Adventures of Luxor and Makadi Bay

We start our day by introducing you to the land of the Pharaohs. This non-riding morning gives insight as to why the Valley of the Kings is so important.
You will have the chance to visit four amazing tombs, including the Tomb of Tutankhamun which was discovered in November 1922 by Howard Carter. His tomb is now considered to be the best-preserved and most intact pharaonic tomb ever found in the Valley of the Kings.
Our morning continues onto the Temple of Hatshepsut, the most famous female in Egyptian history. She not only had the longest reign of any Egyptian female, but is also regarded as one of the most successful rulers in Egyptian history. Under Hatshepsut, Egypt explored, built, and grew.
To complete the history circle our last stop is at Carters House – this is rarely visited in standard tourist packages and yet is one of the most interesting buildings to be found in Luxor. Although far from glamorous, we never tire of visiting the house where Howard Carter lived during his search for Tutankhamun’s Tomb and his excavation of the Valley of the Kings.

The afternoon sees the beginning of our first horse adventures together. You will travel by tuk-tuk to the stables where we will introduce you to our home and our horses. Our Bedouin style yard, crafted by local Egyptians, is based on the West Bank of the Nile boasting several boxes and lush plantation fields. Here you will find our carefree Arabian horses grazing happily in the glossy green fields and almost sparkling in the sunshine against the backdrop of the mountains. Our facility is home to horses, donkeys and camels and very much holds a “farm atmosphere”.

The first riding trip is relaxed and gives you a chance to get to know us and our horses in preparation for a full day trail ride the following day. We ride through the villages on horseback under the palm trees along to the River Nile. The Nile is incredibly peaceful and you can see the buffalo grazing along the banks. On return you will transfer back to your hotel. Dinner will be around 8pm at a local Egyptian feast, eating with your hands whilst sitting on the floor on plush cushions is a must when in Luxor!

Riding time 2-3 hours.

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 willing to please. Longer trails encourage you to experience our horses and country life. You will see farmers working their fields just as their ancestors did. Mid-morning you can prepare to be amazed as our sure-footed horses will take you behind the Valley of the Kings and to the top of Mount Thebes so you can see panoramic views of Luxor.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant and our trail home will take us past The Colossi of Memnon (Arabic: el-Colossat or es-Salamat) which are two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who reigned in Egypt during the Dynasty XVIII. They have stood in the Theban Necropolis for the past 3,400 years (since 1350 BC)! This is a wonderful opportunity for photos together with the horses.

This ride is approx. 6 hours end to end.

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! It takes us about 2 hours to ride up to Habu Temple, passing through local villages and sugar cane fields. On arrival, we dismount and tether the horses outside in the shade before heading inside this magnificent complex to explore and learn more about its history.

Built as a mortuary temple for Ramses III (1186-1155 BC), 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.

We will have a light brunch after our visit, around 11am, before riding back in time to change for our afternoon adventures and our non-riding tour to the East Bank of Luxor, starting with the incredible Karnak Temple. Karnak is 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 and his divine wife, Mut, and their son, Khonsu. Many visitors walk right past one of the treasures of Karnak – its Open Air Museum. We will introduce you to some of the architectural wonders which have been re-erected in all their glory in this museum.

After Karnak we will visit Luxor Temple, largely built by the New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III (1390–1352 BC) and Ramses II (1279–1213 BC). This temple is a strikingly graceful monument in the heart of the modern town.

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.

Riding time approx. 4 -5 hours.

This is our last evening in this region and we will finish our Luxor adventures with a belly dancing show and an Egyptian BBQ dinner and music.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS ON REQUEST:

• Guided tour and shopping at the souk markets (no charge)
• Sunrise Balloon tour $150
• Private Boat Dinner on the Nile (price on request)

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 ballons 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.

You’ll return back around 9am for breakfast and have an hour to relax before we make our transfer by road to the Red Sea arriving at the afternoon for a light lunch and some beach time to relax.

Full day trail ride with our “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 of Makadi. Lunch is served out.

Riding time approx 5-6 hours.

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.

Today takes us away from the land and into the crystal blue waters of the Red Sea where we will spend the day lapping up the sunshine and relaxing. However, this isn’t any old boat trip! Today you will have the opportunity to meet our underwater friends at Dolphin House where you can swim with wild dolphins and stop off at two stunning snorkelling spots.

There is an array of underwater beauty around the reefs of Hurghada and this is truly a once in a lifetime experience. Onboard you will also be treated to an exquisite lunch by the wonderful crew on board.

No trip would be complete without 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 we will dismount and remove the saddles before entering the sea with your horse. The horses love to swim too so it’s a wonderful trip for both.

After your swim you’ll have some time to dry off in the warm sunshine before riding home.

Riding time 4 hours.

Check out is by 12:00 (late check outs on request at the hotel) and then it’s time to head home or continue with your travels.