2-Day Luxor Tour with Hot Air Balloon and Valley of the Kings

Rise over the Nile at sunrise, then walk through tombs and temples across two days

A 2-day guided tour of Luxor's East and West Bank monuments, including a 30–40 minute hot air balloon flight at dawn, three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. An English-speaking Egyptologist guide leads both days. Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport are included. Entrance fees to the temples and tombs are paid separately at each site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Luxor West Bank Tour

• Meet guide at hotel lobby
• Drive to West Bank
• Visit Valley of the Kings tombs
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Photo stop at Colossi of Memnon
• Return to hotel or Nile Cruise

Day 2: Hot Air Balloon and East Bank Tour

• Pick up for hot air balloon ride
• Hot air balloon flight over Luxor
• Return to hotel for breakfast
• Meet guide for Karnak Temple tour
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Return to hotel

The experience

Day one starts at your hotel around 8 am with a 30-minute drive to the West Bank. You'll enter the Valley of the Kings and visit three open tombs carved into the mountains by New Kingdom pharaohs. Your guide helps you choose which ones based on what's accessible that day. From there, you move to Hatshepsut Temple, the mortuary shrine of Egypt's only female pharaoh who ruled for 22 years, then stop for photos at the Colossi of Memnon (two massive statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III) before returning to your hotel.

Day two begins before sunrise. A representative picks you up at 5 am to take you by motorboat across the Nile to the balloon launch site. The captain briefs you on safety, then you float 30 to 40 minutes over Luxor's open-air monuments, seeing the temples and tombs from above. After landing, you're transferred back to your hotel for breakfast, then meet your guide around 8:30 am to visit Karnak Temple (the largest temple in the world, covering 60 acres), followed by Luxor Temple with its towering statues and obelisk. The tour ends with a return to your hotel.

An Egyptologist guide who speaks English accompanies you both days and provides context for what you're seeing. All transport between sites, your hotel and the balloon launch is handled by air-conditioned vehicle. You'll need to pay entrance fees to each temple and tomb when you arrive. These are not included in the tour price.

What’s included

• An English-speaking Egyptologist guide for both days.
• a 30–40 minute hot air balloon ride at dawn on day two.
• visits to three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple.
• all transport between sites and your hotel by air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 10:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt Lifetime Tours

Is this one for you?This tour is shared and led by a guide, so you follow a fixed schedule and travel with other guests. The early 5 am balloon departure on day two suits travelers who want to see Luxor from the air and don't mind an early start. If you prefer a later morning, ask whether the balloon time can shift based on availability when you book.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): 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 happens if the hot air balloon is cancelled due to weather?

If weather prevents the balloon flight, you receive a refund of $60 USD per adult or $50 USD per child. The rest of the tour (the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple) proceeds as scheduled.

What can I bring to photograph from the balloon?

You can use your cellphone to take photos during the balloon flight. Professional cameras are not allowed for security reasons.

What's included in the tour price and what do I pay separately?

The tour includes the Egyptologist guide, the hot air balloon ride, all transport by air-conditioned vehicle, and hotel pickup and drop-off. You pay entrance fees to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple separately at each site by card. Lunch, drinks and tips to the guide and driver are optional.

What time does the tour start each day?

Day one begins around 8 am at your hotel. Day two starts at 5 am for the balloon pickup, then you rejoin your guide around 8:30 am for the temple visits after breakfast.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility concerns?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. However, the Valley of the Kings involves walking through tombs, and the temples require standing and walking on uneven ground. The balloon flight itself is accessible once you reach the launch site.