I am calmly drifting far above the hustle below. Luxor The dusty streets were silent, broken only by the sporadic bursts from the burners of the hot air balloons.
Our pilot, Captain Mahmoud, smoothly maneuvers us for an unparalleled bird's-eye perspective stretching across the verdant expanse of the corridor. Nile To the rugged hills where the renowned Valley of the Kings lies hidden.
I spin around to see a mesmerizing display of a dozen balloons outlined against the glowing amber hues of the rising sun, sparkling as it ascends above the skyline.
As Mahmoud brings the balloon down toward the earth, the support team springs into motion, clutching the basket to guarantee a smooth landing. They call out to one another as they gather the fabric during its deflation, ensuring it doesn’t sustain damage from the uneven desert terrain.
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The captain says to me, "Observe the Egyptians at work; this is how the pyramids were constructed."
My skydiving experience is among various ground-oriented adventures offered on a new cruise journey. Egypt is primarily known for its major waterway, the Nile.
For the very first time, the tour operator Tui has broadened its range of river cruises beyond Europe With its five-star all-inclusive Al Horeya (which means freedom), featuring 72 staterooms, a rooftop swimming pool, and two hot tubs, this vessel will be joined by another ship in November 2025 for further operations.
Before we set sail, I have some free time to visit Luxor.
After seeing the Valley of the Kings from an altitude of 1,500 feet, I later explore it with a feeling of amazement that these concealed marvels tucked away in the mountains were ever discovered.
As I draw near to the black opening in the stone, my vision takes a few seconds to adapt from the blinding sunlight to the dim lighting within the passageway that leads deep into the subterranean burial site of Ramses VI.
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The meticulously created scenes portraying the journey of the divine monarch guide my gaze along the passageway, causing my skin to tingle with the thrill that the initial discoverers might have felt when unearthing these temporal relics from antiquity.
As I delve into some of the tunnels housing the 62 pharaohs interred in the valley, the surreal imagery ranging from jackal-headed deities to the ankh symbol of life feels utterly Otherworldly—like these depictions were etched onto the walls not by human hands but perhaps by extraterrestrial beings using advanced technology.
I save the exploration of King Tutankhamun's tomb for last and make my way through the brief passageway into the burial chamber where the young pharaoh was interred after his death at the age of 19 around 1323 BC. He had ruled Egypt for merely a decade before his untimely demise.
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His premature demise resulted in his interment within an unoccupied chamber, which was inadvertently uncovered by the British Egyptologist Howard Carter in November 1922. This occurred as he was digging into the sepulcher of Pharaoh Ramses VI, located immediately overhead.
Despite the numerous artifacts discovered in the tomb, such as King Tut’s stunning gold burial mask, which are slated for relocation to a recently constructed $1 billion museum, his preserved corpse still rests within the sepulcher enclosed in a glass casing.
I do not believe I have incurred King Tut's curse for venturing into his burial site; instead, I consider myself fortunate to witness his visage, preserved through the ages, gazing upon a chamber adorned in rich oranges and embellished with murals illustrating his journey to the afterlife, remarkably untouched by time.
Fortunately, my guide, Sarwat—one of the two Egyptologists accompanying us—had suggested we begin at 6 am sharp to dodge the throngs of tourists. This allowed us to relish the ambiance of the tomb and its intricate imagery virtually undisturbed.
Sarwat informs me that the artisans utilized a mixture of stone dust and vegetable paste combined with egg whites to form a plaster layer aimed at protecting the illustrations.
He states, "They narrated tales about the kings with the intention that the gods might read them, ensuring these accounts endure forever."
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I head back to the Nile and step aboard a felucca sailing boat akin to those utilized by merchants over millennia for a leisurely journey back to the Al Horeya where I enjoy a delightful meal of spicy chicken wraps at the aptly titled Felucca rooftop eatery.
The following day, the immense size and magnificence of the Karnak and Luxor temples leave me astounded once again.
Upon entering the grand hall, I find myself overshadowed by the 134 pillars that dominate the central area of Karnak, which are famously remembered from "The Spy Who Loved Me" where Roger Moore’s James Bond fights against Jaws amid collapsing scaffolds, followed by his somewhat unjust remark: “Egyptian builders.”
However, at Karnak, the ancient architects left behind evidence of their engineering prowess through large mud-brick ramps still standing beside the incomplete exterior walls, demonstrating how the massive stones were initially set into position.
The temple is connected to its Luxor equivalent via the ancient Avenue of the Sphinxes, estimated to be around 5,000 years old. This pathway features numerous sphinx statues with both human and ram heads lining it. It served as part of a ceremonial route during festivals when high priests would carry the divine boats containing deities, honoring the sun deity Amun-Re.
The primary entryway at Luxor was constructed under the reign of Ramses II, who placed his imposing statue to oversee the area.
It’s a brief ride back onto the boat docked next to the temple, marking our readiness for departure as we set off on our voyage up the Nile.
I settle into the shadow cast by the upper deck bar of the ship, where a soft wind from the river serves as natural air conditioning. As I watch, the urban scenery transitions to lush farmlands nourished by the river stretching through this arid nation.
The unhurried rhythm of life aboard ensures that I wake up completely rejuvenated, prepared to explore the most comprehensive temple in Egypt.
The final stop is Aswan During our trip, we will explore the renowned dam, a testament to Egypt’s contemporary engineering prowess, along with a Nubian village to understand the traditional way of life in the southern part of the country.
Holding a drink, I observe a farmer along the verdant riverside where sandy mountains rise in the background. This scene instills an enhanced appreciation for the vital role this life-sustaining river plays for everyone in the nation, be they common laborers or mythical deities.
Just as the ancient Greek historian Herodotus stated, "Egypt is the gift of the Nile," and my voyage aboard the Tui Al Horeya has been an ideal means to discover this treasure.
How to do it
Tui ( tui.co.uk ) provides a seven-night Legends of the Nile cruise aboard the Al Horeya for £1,799 per person (based on double occupancy), which includes everything plus gratuities. Transfers and flights from London Gatwick or Manchester to Luxor, Egypt, on April 17, 2025.
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