powers by local farmers long before his time. Ramses often lived in the adjacent palace but other deities resided at Medinet Habu permanently. During the Libyan invasions of the late Twentieth Dynasty, Medinet Habu sheltered the entire popular of Thebes.

Enjoy a light brunch after your visit, before riding back to the hotel to change for your afternoon adventures and our non-riding tour to the East Bank of Luxor, starting with the incredible Karnak Temple – the largest religious complex on the planet. Forget all you have come to expect in regard to scale and space and be astonished by the Temples of Amun-Ra. Your guides will be on hand to show you through the labyrinth and explain the purpose, meaning and history of the amazing ruins of Karnak and the open air museum.

After Karnak, visit Luxor Temple, largely built by the New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramses II. This temple is a strikingly graceful monument in the heart of the modern town. Also known as the Southern Sanctuary, its main function was during the annual Opet celebrations when the statues of Amun, Mut and Khonsu were brought from Karnak, along the Avenue of Sphinxes, and reunited here during the inundation.

Our finale ends with a tour of Luxor Museum – this wonderful museum has a well-chosen and brilliantly displayed and explained collection of antiquities dating from the end of the Old Kingdom right through to the Mamluk period, mostly gathered from the Theban temples and necropolis. This is one of the most rewarding sights in Luxor and one of the best museums in Egypt. This is your last evening in this region and you will finish our Luxor adventures with a belly dancing show and Egyptian BBQ dinner.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS ON REQUEST:

Guided tour and shopping at the souk markets

Sunrise Balloon tour

Private Boat Dinner on the Nile

No trip to Luxor would be complete without a sunrise balloon trail This has become one of our most iconic trips. You’ll wake up early morning before sunrise and head off in the dark towards Valley of the Kings. On arrival, you’ll be able to witness the colourful break of dawn as the sun rises and the balloons take flight. Our riding tour then takes us up to the desert where you can witness a kaleidoscope of magical skies and panoramic views of the farms and mountains.

After breakfast, you will have a private road transfer to Hurghada. Your drive gives you a last glimpse of the River Nile before heading into the desert and ends with the shimmering blues of the Red Sea. Arriving around lunchtime, you will check in to your hotel. Located in Makadi Bay, just a few minutes from the horses and stable and in close proximity to the beach it is the perfect destination for those looking for a quality beach holiday by the Red Sea. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

Full day trail ride with the “desert Arabians”. The horses in Hurghada are chosen for their forward-going nature and their ability to gallop endlessly in the deserts. This a superb day of riding including the beach, sea and deserts that Makadi is famous for. For those who want a full day out in the desert, you will be met by tuk-tuk and enjoy a picnic out in the desert, while the horses take a break and enjoy a snack of their own. For less experienced or fit riders there is an option to divide the day, riding two hours in the morning and then riding again in the afternoon with lunch at your hotel in between. In the evening, take in the breathtaking sunset over the Red Sea.

Today enjoy full day’s boat trip on the Red Sea. If you’re lucky, you may see dolphins, and tick off the bucket list experience of swimming with these majestic, playful creatures – a truly memorable experience! The area is also ideal for snorkeling and offers a chance to see the underwater beauty that hides beneath the surface and you’ll visit a few favourite snorkelling spots. Indulge in a fresh seafood lunch on board and have plenty of time to enjoy being out on the water. Then return to the hotel, blissfully tired after the day’s adventure.

A last bucket list activity – Swimming with horses in the Red Sea! This is a full morning ride with lots of exhilarating canters along the desert before arriving at the sea. On arrival, you’ll dismount and remove your saddle before splashing into the sea with your horse. The horses swimming and it is exhilarating feeling their muscles below you as they swim, plus lots of fun moments as they splash and play.

After your swim you’ll have some time to dry off in the warm sunshine before riding back to the hotel to freshen up. Check out is by 12:00 (late check-outs on request at the hotel) and then it’s time to head back to the airport to head home or continue with your travels.

OPTIONAL EXTENTIONS: Cairo & Fayoum / Awan & Abu Simbel