Luxor 2-day tour: Valley of the Kings & hot air balloon

Valley of the Kings, a hot air balloon at sunrise, a felucca on the Nile, and Karnak Temple in two days

A 2-day guided tour from Cairo to Luxor with flights, hotel and an Egyptology guide in English or five other languages. Day one covers the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and a sunset felucca ride; day two begins with a hot air balloon flight over Luxor's West Bank, followed by Karnak Temple before your return flight to Cairo. Hotel pickup and drop-off, breakfast, soft drinks and all taxes are included; entrance fees to the sites are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Luxor's West Bank and felucca ride

• Pick up from hotel in Cairo
• Drive to Cairo airport
• Fly from Cairo to Luxor
• Meet Egyptology guide at Luxor airport
• Drive to Nile and take motor boat to West Bank
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Carter House and Tutankhamun exhibits
• Visit Queen Hatshepsut Temple
• See the two giant statues of Memnon
• Take motor boat back to East Bank
• Check in at hotel
• Enjoy felucca ride before sunset
• Overnight at Lotus Hotel

Day 2 — Hot air balloon and Karnak Temple visit

• Pick up from hotel in Luxor
• Transfer to West Bank for hot air balloon ride
• Enjoy hot air balloon flight over Luxor
• Return to hotel for breakfast
• Visit Karnak Temple with guide
• Drive to Luxor airport
• Fly from Luxor to Cairo
• Drive back to hotel in Cairo

The Experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup in Cairo and a flight to Luxor, where your guide meets you at the airport. From there you drive to the Nile's west bank by motorboat to reach the Valley of the Kings—the burial ground where pharaohs hid their tombs and mummies. Your guide walks you through the site and explains what you're standing in front of: the mystery of how these chambers were carved and hidden. You'll also visit Carter House, where the archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun's tomb kept his tools and notes, and see a model of the tomb itself. The day continues to Hatshepsut Temple, the monument built by Egypt's first female pharaoh, where you can see the scale and detail of what was the largest temple in the world at the time. Before sunset, you take a motorboat back to the east bank and check into your hotel.

That evening, before dark, you have a traditional felucca sailing on the Nile—a wooden sailboat ride that moves with the current and wind, not an engine. It's the way people have traveled this stretch of river for centuries. After the sail, you return to your hotel for the night.

Day two starts early. Your guide picks you up and takes you to the west bank for the hot air balloon flight. You'll rise into the sky over Luxor's open-air museum—the temples, tombs and monuments spread across the desert floor below. After landing, you have soft drinks and breakfast, then drive to Karnak Temple, the largest temple in the world by area. Your guide explains the history and architecture as you walk through the complex. By afternoon, you're driven back to Luxor airport for the flight to Cairo, then transferred to your hotel.

What’s included

• Round-trip flights from Cairo to Luxor.
• one night hotel accommodation.
• hot air balloon flight over the West Bank.
• traditional felucca sailing on the Nile at sunset.
• Egyptology guide throughout the tour.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo and Luxor by air-conditioned transport.
• breakfast on day two.
• soft drinks and bottled water.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mody Egypt Tours

Is this one for you?The early start on day two for the balloon flight and the moderate walking at three temple sites mean this tour moves at a steady pace—book it if you're comfortable with an active schedule and don't mind rising before dawn for the highlight flight. The two-day length also means you're not rushing: each site gets time to sink in, and the overnight hotel stay lets you rest between the major days instead of doing it all in a single push from Cairo.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Valley of the Kings and what will I see there?

The Valley of the Kings is the burial ground where pharaohs were entombed, hidden in chambers carved into the desert rock. You'll walk through the valley with your Egyptology guide, who explains the tombs, the mummies and the story of how they were discovered—including the famous tomb of Tutankhamun found by archaeologist Howard Carter.

Is the hot air balloon ride safe, and what if the weather doesn't cooperate?

The hot air balloon trip is included in the tour and operates weather permitting. If bad weather cancels the flight, you'll receive a refund of $30 per person. Children under 6 years old are not permitted on the balloon; older children and adults of all fitness levels can participate.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour includes moderate walking at the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Karnak Temple, where you'll move through the sites with your guide. The pace is set by the group, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Motorboat transfers handle movement between the east and west banks of the Nile.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay separately?

The tour includes flights from Cairo to Luxor and back, one night's hotel accommodation, all ground transfers, the Egyptology guide, the hot air balloon ride, the felucca sailing, breakfast, soft drinks, water and all taxes and fees. Entrance fees to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Karnak Temple are not included and are paid separately at each site.

Will I have a guide who speaks my language?

Yes. Your Egyptology guide speaks English, Portuguese, Italian, French and five additional languages. You'll confirm your language preference when you book.

What time do I need to be ready on each day?

Day one begins with hotel pickup in Cairo for your morning flight to Luxor. Day two starts early for the hot air balloon flight at sunrise, so your guide will collect you from the hotel before dawn. Exact pickup times are confirmed when you book based on flight schedules.