You will arrive and dock on the east bank south of (up-river from) the city of Luxor (not in town along the Cornish) late afternoon-early evening - not possible then.
It might be possible the next morning but you would need to arrange early transportation from the boat to the west bank of the Nile and back again, and likely forego some Tauck morning activities - touring the Karnak and Luxor temple complexes- since the balloon flights start before sunrise (launch as early as 4:30 am and last 3 hours) when the air is cool and the wind is calm. The day is a long one already, probably the longest of the tour. We watched the balloons across the river while eating breakfast on our Nile cruiser before our early morning flight to Cairo.
After touring Karnak and Luxor we returned to the ship for lunch and a brief free period before riding via bus south to the Nile River bridge and crossing to the west bank. We made a brief photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon/ruins of Amenhotep III's temple complex before visiting Nefertari's fabulous tomb in the Valley of Queens. We then headed to Hatshepsut's famous colonnaded temple for a quick photo stop before our after-hours visit to the Valley of Kings.
The balloons don't actually fly over the VOK (there would be nothing to see from a balloon there anyway) but start southeast of it (the launch point is marked on Google maps) and drift southwest over the irrigated fields between the river and the start of the Theban Necropolis where it is safer to land without disturbing any archaeological sites in the foothills of the Qura. You should be able to see the Colossi of Memnon/ruins of Amennotep III temple, the Medinet Habu, Ramesseum, etc. and the large spoil piles left from construction of the ancient lagoon/harbor Birket Habu.
Comments
Can't see how this would work. You're traveling on the ship and have a full itinerary that day.
You will arrive and dock on the east bank south of (up-river from) the city of Luxor (not in town along the Cornish) late afternoon-early evening - not possible then.
It might be possible the next morning but you would need to arrange early transportation from the boat to the west bank of the Nile and back again, and likely forego some Tauck morning activities - touring the Karnak and Luxor temple complexes- since the balloon flights start before sunrise (launch as early as 4:30 am and last 3 hours) when the air is cool and the wind is calm. The day is a long one already, probably the longest of the tour. We watched the balloons across the river while eating breakfast on our Nile cruiser before our early morning flight to Cairo.
After touring Karnak and Luxor we returned to the ship for lunch and a brief free period before riding via bus south to the Nile River bridge and crossing to the west bank. We made a brief photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon/ruins of Amenhotep III's temple complex before visiting Nefertari's fabulous tomb in the Valley of Queens. We then headed to Hatshepsut's famous colonnaded temple for a quick photo stop before our after-hours visit to the Valley of Kings.
The balloons don't actually fly over the VOK (there would be nothing to see from a balloon there anyway) but start southeast of it (the launch point is marked on Google maps) and drift southwest over the irrigated fields between the river and the start of the Theban Necropolis where it is safer to land without disturbing any archaeological sites in the foothills of the Qura. You should be able to see the Colossi of Memnon/ruins of Amennotep III temple, the Medinet Habu, Ramesseum, etc. and the large spoil piles left from construction of the ancient lagoon/harbor Birket Habu.
Alan S, Ken...Thanks so much. We're going Oct/Nov. When were you there.
Last year- 17-29 Mar 2022.