Luxor Day Tour: Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut

Four ancient temples and royal tombs in a single day across the Nile Valley

A full-day tour from Marsa Alam to Luxor combines four of Egypt's most celebrated archaeological sites (Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon) with a professional Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup and lunch. The 15-hour itinerary crosses the Eastern Desert and the fertile Nile Valley in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle, with time to explore each site and photograph the monuments. You choose whether to add entrance tickets and select your guide's language (English, Italian, French or German) at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Karnak Temple2h
2. Valley of the Kings2h
3. Temple of Hatshepsut1h 30m
4. Colossi of Memnon30m

Full-day tour from Marsa Alam to Luxor

• Hotel pick-up in Marsa Alam
• Drive through Eastern Desert and Nile Valley
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Cross to West Bank of Luxor
• Explore Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• Photograph Colossi of Memnon
• Enjoy lunch at local restaurant
• Return drive to Marsa Alam
• Hotel drop-off in Marsa Alam

The experience

The day starts with an early pickup from your Marsa Alam hotel and a drive through Egypt's Eastern Desert into the Nile Valley. Your Egyptologist guide travels with you and begins sharing the history of the pharaohs and temples as you approach Luxor. Karnak Temple, the largest temple complex ever built, comes first: massive columns, intricate hieroglyphs and sacred lakes fill the site, and your guide explains the rituals and worship that took place there for centuries. From Karnak, you walk the Avenue of Sphinxes to Luxor Temple, where grand statues and obelisks frame the riverbank.

After lunch at a local restaurant serving authentic Egyptian cuisine, you cross to the West Bank and enter the Valley of the Kings. The tombs of pharaohs including Tutankhamun are carved deep into the desert cliffs, and your guide walks you through the symbolism, construction and treasures that once lay buried here. Next is the Temple of Hatshepsut, a terraced masterpiece built into towering limestone cliffs: one of the most visually striking monuments in Egypt. On the return journey, you stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two monumental statues that have stood guard over the Theban plain for over 3,400 years and make for a memorable final photograph before heading back to Marsa Alam.

The tour runs 15 hours total, with the drive accounting for several of those. Bottled water is provided throughout, and the air-conditioned vehicle means you're not exposed to the desert heat during the long stretches between sites. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marsa Alam are included, so you don't arrange separate transport to the meeting point.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marsa Alam.
• professional Egyptologist guide in your chosen language.
• modern, air-conditioned transport.
• authentic Egyptian lunch at a local restaurant.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• entrance tickets (if selected at checkout).

Options for this experience

4 options

Car, English Guide, Lunch5 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 07:00Entrance tickets not included; pickup is included

Car and guide with a different languageGuide in French, German or Italian · 5 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 07:00Car and guide in a different language; includes pickup

Car, English Guide, Ticket5 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 07:00English-language tour; pickup is included

Car, Guide, Tickets, LunchGuide in French, German or Italian · 5 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 07:00German, Italian or French tour; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 07:00

Book up to4h before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 32 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Infinite Egypt Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're traveling from Marsa Alam and want to see Luxor's major temples and tombs in one day with an Egyptologist guide. Choose a multi-day Luxor trip instead if you prefer a slower pace or deeper time at each site.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What's inside Karnak Temple that makes it the largest temple complex ever built?

Karnak Temple spans a vast area filled with massive columns, intricate hieroglyphs carved into stone, and sacred lakes where ancient priests performed rituals. Your guide explains how different pharaohs added to the complex over centuries, each leaving their mark on the architecture and inscriptions.

Can I actually enter the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, or do I just see the entrances?

You enter the tombs carved into the desert cliffs. Your guide leads you inside to see the burial chambers and the hieroglyphic inscriptions and artwork on the walls, explaining the symbolism and what treasures like Tutankhamun's once lay within.

How long is the drive from Marsa Alam to Luxor, and what's the route like?

The drive takes several hours each way through Egypt's Eastern Desert and the Nile Valley. You travel in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle, so the journey is comfortable, and your guide uses the time to share stories about the landscape and the history you're heading toward.

Is the Temple of Hatshepsut different from the other temples on this tour?

Yes, Hatshepsut's temple is built in terraces that rise dramatically against limestone cliffs, making it visually distinct from the sprawling Karnak and Luxor temples. It's a masterpiece of ancient architecture and one of the most photographed monuments in Egypt.

Does the tour include entrance tickets to all the sites, or do I buy those separately?

Entrance tickets are optional at checkout. You can add them to your booking or arrange them separately. If you include them, they cover entry to Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and access to photograph the Colossi of Memnon.