On my last day in Luxor, I decided to tour this attraction on my own. Also used the horse and buggy to reach this destination. This attraction occupies and big areas and there are buses and buses of tourists when I arrived at 8:00 am. Agreed to hire a guide named Mohammed for 300 EGP for 1 hour. He explained the history of this temple, the gods honored at this place, 134 columns, obelisks, sphinxes , lake, etc. We went to various areas where the big Group Tours do not usually go so we were the only ones there. He also showed me where to take good pictures of this area. Of course, he also instructed me where to pose for beautiful shots. Compared to my previous day’s experience with a Group Tour the previous day, I learned a lot from this Tour Guide about the Karnak Temple. He answered all my questions, speaks perfect English. Highly recommended to hire a guide here for just about $10 plus the entrance fee of 200 EGP.

A walk through ancient history. This place is unbelievable. It’s huge! And there’s so much to learn from it. Hopefully you get a tour guide that way they can tell you exactly what you’re looking at. Right next to the Nile River! A MUST!

One of the highlights in Luxor. This vast and well preserved temple is very intriguing, with so much to see. Go early or late as the mid-day sun and heat can be intense. Tour guide makes for easier navigation, but can be enjoyed with your own research and resources.

**Quick Review of the Temple of Karnak** Visited the Temple of Karnak and was absolutely floored! This sprawling complex is a testament to the architectural genius of the ancient Egyptians. Walking through the forest of towering columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall felt like stepping back in time. The intricate hieroglyphs that adorn the walls are a history buff's dream and provide an endless canvas of stories. The sheer scale of everything is mind-boggling—every corner you turn unveils another statue, obelisk, or shrine that is grander than the last. Despite the buzz of tourists, the site retains an air of the mystical, particularly as the sun begins to cast long shadows in the late afternoon. A tip for future visitors: hire a guide....Highly recommend Ahmed Emam (Mostafa at Full Moon House booked him for me.) Having someone who can bring the history to life adds an invaluable layer to the experience. And don't rush it—Karnak deserves a slow and thorough exploration to truly appreciate its majesty. The Temple of Karnak isn’t just a site to visit; it's an ancient world to immerse yourself in. Absolutely unmissable!

We went there at the time when it was the start of the tourist season and there were crowds of tourists from all over the world here. Architecture was easily close to 4000 years old if not possibly older but many items were left intact. Egyptian skills and technology was spectacular with heaps of information engraved on the pillars and walls. There were over 134 pillars and they have stood the test of time well. This UNESCO site is well worth coming and is highly recommended.

Of the two temples (Karnak and Luxor), Karnak Temple is by far the most beautiful and impressive. So if you can only see one, put your money on Karnak. If you want to see both temples, you can combine it with a leisurely 3 km walk on a direct path flanked by plenty of sphinxes between the two temples. 1) Start at Karnak Temple and spend as much time as you like here. 2) Find the sphinx-lined path between the two temples and start walking. 3) Halfway through, you'll be stopped and need to purchase a ticket for Luxor Temple. 4) Continue to Luxor Temple and quickly explore it. 5) Bring water and a sun hat if you're walking during the hottest hours of the day.

My wife and I took a tour of Egypt this past December. The Temple of Karnak was the last of the temples we visited in our cruise of the Nile River from Luxor to Aswan and back. I can see why it was scheduled as the final temple complex on our tour because it is the largest and most spectacular. The site is 247 acres and is the largest religious site in the world. It contains an Avenue of Sphinxes at its entrance, three obelisks, and an area of highly decorated columns. It was very impressive, out flanking all the other sites except maybe Abu Simbel, because Abu Simbel was a massive project to move from a lower location to a higher location to escape flooding from the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Karnak is a must visit location on any tour of the Nile River in Egypt.

After Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Karnak is the world's second largest temple complex. It hosts multiple temples and on top of that, it is connected to the Luxor Temple via the Avenue of the Sphinxes. That alone is just one full day of exploration, so get out there and check the temples of Luxor out! The Avenue of the Rams was interesting featuring different structures of the rams, and the obelisks inside the temple.

Spreaded across a vast area with amazing architecture and history. Our tour guide was enthusiastic about this place and had a lot of information to share. There are 134 pillars, 3 oblesiks, avenue of Sphinx, Sacred Lake, Ramses statue and many broken statues as well. There is artwork & carvings on many pillars and walls. Tour guide explained the meaning of many of those symbols and gave us ample time to walk around the place.

Stunning, and massive. We were there with a guide - a plus, because they give a lot of information which is helpful, but also a minus because most tours are only two hours or less, and this place deserves at least four hours. After the guided tour, I would have loved to come back on my own to just wander around and try to absorb it at a more leisurely pace. It was hot, but because of all the columns and walls it is possible to stay in the shade for much of the time. It's wonderful how well preserved the colours in the hieroglyphs are, because the ancient Egyptians used metal oxides as paints, which don't degrade with time. There were many tourists, but because of the size of the complex crowding was not usually an issue. We also went to the night show, which was interesting but a bit rushed. You walk through the temple in a group, as spotlights illuminate various parts of the temple. The show at the end required a bit of background in Egyptian history in order to properly understand what they were discussing. Overall, highly recommended.