Thing to do
Deir el-Medina
The West Bank village where the craftsmen who built the royal tombs lived, with their own painted tombs and a small Ptolemaic temple to Hathor.
Avenue of Sphinxes
The 2.7-kilometre ancient processional road lined with sphinxes that links Luxor Temple with Karnak, excavated and reopened in 2021 as a walking route.
At a glance
- Type
- Ancient processional avenue and walk
- Area
- East Bank, Luxor Temple to Karnak, Luxor, Egypt
Good to know
- Walkable route
- Links two temples
Why we recommend it
The Avenue of Sphinxes, also known as the Rams Road or Tariq al-Kebash, is the ancient processional way that joined Luxor Temple to Karnak. It runs for about 2.7 kilometres in a straight line through the modern town, and after decades of excavation and clearance it was formally reopened on 25 November 2021 with a large public ceremony, complete with a parade and three golden model boats representing the gods Amun-Ra, Mut and Khonsu.
The avenue was begun in the New Kingdom and completed under Nectanebo I of the Thirtieth Dynasty, who ruled from 380 to 362 BC. In all it held around 1,057 statues, of which 807 are sphinxes, and around 250 have the heads of rams, the sacred animal of Amun. Many are weathered or broken, but long runs of statues survive on their bases, and walking between them gives a real sense of the scale of the ancient city of Thebes.
Its purpose was ceremonial. During the great festivals the cult images of the gods travelled between the two temples, and the avenue was the route for their procession. Today it gives visitors something the individual temples cannot: a feel for how the monuments of the East Bank were once tied together into a single sacred landscape.
The most popular section to see is the stretch directly in front of Luxor Temple, which you can view as part of a temple visit. Walking further towards Karnak is a good way to understand the route, but the full length is long and exposed, so choose your time carefully. Early morning and the evening are the most comfortable times. Wear a hat, carry water and allow an hour or more if you plan to follow a long stretch on foot.
The avenue suits independent travellers and families who enjoy walking and want a break from guided tours inside temples. It connects naturally with a morning at Karnak and an evening at Luxor Temple, and the souq and the cafés around Luxor Temple are close to its southern end for a drink afterwards. Access arrangements for different sections can change, so ask locally which parts are open on the day of your visit.
Avenue of Sphinxes FAQs
What is the Avenue of Sphinxes?
An ancient processional road linking Luxor Temple and Karnak, about 2.7 kilometres long.
When did it reopen?
It was formally reopened on 25 November 2021 with a parade and ceremony.
How many statues lined the avenue?
Around 1,057 statues, including 807 sphinxes; about 250 have ram heads.
Who completed it?
It was begun in the New Kingdom and completed under Nectanebo I (380 to 362 BC).
Can you walk the whole avenue?
Long sections can be walked, but it is exposed to the sun; ask locally which parts are open.
When is the best time to visit?
Early morning or in the evening, when it is cooler.
Where does it start?
At Luxor Temple in the town centre, heading north towards Karnak.