LUXOR WEST BANK – Explore the Afterlife

Step beyond the Nile into the ancient necropolis of Thebes – Luxor’s West Bank – the realm of tombs, temples, and the timeless journey to the afterlife.

This is more than just a tour – it’s a walk through millennia of secrets, splendor, betrayal, and belief, when you know the stories attached to the people and places on the West Bank of Luxor.  Our full-day West Bank Tour departs from Mara House at 7:30 am and takes you through six of the most breathtaking and historically rich sites in Egypt – no rushing, no confusion, no hassle.

We handle the details. You take the journey.

What’s Included in Your One-Day West Bank Tour?

Valley of the Kings – Final Resting Place of Pharaohs

Home to over 60 tombs carved deep into the desert mountainside, the Valley of the Kings is one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world.

On a personal note – when I was about 10 years old some of my friends thought it would be a great prank to lock me in a small, concrete burial chamber in the old graveyard near my home in Ireland.  It wasn’t funny!  It was quite scary actually to find myself alone with 3 coffins.

I guess grave robbers had been there at some time too because the coffin lids were sitting askew on the old coffins.  I could see the skull and upper part of the body inside the coffin in front of me.  Thankfully, even at that age I had an inbuilt ability to keep calm in an emergency.  This was an emergency!  Had I freaked out and give free reign to the fear inside me, I would probably still be having nightmares about that day.

So, even though I visit the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, I am never quite comfortable doing so.  They were never meant for our eyes or exploration and I tend to think the mummies in Egypt should, at least, be returned to their own resting places.  Not saying they should never be viewed but they should be covered respectfully and visited with reverence as we would visit the graves of our own loved ones.

You’ll visit three of the open tombs included in the standard entry ticket.  I won’t name those tombs here because they are opened in rotation for preservation purposes.  What is open at the time I am writing this may not be the ones open when you visit.  You also, for the moment, have the option to explore three exceptional tombs for a higher ticket price, payable by you with a bank or credit card at the ticket office there:

• Tutankhamun

• Seti I

• Nefertari in the nearby Valley of the Queens

Tip: I personally recommend private time in the tomb of Thutmose III – intense and mysterious.  One of our guests described it as “walking into a secret underworld where the pharaoh still whispers from the walls.”  However this tomb is closed and only open to visitors paying the much, much higher cost of a Private Visit.  Read more here to understand the difference between a Private Tour and a Private Visit/Time

Deir el-Bahri – Temple of Hatshepsut. 

Marvel at the majestic mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt’s most successful female pharaoh.  Built into dramatic limestone cliffs, this stunning structure tells a story of ambition, trade, and political cunning.  The reliefs here are not just decorative – they’re strategic propaganda, carved for eternity.

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Tombs of the Nobles

Step into the lives of the elite administrators, scribes, and high priests who supported Egypt’s royal court.  These tombs are vivid with everyday scenes, family ties, and ritual duties – offering a rare, emotional look at life beyond the pharaohs.  Of particular interest in the Tombs of the Nobles is that they did not all hold the same life values or priorities in life, and their tombs tell us that very clearly.  Here is where we also get a hint that, in the time of Pharaohs, everyone who sought the answers to life questions such as “who are we and why are we here” could have access to escoteric teachings to whatever level they aspired to.  So, unlike what others may teach or think, I can see there were Pharaohs and High Priest with more interest in the material than the spiritual and that was ok.  But there were also ordinary people with enquiring minds, and some of the artisans had to be among that group – from the work the produced.  And I believe those seekers were allowed access to the hidden information when they asked the right questions.  Much the same as we can today.

Medinet Habu – Temple of Ramesses III

Often overshadowed by the Valley of the Kings, Medinet Habu is a hidden treasure.  Massive walls, towering pylons, and intense historical drama: this is where Pharaoh Ramesses III ruled – and was nearly murdered in a palace conspiracy involving one of his wives and a son.

