Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show: 4-hour evening experience

The Pharaoh's voice carries across the Avenue of Sphinxes as the temple lights up against the night.

The Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show is a four-hour evening activity in Luxor where you walk the illuminated temple grounds and the Avenue of Sphinxes while a narrated soundtrack tells the history of the pharaohs and the New Kingdom. Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide in your choice of five languages, entrance fees, bottled water and an air-conditioned vehicle are all included; the show itself runs approximately two hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening at Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show

• Visit Karnak Temple
• Walk along Avenue of Sphinxes
• Listen to Pharaoh's narration
• Watch Luxor Sound and Light Show

The Experience

The evening starts with hotel pickup and a drive to Karnak Temple. Once there, you walk the Avenue of Sphinxes as a recorded voice—the Pharaoh's—narrates the history of Upper Egypt and the additions made by rulers like Tutankhamun, Ramses II and Hatshepsut. The temple itself is illuminated against the night sky, and the lights shift as the narration moves through different periods and stories. Your guide is with you throughout, speaking English, Spanish, Italian, French or German depending on which language you choose at booking.

The show lasts roughly two hours, which gives you time to move through the temple's colossal columns and past the intricate hieroglyphics without rushing. The narration and lighting work together to highlight different sections—the Avenue of Sphinxes, the main temple structures, the details carved into stone. Because the whole experience unfolds in darkness with the lights as the main visual, you're not fighting daytime crowds or heat. The air-conditioned vehicle waits to return you to your hotel when the show ends.

This is a seated and walking activity at a moderate pace. You'll be on your feet for most of the four hours, moving between different areas of the temple complex, but there are no steep climbs or strenuous sections. The site is wheelchair accessible, and strollers are fine for infants and small children. Bring a light layer—the desert cools at night, and you'll be standing still while watching the show.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• professional guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or German.
• entrance fees to Karnak Temple.
• bottled water.
• all taxes and charges.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt Tours Travel

Is this one for you?You're on your feet for most of the four hours, moving between temple sections at an easy pace—choose this if you're comfortable walking the grounds in the evening without needing to sit down for long stretches. The show is narrated in your language and the guide stays with you, so you don't navigate the temple on your own or worry about missing the story.

Top questions

How long is the Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show itself?

The show runs approximately two hours. The full four-hour experience includes hotel pickup and drop-off, the drive to and from the temple, and time to walk the grounds before and after the main narrated performance.

What languages does the guide speak at the Karnak Sound and Light Show?

Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or German—you choose which language when you book.

What is the Avenue of Sphinxes?

The Avenue of Sphinxes is a ceremonial walkway at Karnak Temple lined with sphinx statues. During the show, this avenue is illuminated and narrated as part of the historical journey through the temple's past.

Is the Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show accessible for people with mobility issues?

Yes. All areas and surfaces at the temple are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible as well. Infants can ride in a stroller or pram, and small children can sit on an adult's lap in the vehicle.

What does the hotel pickup and drop-off include?

Hotel pickup and drop-off means the driver collects you from your Luxor hotel at the start of the experience and returns you there at the end. The air-conditioned vehicle is included for the entire four-hour duration.

What happens during the show at Karnak Temple?

As you walk through the illuminated temple and the Avenue of Sphinxes, a recorded narration—the voice of the Pharaoh—tells the history of Upper Egypt and the New Kingdom. The lights shift to highlight different sections of the temple and the contributions of past rulers like Tutankhamun, Ramses II and Hatshepsut.