2-Day Luxor Tour from Marsa Alam: Hot air balloon included

The Valley of the Kings holds royal tombs from multiple dynasties, their walls still painted after millennia.

A 2-day private tour from Marsa Alam to Luxor covers the city's four main temples (Karnak, Luxor Temple, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon) plus the Valley of the Kings, with a night in a 4-star hotel, an Egyptologist guide in your chosen language, meals, and a hot air balloon ride. Pickup from your Marsa Alam hotel and return are included. Entry fees are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tour to Luxor East Bank

• Visit Karnak Temple complex
• Explore Luxor Temple
• Lunch on island with boat trip
• Check in 5-star hotel
• Attend Sound and Light Show at Karnak
• Overnight at hotel

Day 2: Tour to Luxor West Bank

• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Explore Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Lunch at Nile view restaurant
• Drive back to hotel in Hurghada

The experience

The tour leaves Marsa Alam and heads inland to Luxor, where the first day focuses on the East Bank temples. Karnak Temple sprawls across 247 acres and has stood as one of the largest religious structures on earth for over 1,500 years. You'll walk through its three main temples and the smaller enclosed and outer sanctuaries dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut and Khnsou. Luxor Temple, built around 1400 BCE under Pharaoh Amenhotep III, sits closer to the river and was known as "the southern sanctuary": a lunar-shaped structure that once hosted the opet festival. Lunch is served on an island with a boat trip included, then you check into a 4-star hotel in Luxor for the night.

The second day takes you across the Nile to the West Bank, where the Valley of the Kings contains 63 tombs carved into rock cliffs. The tombs belong to rulers from the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties (1570–1070 BC) and hold the remains of Rameses II, Amenhotep I, Hatshepsut and Tutankhamun, along with painted walls and burial treasures. UNESCO designated the valley a World Heritage Site in 1979. From there you visit Hatshepsut Temple, a three-level structure built in classical New Kingdom style with two central ramps connecting the levels, dedicated to the god Amun and to the legacy of Queen Hatshepsut. The tour ends at the Colossi of Memnon, two 60-foot quartzite sandstone statues weighing 720 tons each, carved to represent Pharaoh Amenhotep III and moved 700 kilometers from Cairo. Lunch at a Nile-view restaurant concludes the day before the drive back to Marsa Alam.

An optional Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple runs in the evening of day one, where the monuments are illuminated and the history of ancient Thebes is narrated by the colossal statues themselves. Your guide is a qualified Egyptologist who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or two other languages, and travels with the group throughout. The vehicle is air-conditioned. Bottled water and WiFi on board are provided each day, as are breakfast and two lunch meals.

What’s included

• Pickup and return transport from your Marsa Alam hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• one night at a 4-star hotel in Luxor.
• breakfast, two lunches and bottled water each day.
• WiFi on board.
• a qualified Egyptologist guide throughout the tour.
• a boat trip to the lunch island on day one.
• and the hot air balloon ride.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 09:00

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Etro tours

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or two other languages. Choose the one that fits your group when you book, so the commentary and historical details flow without translation delays.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included in the 2-day Luxor tour from Marsa Alam?

The tour includes one night at a 4-star hotel in Luxor, two lunches and breakfast, bottled water daily, WiFi, a qualified Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned transport, and pickup and return from your Marsa Alam hotel. Entry fees to the temples and Valley of the Kings are paid separately.

Can I do a hot air balloon ride on this tour?

A hot air balloon ride is part of the tour package and is included in the booking.

What is the Valley of the Kings and why is it significant?

The Valley of the Kings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing 63 royal tombs carved into rock cliffs on Luxor's West Bank. The tombs date from the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties (1570–1070 BC) and hold the remains of pharaohs including Rameses II, Amenhotep I, Hatshepsut and Tutankhamun, with walls still decorated in paint and filled with burial treasures.

How long has Karnak Temple stood, and what was it built for?

Karnak Temple was constructed 4,000 years ago on 247 acres and has been one of the largest religious structures on earth for over 1,500 years. It was built as the worship center of the Theban triad (the gods Amun, Mut and Khnsou), and contains three main temples plus several enclosed and outer temples.

Does the tour include the Sound and Light Show at Karnak?

The Sound and Light Show at Karnak is optional and runs in the evening of day one. During the show, the monuments are illuminated and the history of ancient Thebes is narrated by the colossal statues, showcasing the rise of Karnak Temple and the legacy of the pharaohs.