Some visitors feel a strange energy here.  I’ll never forget a guest who broke down in tears the moment he entered.  He was actually inconsolable and had to leave the temple.  Years later we learned about the “Screaming Mummy,” believed to be the rebellious, subversive son of Ramses III.  Was the sadness his, his father… or ours?  Who really knows what we sometimes tap into in these sacred spaces…

Deep Dive into my Medinet Habu Series:

• The Pharaoh: Understand the mind of the man who wore the crown: Medinet Habu: The Pharaoh’s Bargain with Chaos

• The People: Step into the daily life before the fall in The Palace of Shadows: The Family of Ramses III

• The Event: Uncover the dark conclusion in The Harem Conspiracy & The Screaming Mummy

• The Place: Take a sensory walk through the fortress itself in Walking Through the Nerve Center: A Guide to Medinet Habu’s Three Faces

Deir el-Medina – Village of the Workers

This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a rare glimpse into the daily life of the craftsmen who built the tombs of the Valley.  Their modest homes, tools, and even tombs are preserved here – the graffiti, confessions, and love letters of ordinary men with an extraordinary task.

Colossi of Memnon

Two 18-meter-high statues of Amenhotep III guard the entrance to the Theban necropolis.  In Roman times, one statue mysteriously “sang” at dawn – a phenomenon that attracted emperors and poets.  These statues are sometimes referred to as the Whistling or Whispering Statues.  Today, they stand watch over a vast temple excavation underway behind them.

Personally, I was overwhelmed with emotion the first time I stood before the Colossi.  Many of our guests report the same – a strange sense of being remembered by something ancient.

As the years have passed and more information comes my way, I can’t shake the idea and feeling that once there was a temple behind the colossal statues that may have been one of the temples of Soloman.  There is so much unexplainable things coming to light with the passage of time that suggest many of the stories thought to have taken place in Israel or Palestine may actually refer to places in Egypt.  Experts are translating names and taking more than one look at dates of certain events and the recorded data.  Who knows what is still to come to light?

Midday Lunch Break

After the morning’s exploration, we’ll pause for a relaxed lunch stop, at a local restaurant – this is not included in the tour because I tend to notice that when a group goes to a restaurant and place their orders individually, what comes to the table tends to be fresher and better than the lunches order for visiting groups and included in the tour price.

✨ Why Take the West Bank Tour with Mara House?

• No rushed schedules – we give each site the time it deserves

• Thoughtful guiding – we help you feel the meaning behind the monuments

• Transport from Mara House and return – no need to haggle with taxis

• Local insight – from the haunted echoes of Medinet Habu to the quiet dignity of the artisans’ tombs

• No shopping during tour hours – but optional visits can be arranged after.
  The West Bank is home to generations of skilled artisans who still craft hand-carved plaques, tiles, and alabaster pieces using techniques passed down since pharaonic times. One renowned craftsman, internationally recognized for his work, creates truly exceptional pieces – but his prices reflect the quality, and this visit is only suitable for those specifically looking to invest in a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. We’re happy to arrange a visit to his hillside workshop if guests request it and are prepared for the cost.

  For those curious to see how traditional alabaster vases and sculptures are made, we can also arrange a quick stop at a workshop after the tour. Several of these handmade items are sold in shops across the West Bank. We offer this opportunity only by request after the tour, so no one feels they missed out on something unique they later hear about.

  • NOTE – Unlike tour operators and guides who do a quick tour and spend most of the day taking you shopping, this shopping opportunity from Mara House is AFTER the tour and only if requested.

Avoid the guesswork of DIY travel and let us bring the West Bank to life with context, care, and comfort.

Need to Know

• Tour begins at 7:30 am from Mara House

• Ends mid-to late afternoon depending on your pace

• Optional tombs must be booked on-site with card payment

• Sunscreen, water, and comfortable shoes essential.  Terrain is rough and flimsy sandals can result in sprained ankles.

Want to Learn More Before You Go?

Check out these in-depth stories from our blog:

• Thinking of Visiting Luxor’s West Bank? Not that easy.

• The Saga of RAMSES III, Medinet Habu Temple, and the ‘Screaming Mummy’

• Ancient Echoes: The Eerie Vibes of Thutmose III’s Tomb

• Was Yuya Really Joseph from the Bible?

• Hatshepsut – An Extraordinary Woman Who Managed to Have it ALL. – power, romance, family, wealth

And if you’re still deciding, explore our full guide:  Which Mara House tour is right for you?