Running along the Corniche path in Luxor, with the Nile River on one side and views to the Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple on the other, makes for a unique and memorable run. A palm-lined waterfront path runs along the river for 3.8 km from the Luxor Temple to the Karnak Temple. There are views of the Nile, as you pass entrance to the Luxor Temple, and then run by the Mummification Museum and Luxor Museum, to the Karnak Temple entrance. It’s 7.6 km out and back. Near sunset, there’s a cacophony of birds along the Corniche.
Pro Tip: The Luxor Temple is beautifully lit at night. It’s quieter, and could be quite magical for a run!
Sphinx Allee. CC 4.0: Djehouty
Alternative Return: Sphinx Allee. The Temple complexes are massive. If you’ve paid admission, you might be able to run around the outskirts of the Temple Grounds, and then along Sphinx Allee, which connects the Karnak & Luxor temples. This ancient road made of massive stones and lined with sphinxes is wide and runnable – but note the tough surface. There’s also Al Oksor Rd. paralleling Sphinx Allee, east of the Temple of Ramesses II, that has a decent sidewalk. It’s a good alternative to view the Temples if you haven’t paid admission, or after hours. You can use this to make a loop — Corniche one-way, and then return via this road. See the route map!
Running along the Corniche path in Luxor, with the Nile River on one side and views to the Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple on the other, makes for a unique and memorable run. A palm-lined waterfront path runs along the river for 3.8 km from the Luxor Temple to the Karnak Temple. There are views of the Nile, as you pass entrance to the Luxor Temple, and then run by the Mummification Museum and Luxor Museum, to the Karnak Temple entrance. It’s 7.6 km out and back. Near sunset, there’s a cacophony of birds along the Corniche.
Pro Tip: The Luxor Temple is beautifully lit at night. It’s quieter, and could be quite magical for a run!
Sphinx Allee. CC 4.0: Djehouty
Alternative Return: Sphinx Allee. The Temple complexes are massive. If you’ve paid admission, you might be able to run around the outskirts of the Temple Grounds, and then along Sphinx Allee, which connects the Karnak & Luxor temples. This ancient road made of massive stones and lined with sphinxes is wide and runnable – but note the tough surface. There’s also Al Oksor Rd. paralleling Sphinx Allee, east of the Temple of Ramesses II, that has a decent sidewalk. It’s a good alternative to view the Temples if you haven’t paid admission, or after hours. You can use this to make a loop — Corniche one-way, and then return via this road. See the route map!
As an alternative to the Corniche, one can run from the hotel zone along Luxor Bridge Rd. to Kings Island, (Jazirat Al Awamiyyah), which has a some nice paths around green, nicely manicured grounds of the Jolie Ville Resort. Some waterfront roads form a looped return.
The area around the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens on the west side of the Nile River is expansive. It's possible to run on some of the roads leading to and connecting these sites, and it can be spectacular. Best to go early -- the sites themselves open at 6am!
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