On the west bank of the Nile, facing Luxor, Hatshepsut's funerary temple is set against the cliff of Deir el-Bahari. With its three superimposed terraces carved into the rock, this 15th-century BCE monument stands among the most singular architectures of ancient Égypte and testifies to the reign of one of the rare female pharaohs.

Why visit this temple

Hatshepsut's temple stands out for several rare characteristics in Pharaonic architecture:

• A terraced architecture that breaks with the classical layout of Egyptian temples and dialogues with the Theban cliff.
• An exceptional iconographic program, notably the expedition to the Land of Punt, a rare visual record of ancient Égypte's commercial exchanges.
• A singular historical figure, Hatshepsut having reigned as a full pharaoh, represented with the masculine attributes of power.
• A remarkable geographical setting, at the foot of the cliffs that shelter the Valley of the Kings, on the territory of the ancient Theban necropolis.

History of the temple and the queen

Hatshepsut, daughter of pharaoh Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose, ascended the throne in the early 15th century BCE. Regent and then pharaoh in her own right, she consolidated her power by crushing a Nubian rebellion, maintaining stable diplomatic relations with neighboring kingdoms, and launching a vast construction program in Thebes.

The funerary temple she commissioned at the Deir el-Bahari complex served a dual purpose: to celebrate her reign and affirm her divine affiliation with Amun-Ra. Designed by the architect Senenmut, the edifice rises on three superimposed terraces, each carrying a message:

• The first level recounts the life and exploits of the queen.
• The second level presents the theogamy: Amun-Ra unites with Queen Ahmose, giving birth to Hatshepsut, thus legitimizing her divine descent.
• The third level houses the sanctuary where the queen is worshipped as a deity.

After her death, her successor Thutmose III had portions of her cartouches and representations chiseled away—a damnatio memoriae whose traces remain visible today.

What to see on the site

The first terrace and the colonnade

A long avenue leads to the foot of the temple. At the back of the first level, a colonnade shelters hieroglyphic reliefs. With a guide or thorough documentation, one identifies the queen in the form of a sphinx trampling her enemies, and the account of the construction of the obelisks of Karnak that she had erected.

The second terrace: Punt and theogamy

The portico of the second terrace contains two major narrative sequences. The first, called the "divine birth," exposes how Amun-Ra took on the appearance of Thutmose I to unite with Queen Ahmose, conferring upon Hatshepsut a sacred origin. The second recounts the expedition sent by the queen to the Land of Punt (likely located on the Horn of Africa, toward present-day Somalia or Eritrea). The reliefs detail the cargo brought back: incense, ivory, gold, ebony, as well as exotic animals including a lion and a giraffe.

The chapels of Hathor and Anubis

To the left of the second level, a staircase leads to three chambers carved into the rock, dedicated to the goddess Hathor. The columns are topped with Hathor capitals, bearing the effigy of the goddess of fertility. Another chapel, dedicated to Anubis, completes this cultic ensemble.

The third terrace and the sanctuary of Amun

At the summit, a series of statues represents the queen wearing the double crown and holding the four scepters of the kingdom. All face eastward. Behind them, an inner court opens onto three doors: to the left the sanctuary of Hatshepsut, to the right the open-air solar altar, in the center the sanctuary of Amun, the spiritual heart of the temple, carved into the cliff.

Practical information

• Duration of visit: allow 1.5 to 2 hours to explore the entire temple at a leisurely pace.
• Ticketing: a separate ticket is required for the site. It may be included in certain combination passes covering several monuments on the west bank.
• Hours: open daily, with extended hours in high season. Check official hours before your visit, as they vary by season.
• Advice: bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and water. Shade is rare on the terraces. A guide or audioguide greatly enhances the visit, as the iconography is dense and coded.
• Photography: permitted outside; a supplement may be charged for certain interiors.

When to visit

Luxor experiences a hot desert climate. The period from October to April offers more bearable temperatures, with sunny days and cool nights. From May to September, temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, making a midday visit challenging. Regardless of season, favor visiting when the site opens early in the morning to avoid both the heat and the large groups that arrive mid-morning.

How to get there

The temple is located on the west bank of the Nile, about ten kilometers from the center of Luxor. Several options:

• Organized excursion: the most common formula, combining the temple with the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon in a half-day.
• Taxi for the day: flexible option from Luxor, to be negotiated in advance, practical for visiting multiple west bank sites.
• Ferry crossing from the east bank, then taxi or local minibus to the site.

What to see nearby

The west bank concentrates several major funerary and cultic complexes, accessible within the same day:

• The Valley of the Kings, a few minutes' drive away, notably including the tomb of pharaoh Horemheb.
• The Colossi of Memnon, two monumental statues on the access route.
• The temple of Medinet Habu, dedicated to Ramesses III, remarkable for its military reliefs.

Further south, traveling up the Nile, one reaches other major complexes such as the temple of Edfu, the temple of Kom Ombo, the temples of Aswan, and the temples of Abu Simbel.

Frequently asked questions

Including the temple in a trip to Égypte

Hatshepsut's temple features in most itineraries combining Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, and a Nile cruise toward Aswan. To build a coherent stay around the Pharaonic sites of Upper Égypte, consult our suggestions for travel in Égypte.