Run through ancient history
Discover the Egyptian Marathon in Luxor
The Egyptian Marathon, which will take place annual on January in Luxor City, is one of the oldest marathons in Africa and the Middle East.
The race organisers invite participants to “run with the pharaohs” along a course that boasts views of ancient ruins and temples. Luxor City is one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities, as shown by the race’s start and finish. Always welcoming athletes from all walks of life and introducing the historical landmarks of Egypt.
The race begins beneath the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which was erected in the 15th century BC and is considered a masterpiece of ancient architecture. In previous editions, the flat desert course circled around the Kolossi of Memnon, two gigantic stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who ruled Egypt during the Eighteenth Dynasty.
Athletes categorized under the Male, Female, Open, and Masters division categories can join any of the four courses:
- Marathon (AIMS measure)
- LuxorRun (22.289 km)
- Ramsis Run & Walk (12.336km)
- Hatshepsut Run & Walk (5 km)
The organizer also prepared unique special events for athletes belonging to specific groups: Inline Skate for runners who can compete in rollerblades and Wheelchair Race for athletes with special needs.
There are several historic places along the route. Runners will weave through the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Valley of Kings and the Valley of Queens, where pharaohs and their wives were buried. Then get a sense of the authentic Egyptian town that runs around Luxor’s West Bank.
The city of Habu, an archaeological region with various old ruins and temples, is one of the course’s highlights. The Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III is one of the most well-known in the region.
The Egyptian Marathon will be an incredible experience racing through ancient history, with so many old sites along the route.
The Egyptian Marathon has its own committee composed of designated tourism and sports officials in the region. To know more about the Egyptian Marathon and other official marathons hosted in Egypt, head to the event’s official website.
