2-day Luxor tour from Hurghada: Valley of the Kings and Karnak

Karnak is the largest temple complex ever built, and you walk through it on day two.

A 2-day guided tour from Hurghada to Luxor that covers the major New Kingdom sites: Valley of the Kings, where you enter three tombs including one carved 120 meters deep into the rock; Hatshepsut Temple, built by Egypt's only female pharaoh; the Colossi of Memnon, two 18-meter statues that once guarded a royal mortuary temple; Luxor Temple, which shares an obelisk twin with the one in Paris; and Karnak Temple, the largest temple complex in human history. You stay one night in a 4-star hotel on the Nile's East Bank, with all transport, meals and site entry arranged.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Luxor and sightseeing

• Travel from Hurghada to Luxor
• Visit three tombs in Valley of the Kings
• Explore Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Memnon Colossi statues
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Overnight in 4-star hotel

Day 2: Visit Karnak Temple

• Tour Karnak Temple complex

The experience

The tour leaves Hurghada early on day one and drives to Luxor, where you spend the morning and afternoon visiting the West Bank sites. Valley of the Kings opens first. You walk into three separate tombs, each one different. One is fully decorated with an intact sarcophagus; another is unfinished and drops almost vertically 120 meters into the bedrock; the third is largely decorated but has no sarcophagus. After the tombs, you visit Hatshepsut Temple, the mortuary shrine of the female pharaoh who ruled Egypt for 23 years. The temple's colored reliefs show her divine birth and the Punt expedition, and chapels dedicated to the gods Anubis and Hathor still stand inside. The Colossi of Memnon come next: two massive statues of King Amenhotep III, each 18 meters tall, that once fronted his own mortuary temple and rank as Egypt's second-highest statues after those at Abu Simbel.

That evening you check into your 4-star hotel on the East Bank of the Nile. Day two is devoted to Karnak Temple, the sprawling complex that holds the record as the largest temple ever constructed. The site reveals stories carved into its walls about different kings and queens, the massive obelisks that were hauled into place (some weighing 320 tons), and the first peace treaty in recorded history, signed between Pharaoh Ramses II and the Hittite tribes. Before returning to Hurghada, you also visit Luxor Temple, which stands as Karnak's architectural twin and once held an obelisk that matches the one now standing in the Concorde in Paris.

All transport between Hurghada and Luxor happens in an air-conditioned vehicle, with lunch included on day one. Entry fees to every site are covered, and the itinerary is designed so that walking is manageable for most fitness levels. The tour itself is described as easy, and the sites are wheelchair accessible.

What’s included

• One night in a 4-star hotel on the East Bank of the Nile on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
• all transfers between Hurghada and Luxor in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• lunch on day one.
• entrance fees to Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple.
• a live guide in English, Italian, French or German.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 31 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Ashraf El Masry

Is this one for you?The two-day span is what makes a full West Bank and Karnak itinerary possible without rushing. You see three Valley of the Kings tombs, two major temples on the West Bank, and the sprawling Karnak complex on day two, with a night's rest in between rather than a same-day return drive to Hurghada.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly do I see inside the Valley of the Kings tombs?

Valley of the Kings holds the burial places of 62 pharaohs from the New Kingdom. You enter three separate tombs: one fully decorated with an intact sarcophagus, one unfinished that descends almost 120 meters straight down into the rock, and one largely decorated but without a sarcophagus. Each shows a different stage of royal burial practice and construction.

Is Karnak Temple really the largest temple complex in the world?

Karnak Temple is the largest temple complex ever known in human history. It covers an enormous area and contains obelisks, chapels, and walls carved with stories of different pharaohs and queens, including the record of the first peace treaty between Ramses II and the Hittites.

What's the connection between Luxor Temple and the obelisk in Paris?

Luxor Temple once held a pair of obelisks. One of them now stands in the Concorde in Paris, making it the architectural twin of the obelisk that remains at the temple in Egypt.

Can I visit the tomb of Tutankhamon or Seti I on this tour?

Entry to the tombs of Tutankhamon and Seti I is not included in the standard tour but is available as an optional add-on at checkout if you want to see them.

Is the tour accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, all areas and surfaces at the sites are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is designed as an easy walk suitable for all fitness levels. Specialized infant seats and prams are also available if needed.