Float Above the Pharaohs: The Ultimate Guide to Luxor from Above

Float Above the Pharaohs: The Ultimate Guide to Luxor from Above

When you ask experienced tourists what one thing they remember most vividly during their trip to Egypt, a vast majority will tell you the same story again: staying up past midnight, going out to an isolated desert area, and taking off to float thousands of feet above the ground as the sun rises over Luxor.

And there is good reason for that. Luxor is not just another city full of ancient constructions. It is the biggest outdoor museum in the whole world. Each road, bank of the Nile River, and each sandy place has thousands of years of history in it. But just visiting ruins on foot can tell you only half of the story. If you want to get the true feeling of why this empire was founded here, you need to take a look down from the sky.

If you are now planning your route and are considering whether it would be worth going for the hot air balloon ride, here is all you need to know about it.

Why Luxor Looks Different from the Sky

Most historic cities are embedded in current urban areas, such as Rome or Athens. Luxor, however, has a unique feature that makes the ancient landscape still visible and free of any skyscrapers.

When rising in a hot air balloon at dawn, one gets the full picture of ancient geography:

Dividing Line of the Nile: One witnesses personally how the river serves as a massive life line, making a brilliant green line through golden desert.

The East Bank of the Living: With the sun raising over the horizon, its rays fall upon the mighty columns of Karnak and Luxor Temples, which stand on the eastern bank. This side of the Nile River was the side of life and sun rising.

The West Bank of Eternity: The green line finishes and opens the view to the pale yellow cliffs of desert. It is possible to see the path that leads to the Valley of the Kings as well as to admire the ruins of the terraced temple of Hatshepsut.

From such point of view, one understands the importance of scale for pharaohs.

What the Experience is Actually Like

Even if you've never been inside a hot air balloon before, it would be perfectly understandable to have some questions or even fear of heights. Let me explain what the whole experience will feel like for you:

First of all, it's rather quiet: There are no sounds of the engine and the rush of wind, not to mention sudden drops. As you float along with the flow of air at precisely the same pace, there isn't any movement. Literally, it seems as though the earth moves under your feet like a huge map.

Secondly, the basket is safe: You stand in a rather big, waist-height wicker basket that is separated into different sections. There is enough space for you to move around, touch the walls, and take pictures.

Finally, the soundscape of your trip is rather cinematic: Besides the occasional roar of the propane burners starting to work for keeping the balloon airborne, there won't be anything else but people admiring the view.

Step-by-Step: What to Expect on Flight Morning

So, here’s how a regular day in Luxor in a hot-air balloon would go from beginning to end.

1. Pre-dawn Start
It’s time to get ready for a pre-dawn start. Pickup usually takes place at 4:00 to 5:00 AM, depending on the time of the year. You’re going to be collected right from your hotel or cruise ship by your driver. Even though waking up early isn’t particularly pleasant in the beginning, once you step out into the street and see how many stars there are in the sky over the desert, you’ll quickly forget about your troubles.

2. Boat Ride Across the River
Next stop is the river where you board a little motorboat that will take you across the waterway while the city is still asleep on both sides.

3. Inflation and Takeoff
The next thing you need to do is to get to the balloon launch field on the West Bank. You’ll see many huge balloons lying flat on the sand. The ground crew will inflate the envelopes using big fans and then ignite the burners. Seeing the envelopes glow in the darkness makes half of the experience.

4. Up, Up, and Away
Ascending isn’t difficult at all. In just minutes, you’re off the ground in such a smooth way that you may hardly notice it. For 45-60 minutes, you’ll float along on currents wherever the wind carries you – once in the sky, so high you can see the horizon bend, and once close to the ground, low enough to wave to local kids running out of their homes saying “welcome to Egypt!”

5. Landing and Bragging Rights
The ground crew watches your shadow and greets you at your landing site, which is somewhere on the field where you’ve landed. Once you’ve climbed out, you’ll usually get your certificate and joke around with your pilot and other passengers and come back across the river for breakfast.

Practical Tips for First-Timers

Some thought in advance will guarantee a perfect start of your day:

Schedule your hot air balloon ride on your first morning in Luxor: As you probably know, hot air balloons depend heavily on weather conditions. If the winds are too strong or there is no good visibility, the flights will be grounded by the aviation officials. This way you have one more morning available if something goes wrong.

Dress up in appropriate layers: The desert air just before sunrise can be cold. However, once you find yourself underneath of a giant flame heater inside a basket, you will get warmer quickly. Put on a jacket over your T-shirt.

Wear comfortable shoes: You are going to walk across the dusty or sandy plain and climb into the basket, so avoid wearing your fancy sandals or boots with heels.

Get ready for taking pictures: You are going to take a lot of photos and videos during the flight. Make sure your phone or camera has some kind of wrist strap or good grip, since leaning out from the basket to see the landscape is simply irresistible.

Final Thoughts

It is filled with decisions on how you use your time and money while traveling. There are many activities that are optional for those who have only limited time to spend in Egypt.

Not so a trip in a hot air balloon above Luxor.

Drifting around in silent flight above a river that has sustained the existence of mankind for thousands of years brings a deep feeling of historical awareness and amazement. It is an experience which totally justifies all the hype about it. So wake up early and take flight.