Seti I Temple, Merenptah Temple & Howard Carter House Tour

Begin at the northern end of the West Bank with the mortuary temple of Seti I, father of Ramesses II. It is one of the least visited temples in Luxor, so you can often explore its columned portico and finely carved reliefs almost alone. Your Egyptologist explains how the temple honoured both Seti and his father, Ramesses I, and how it fits into the wider landscape of the Theban necropolis.

Next, visit the domed mud-brick house where Howard Carter lived while searching for, and then excavating, the tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered in November 1922. The house has been restored with his furniture, darkroom, study and equipment, and displays tell the story of one of the most famous discoveries in archaeology. Nearby, a full-size facsimile of Tutankhamun's burial chamber lets you see the paintings up close.

End at the mortuary temple of Merenptah, the son and successor of Ramesses II. Much of the temple was built with stone taken from the nearby temple of Amenhotep III, and a small site museum displays reused blocks, statues and reliefs found during excavations. Your guide explains how archaeologists pieced the site back together before you return to your hotel.