309 tourists enjoy hot air balloon rides in Luxor

CAIRO – 25 March 2018: The skies of Luxor witnessed on Sunday morning 15 hot air balloons carrying 309 tourists. The flights are set out to enjoy the charm of the Pharaonic civilization in the western mainland area as the weather improved after dust-laden winds hit the governorate on Saturday causing the cancellation of flights.

From the top, tourists will see the Nile River, the temples of Luxor, Karnak, the Luxor museum, Medamud, Esna, Armant, the Mummification museum, Ramesseum temple, Medinet Habu, Valley of Kings and Queens, and other ancient Pharaonic monuments.
Once the balloon starts to fly, it slowly and gradually flies up to approximately 1,000 meters above the ground. The journey runs between the east and west banks of Luxor on 30- to 50-minute trip.


A hot-air balloon flies over the city of Luxor, south of Cairo, Egypt December 13, 2016. Photo by Amr Abdallah DalshReuters

The 15 balloons flew west of Luxor, the world’s first archeological city. The trip started at dawn on Sunday, amid a state of joy that prevailed among the 309 tourists participating in the trip.

Luxor’s hot air balloon rides are among the most famous activities of the city. Tourists from all over the world ride the balloons when they visit the governorate to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and reflect on the ancient Egyptian civilization, where the great monuments can be seen from the sky in addition to the majestic temples and tombs of the great kings.


Hot-air balloons carrying tourists fly over the city of Luxor, south of Cairo, Egypt December 13, 2016. Photo by Amr Abdallah DalshReuters

The hot air balloons help tourists discover Luxor from the top which is considered to be the biggest open museum in the world. The journey shows most of the ancient Egyptian civilization and tourists can enjoy the mesmerizing view and take photos of the historic buildings. The ancient temples and museums of Egypt have been built thousands of years ago on both sides of the Nile River.