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

The Colossi of Memnon stand 60 feet high on the west bank, guarding what was once Egypt's largest mortuary temple.

A full-day private tour from Hurghada to Luxor takes you across the desert to four major ancient sites: the Valley of the Kings, where over 60 rock-cut pharaonic tombs line an arid valley; Queen Hatshepsut's multi-tiered mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari; the 18-meter Colossi of Memnon; and Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex in the ancient world. A live guide leads the route, and hotel pickup from Hurghada is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valley of the Kings3h
2. Temple of Hatshepsut1h
3. Colossi of Memnon30m
4. Luxor Temple2h

Explore Luxor's ancient wonders

• Travel from Hurghada to Luxor
• Visit the Valley of the Kings
• Explore Hatshepsut's Temple
• See the Colossi of Memnon
• Tour Luxor Temple
• Discover Karnak Temple Complex
• Return to Hurghada

The experience

The tour leaves your Hurghada hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle and covers roughly 280 kilometers round-trip to reach Luxor on the Nile. The 10-hour day is built around the west bank's necropolis (the burial ground of pharaohs and nobles from the 18th to 20th Dynasties), where the Valley of the Kings holds over 60 rock-cut tombs, including Tutankhamun's. You walk among these decorated chambers to see the reliefs and hieroglyphics that depict funerary rituals and beliefs about the afterlife, all designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

From the valley floor, you move to Queen Hatshepsut's Temple at Deir el-Bahari, a mortuary sanctuary built into the cliff face with three terraced levels that rise against the natural stone. Nearby stand the Colossi of Memnon, two seated statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III carved around 1350 BCE, each weighing 720 tons and standing 18 meters high. These figures once guarded the entrance to Amenhotep III's temple, the largest in the Theban Necropolis, and they face east toward the rising sun.

The tour crosses back to the east bank to visit Luxor Temple, built by Amenhotep III and expanded by Ramesses II, and Karnak Temple, a vast complex of sanctuaries, pylons, and chapels that evolved over two millennia. Karnak was dedicated to the Theban Triad (Amun, Mut, and Khonsu), and remains the largest ancient religious site in the world. Bottled water is provided throughout the day, and your guide delivers commentary in English, French, or Arabic.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transportation from your hotel in Hurghada.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• pickup and drop-off service.
• live guide commentary in English, French, or Arabic.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt Travel Planning

Is this one for you?Choose the language your guide speaks (English, French, or Arabic) when you book, so the commentary on each site flows in the language you understand. The private vehicle means you travel at your own pace without waiting for other groups, and the 10-hour span fits all four major sites into a single day from the Red Sea coast.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

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

The Valley of the Kings, on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor, served as the primary burial ground for pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom from approximately 1539 to 1075 BCE. Over 60 known rock-cut tombs line the arid valley, decorated with hieroglyphics and scenes of ancient Egyptian mythology and funerary beliefs, and the site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

How tall are the Colossi of Memnon and what did they originally guard?

The Colossi of Memnon are two massive seated statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, each standing approximately 18 meters (60 feet) high and weighing around 720 tons. They once guarded the entrance to Amenhotep III's mortuary temple, which was the largest temple in the Theban Necropolis, and they face eastward toward the rising sun.

What makes Hatshepsut's Temple architecturally distinctive?

Hatshepsut's Temple, also called Djeser-Djeseru or "Holy of Holies," features a unique multi-tiered, terraced design that blends into the natural cliffs at Deir el-Bahari on the west bank. Built by one of ancient Egypt's most powerful female pharaohs and designed by her steward Senenmut, its harmonious integration with the landscape sets it apart from other mortuary temples.

Is Karnak Temple a single building or a complex?

Karnak Temple is not a single temple but a vast complex of sanctuaries, chapels, pylons, and other buildings that evolved over two millennia. Located on the east bank of the Nile in Luxor, it is the largest ancient religious site in the world and was dedicated primarily to the Theban Triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu, though many pharaohs added structures to it.

What is included in the tour from Hurghada?

The tour includes private air-conditioned transportation from your Hurghada hotel, bottled water throughout the day, and a live guide who speaks English, French, or Arabic. Hotel pickup and drop-off are part of the booking.