Day 3: Introductory Ride. Temple of Hatshepsut & Valley of the Kings
Welcome to Luxor and the home of Ride Egypt! Our first horse adventure begins in the morning, where you’ll travel by tuk-tuk to the stables. Here, we will introduce you to our home and horses in our Bedouin-style yard, crafted by local Egyptians on the West Bank of the Nile. The yard features several boxes and lush plantation fields where we grow our horses’ food. Our carefree Egyptian horses graze happily in the glossy green fields, sparkling in the sunshine against the backdrop of the mountains. Our facility also houses donkeys and camels, creating a true ‘farm atmosphere.’ You’ll receive a tour of the stables and horses, and we’ll show you how we grow our food and use plants and herbs for medical issues. Enjoy an introductory ride through bustling streets, river tributaries, local villages, farmlands, and along the Nile, where you can watch feluccas sail calmly by in the late afternoon light—a perfect spot for photos with your new four-legged friend against the iconic Nile setting.
After a relaxed lunch back at the hotel, we’ll head out to see the Temple of Hatshepsut, an impressive mortuary temple built into the cliffs, showcasing unique terraced architecture honoring one of Egypt’s few female pharaohs. Next, we will visit the Valley of the Kings, home to 63 magnificent tombs, along with an Egyptologist whose knowledge will transport you back to the land of the Pharaohs. Here you will marvel at the tombs’ intricate hieroglyphs and the sheer size of these well-preserved catacombs. The landscape is dramatic; great cavernous cliffs of limestone and sedimentary rock with the imposing Al-Qurn, the peak of the valley, resembling a pyramid, a nod to the Old Kingdom. This site has fascinated archaeologists since the 1900s yet the area is so vast a new tomb chamber was discovered as recently as 2005.
We will end the afternoon at the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues that have stood since 1350 BC, famous for their incredible height and historical significance.
We will wrap up the day with a fun dinner party featuring local music and dancing. Enjoy the food and the lively atmosphere as you settle into the Egyptian vibe.
Day 4: Luxor Saddle Day
A full day in the saddle today and a great opportunity to really bond with your horse as you canter happily along long, dusty farm tracks surrounded by verdant farmland. See the farmers in the fields, working the earth as their ancestors did. Horses are revered in Egypt so they always bring a smile to people’s faces as we pass through the Bedouin villages and the local children love the spectacle of our bejewelled steeds prancing proudly through the streets.
As you get to know your horse’s personality you will be amazed at how kind-hearted and generous they are despite their hot-blooded natures. Sensitive and inquisitive they are also incredibly brave; nothing phases them in these bustling environments and this stems from their strong sense of self. We will stop for lunch at a villa while the horses dose in the shade. In the heat of the day we can enjoy the pool and unwind before heading home to the stables, a ride of approximately 1 hour bringing us back to our hotel for mid afternoon.
Around 5pm we will reconvene for sundowners cruising down the Nile watching the sun set on the calm waters. To complete this epic day we will be joined by a professional belly dancer after dinner who will teach us all about her art as well as give us some moves to take home with us!