Discover Luxor the Sun City of the 100 Doors from the Sky

Luxor, One of the most renowned cities in the world, Luxor houses a third of the monuments on the UNESCO list of world heritage.The Egyptian city holds the keys to the secret of the ancient Egyptian civilization. Its land is enchanting and the eternal River Nile flows through it gracefully.It is no wonder, then, that Luxor has been given dozens of names. It is the City of the Sun, the City of Light, Ancient Thebes, the City of 100 Gates, to mention but a few.

Luxor's visitors need to stay in the city for a few days to discover the treasures on its east and west banks, such as the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Temple in Deir Al-Bahari, and Karnak Temple.

Nevertheless, if you want to explore Luxor day tours in less time or if you want to embark on a romantic adventure with your loved one, you should try a hot air balloon ride. It is an experience like no other.Luxor is not the first Egyptian city where one can have a hot air balloon ride. The first hot air balloon in Egypt hovered over Cairo 89 years ago, when a German Zeppelin flew through Cairo's skies in 1931.

However, hot air balloons were used as a recreational activity only 32 years ago. The first men to fly a hot air balloon in Luxor were two British pilots who worked at a company in the city. The pilots chose Luxor for several reasons, the most important of which is that the buildings and the architectural design of the city allow for safe flying, and that the weather is suitable almost year-round. In addition, the view of Luxor from a hot air balloon was too gorgeous to pass up. Travelers to Luxor fall in love with the city after a hot air balloon ride. This is a thrilling and awe-inspiring journey, particularly as you watch the sun rise, spreading its rays slowly over the temples of the city and shining over the greenery on the banks of the Nile.

Between 15 and 25 balloon flights are launched daily in the sky of above the city, where tourists enjoy seeing the temples of the Pharaohs, the eternal Nile, and the picturesque nature of the city of Luxor. An international balloon festival in the city, which has become famous for this kind of tourism, was held in Luxor with the participation of 41 pilots from nine European countries.

Hot air balloon rides for tourists are available in many countries, including Turkey, Argentina, the UK, the UAE and Germany. According to Luxor's Federation of Hot Air Balloon Companies, Egypt is one of the leading countries in the field, placed second after the US in terms of the number of rides.

In Luxor, the hot air balloon takes off from the west bank, and rises up to 15,000 feet. The journey takes about 45-60 minutes.

The ride:
You must first prepare for the trip before dawn, between 3:30am and 4am. Grab heavy sweaters ctivity only 32 if you embark on the journey in the winter season. Book your ride a night earlier and the hot air balloon company will pick you up from your hotel.
After arriving at the Nile by car, you will cross the river on a boat. Customarily, you meet the captain of the balloon ride on the boat. To obtain their flying license, captains have to pass extensive theoretical and practical training course at the Civil Aviation Authority lasting 10 months. Captains are not allowed to fly a hot air balloon carrying tourists except after 100 hours of training in the air, the equivalent of a year in practice.

On the ship transporting you from Luxor's east to west bank, snacks of tea, coffee, cakes, biscuits and milk are on offer. During that time, the captain will explain the course of the ride and safety procedures. This Nile cruise is a great joy in and of itself. Enjoy the ambiance and the scenery.

After arriving at the west bank, cars transport the tourists to the station from where the hot air balloons will take off. The rides are supervised by meteorological and civil aviation officials.
Half-an-hour before sunrise, the balloons are fully prepared and inflated I with hot air through pumping machines, and the pilot divides the groups based in the balloon size. Hot air balloons have different sizes: the 800s carry people 30 on board; the 600s carry 20 people; and private balloons carry four people. The captain distributes tourists in the balloons to adjust its weight.