Luxor horse carriage tour: Karnak Temple, Avenue of Sphinxes

See four of Luxor's most significant sites without arranging the route yourself

A guided tour of Luxor's East Bank by horse carriage, departing from the Luxor Museum and visiting Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Avenue of Sphinxes, and the Mosque of Abu Haggag over four hours. An Egyptologist guide in English or Arabic leads the route and explains the archaeological discoveries at each stop. Temple entrance tickets are included in the standard option. The carriage-only option covers transport alone.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Luxor Museum10m
2. Karnak Temple1h
3. Luxor Temple1h
4. Avenue of Sphinxes30m

Explore Luxor East Bank by horse carriage

• Meet in front of Luxor Museum
• Travel by horse carriage to Karnak Temple
• Visit Karnak Temple and learn history
• Explore Luxor Temple and its ruins
• Walk along the Avenue of Sphinxes
• Visit Mosque of Abu Haggag

The experience

You meet your guide at the Luxor Museum holding a red flag, then climb into a horse carriage for the ride to Karnak Temple. The carriage moves through the city at a pace that lets you take in the streets and talk with your guide: no rushing between stops in a van, no navigating on your own. Karnak Temple is the largest religious complex ever built: construction started 4,000 years ago and continued for two millennia as each pharaoh left their architectural mark. The Temple of Amun-Ra sits at its heart, and the Hypostyle Hall, built during Seti I's reign, holds 28 columns that rise twenty-one feet high. Your guide walks you through what each structure meant and why it mattered, so the scale and the history connect.

From Karnak, the carriage takes you to Luxor Temple, where Amenhotep III, Ramses II, Tutankhamun and other pharaohs built over centuries. The Great Colonnade Hall stretches almost 61 meters, its decoration largely finished by Tutankhamun around 1330 B.C. The Avenue of Sphinxes comes next. A 3,000-year-old processional road that was buried under sand for centuries and only reopened in November 2021 after a major excavation. Seeing it freshly restored, with the sphinx statues lining the path, is a different experience from reading about it. Your last stop is the Mosque of Abu Haggag, built into the structure of Luxor Temple itself, making it one of the oldest continuously used temples in the world.

The tour runs four hours total. If you book the standard option, temple entrance tickets are included. If you choose the carriage-only option, you pay for tickets separately at each site. Either way, your guide is an Egyptologist who speaks English or Arabic and can answer questions as they come up: no script, no rush. You'll also get recommendations for what to see in the days ahead, built on what you've just learned.

What’s included

• Transportation by horse carriage between all stops.
• an Egyptologist guide in English or Arabic for the full four hours.
• temple entrance tickets to Karnak and Luxor temples (in the standard option only).

Options for this experience

2 options

Only Horse carriageGuide in English · 13:30 and 15:30

Discover the secrets of Luxor by horse carriage on your first impression of the cityGuide in English or Arabic · 13:30 and 15:30

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 13:30 and 15:30

Book up toStart time

AgesUp to age 85

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Budget Friendly Tours FZE LLC

Is this one for you?Book the standard option if you want the temples included and don't want to buy tickets separately at each gate. Choose the carriage-only option if you prefer to handle entry fees on your own or plan to return to the temples another day. Either way, the fixed route and the guide mean you're not figuring out which sites to see or how to get between them. You're just riding and learning.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

What's the difference between the two options for this tour?

The standard option includes Karnak and Luxor temple entrance tickets (200 EGP total, about 12 USD). The carriage-only option covers transport and the guide, and you buy tickets at the gate. Both options include the horse carriage and the Egyptologist guide for the full four hours.

How does the horse carriage work? Is it comfortable for four hours?

The carriage is the main transport between stops, and you ride it for the journey between sites. The actual walking happens at each temple and along the Avenue of Sphinxes. Your guide sets the pace and can adjust for the group's comfort.

What is Karnak Temple, and why does it matter?

Karnak Temple is the largest religious complex ever built in ancient Egypt, constructed over 2,000 years by successive pharaohs. The Temple of Amun-Ra (where the god was believed to live on earth) sits at its center, and the Hypostyle Hall with its 28 towering columns is the most significant structure on the site.

When was the Avenue of Sphinxes discovered, and what is it?

The Avenue of Sphinxes is a 3,000-year-old processional road built during the New Kingdom and completed under Nectanebo I (380–362 B.C.). It was buried under sand for centuries. The first statues were found in 1949, and Egypt reopened the full avenue in November 2021 after excavation and restoration.

Is this tour safe, and will I meet other travelers?

Yes, you meet other travelers at the start in front of the Luxor Museum and explore together with a local Egyptologist guide. The tour is designed to help you feel comfortable and safe while learning from someone who knows the city and its history.

What should I know before booking if I have mobility concerns?

The tour involves riding in a horse carriage and walking at each temple site. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. Service animals are allowed. If you have questions about your specific situation, contact the operator before booking.