Full-Day Luxor Tour from Soma Bay: Valley of the Kings & Karnak

Four hours each way to stand inside three royal tombs and walk Karnak's open-air museum

A full-day private guided tour from Soma Bay to Luxor combines the West Bank's Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon with the East Bank's Karnak Temple, one of the world's greatest open-air museums. Your entry ticket to Valley of the Kings grants access to three tombs on rotation. You choose which ones to explore. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch at a local restaurant, and an English-speaking guide who meets you in Luxor. Travel time is approximately four hours each direction.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valley of the Kings2h · entry included
2. Temple of Hatshepsut1h 30m · entry included
3. Colossi of Memnon30m

Full-day Luxor private guided tour

• Meet driver at hotel reception
• Travel to Luxor by private vehicle
• Visit three tombs in Valley of the Kings
• Explore Hatshepsut Temple with guide
• Stop at Colossi of Memnon
• Tour Karnak Temple with guide
• Return to Soma Bay hotel

The experience

The day starts before dawn when your driver collects you from your Soma Bay hotel for the four-hour drive to Luxor. Once you arrive, your private guide meets you and takes you straight to Valley of the Kings. Your ticket opens three tombs. The tombs rotate which ones are accessible, so you and your guide pick the three you want to enter. This is the heart of the West Bank: the burial ground of pharaohs and nobles carved into the rock, and the choice of which tombs to visit is yours alone.

From Valley of the Kings you move to Hatshepsut Temple, the mortuary temple of the female pharaoh, where your guide helps you navigate the open colonnades and find the best vantage points. A quick stop at the Colossi of Memnon (two massive seated statues that mark the river crossing) comes next. Then you head to Karnak Temple on the East Bank, where your guide walks you through one of the world's greatest open-air museums: a sprawl of pylons, obelisks, and hypostyle halls built over centuries. Lunch happens at a local restaurant partway through the day.

The return journey to Soma Bay departs Luxor at 4:30 p.m., arriving back at your hotel around 8:30 p.m. The full day runs roughly thirteen and a half hours from pickup to drop-off. A tour permit is required and must be arranged 24 hours in advance. The operator will need a photo of your passport's photo page and your hotel room number, sent via WhatsApp at least 48 hours before travel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Soma Bay.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• English-speaking guide who meets you in Luxor.
• general entry to Valley of the Kings with access to three tombs of your choice.
• general entry to Hatshepsut Temple.
• general entry to Karnak Temple.
• lunch at a local restaurant.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 37 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by 123 Taxi & Tours Hurghada

Is this one for you?The thirteen-and-a-half-hour commitment, four hours driving each way, means this tour fills your entire day and leaves no time for other activities in Soma Bay or Luxor. Book this if you're willing to spend a full day traveling and exploring, or if you have a free day with nothing else planned.

Top questions

What exactly do I see inside Valley of the Kings?

Valley of the Kings is the burial ground of pharaohs and nobles carved into the mountainside on Luxor's West Bank. Your entry ticket grants access to three tombs on rotation. You and your guide choose which three you want to explore. The tombs are underground chambers decorated with hieroglyphics and paintings, and the rotation system means different tombs are open on different days.

How much walking is involved across the whole day?

Expect moderate walking at each site: Valley of the Kings involves descending into tombs and walking between entrances; Hatshepsut Temple has open colonnades and ramps to climb; Karnak Temple is a large complex with multiple structures spread across the grounds. The Colossi of Memnon is a brief stop. Comfortable shoes and sun protection are essential.

What's the difference between the West Bank and East Bank sites?

The West Bank holds the tombs and mortuary temples: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. The East Bank is home to Karnak Temple, a vast open-air complex of temples and monuments built over centuries. Your guide takes you to both sides in a single day.

Do I need any documents before booking this tour?

A tour permit is required and must be arranged 24 hours in advance. You'll need to send the operator a photo of your passport's photo page and your hotel room number via WhatsApp at least 48 hours before your travel date. Confirm a WhatsApp number with the operator so they can contact you easily.