# Esna Temple Day Trip from Luxor

- Destination: Luxor
- Duration: Half Day
- Price: from USD 56.25 per adult (prices are shown in USD, EUR and EGP at booking)
- Meeting point: Hotel lobby pickup in Luxor.
- Best for: History lovers and curious travelers
- Booking: online; "Reserve Now, Pay Later" is available (no online payment is needed to hold a booking)
- Page: https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/trips/esna-temple-day-trip-from-luxor
- Last updated: 2026-10-13

A recently uncovered temple south of Luxor with vividly painted ceilings, still being restored and rarely crowded.

Buried under the streets of modern Esna for centuries, the Temple of Khnum has only recently re-emerged from restoration — and its ceiling still carries some of the most vibrant original color found on any Egyptian temple, as if painted just decades ago rather than millennia.

On this day trip from Luxor, your guide drives you south along the Nile to Esna, where you'll walk into the temple's columned hall and see up close the reliefs and pigments that survived precisely because they were hidden under silt and sand for so long. Along the way, your guide fills in the story of how the temple was rediscovered and how the ongoing restoration is slowly bringing more of it back to light — a rare chance to see a site still being uncovered rather than one long since fully explored.

It's a great pick if you'd rather skip the heavier crowds of Karnak and the West Bank for a morning and spend it somewhere quieter, with a temple that feels almost freshly painted and a guide who can walk you through exactly what makes it so unusual.

## Highlights

- Vividly restored ceiling colors
- Recently uncovered site, still being restored

## What's included

- Private transportation with A/C
- Licensed guide and entrance fees

## What's not included

- Lunch and gratuities
- Photos & videos (not included in the price)

## Itinerary

1. Hotel pickup in Luxor: Pickup from your hotel lobby; your guide drives you south along the Nile to Esna in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
2. Temple of Khnum: Walk into the columned hall and see the reliefs and bright original colors up close, revealed by the recent restoration.
3. Return to Luxor: Drive back to your hotel.

## Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 3 days before the trip.

## Frequently asked questions

**Why is Esna special?**
The temple was buried under the town for centuries, and its restored ceiling shows some of the brightest original colors of any Egyptian temple.

**What is included?**
Private air-conditioned transportation, a licensed guide and entrance fees.

**Is lunch included?**
No. Lunch and gratuities are not included.

**Is it crowded?**
It is quieter than Karnak and the West Bank — a good choice for a calmer morning.

**Where does it start?**
With pickup from your hotel lobby in Luxor. The exact time is confirmed after booking.

**What is the cancellation policy?**
Free cancellation up to 3 days before the trip.