Luxor day trip from Cairo: Hot air balloon, temples & Nile sail

Luxor's temples and tombs in a single day, starting from the air at dawn

A private day trip from Cairo to Luxor combines a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the West Bank with guided visits to five major temples and the Valley of the Kings, plus a felucca sail on the Nile at sunset. The itinerary includes round-trip domestic flights, overnight hotel stay, breakfast, lunch, an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, and all ground transport. The balloon ride is subject to weather and aviation authority approval. If canceled due to unsafe conditions, a refund for that portion is provided.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valley of the Kings1h
2. Temple of Hatshepsut1h
3. Medinet Habu1h
4. Colossi of Memnon30m
5. Karnak Temple2h
6. Luxor Temple1h

Flight to Luxor and balloon ride

• Pick-up from Cairo hotel
• Flight from Cairo to Luxor
• Relax at Luxor hotel
• Breakfast box prepared for balloon
• Sunrise hot air balloon ride
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Visit Medinet Habu temple
• See Colossi of Memnon and lunch
• Felucca sail on Nile to Karnak
• Tour Karnak Temple
• Felucca sail to Luxor Temple at sunset
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Transfer to Luxor airport
• Flight from Luxor to Cairo
• Transfer to Cairo hotel

The experience

The day starts before dawn. A driver picks you up from your Cairo hotel around 4 p.m., takes you to Cairo International Airport for the one-hour flight to Luxor, and checks you into a three-star hotel. You rest until 4 or 5 a.m., when the balloon crew arrives with a breakfast box. Then you climb into the basket for a sunrise flight over Luxor's ancient sites: the Valley of the Kings, temples, and riverbanks spread below you as the light changes.

After landing, the West Bank unfolds in sequence. You walk through the Valley of the Kings to see the tombs of Merneptah, Ramesses III, and Ramesses VI. Next is the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, built for Egypt's only female pharaoh. Then Medinet Habu, where Ramses III's burial temple stands with a 63-meter-wide entrance carved with the pharaoh himself. At the Colossi of Memnon (two massive statues from Amenhotep III's temple). You stop for lunch at a local restaurant.

The afternoon shifts to the Nile. A traditional felucca sailing boat carries you downstream for 30 to 45 minutes toward Karnak Temple, where your Egyptologist guide walks you through one of the world's largest temple complexes and explains the 5,000-year-old pharaonic civilization. You sail again at sunset for another 30 to 45 minutes to Luxor Temple, built by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II. After sunset on the water, you're driven to Luxor International Airport for the one-hour flight back to Cairo, where a driver returns you to your hotel.

What’s included

• Round-trip flights from Cairo to Luxor and back.
• private air-conditioned vehicle transport from your hotel to the airport and throughout Luxor.
• one night at a three-star hotel with breakfast.
• sunrise hot air balloon ride over the West Bank.
• guided visits to the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple with a professional Egyptologist guide.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• two felucca sailing rides on the Nile.
• all service charges and taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

With English Guide15:00Pickup is included

With a guide in another languageGuide in Spanish, French or German · 15:00Pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (6 to 60 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Nice tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to cover both Luxor's east and west banks in one day with a private Egyptologist guide, plus experience a sunrise balloon ride over the temples: the itinerary combines ground exploration with aerial views that show the scale of the monuments.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

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's included in this day trip from Cairo to Luxor?

Round-trip domestic flights, hotel accommodation with breakfast, lunch at a restaurant, sunrise hot air balloon ride, felucca sailing on the Nile, a private English-speaking Egyptologist guide, all ground transport by air-conditioned vehicle, and entry to the sites are included. Entrance fees to the historical sites are not.

How does the hot air balloon ride work if the weather is bad?

The sunrise balloon ride is subject to weather conditions and aviation authority approval. If unsafe weather forces a cancellation, the authorities make that decision and a refund for the balloon portion is provided.

What happens during the felucca sail on the Nile?

You board a traditional sailing boat for two separate rides: one in the afternoon heading toward Karnak Temple (30 to 45 minutes) and one at sunset heading to Luxor Temple (30 to 45 minutes), to see the riverbanks and temples from the water while you relax with a drink.

When does the day start and end?

Hotel pickup in Cairo is around 4 p.m. for the flight to Luxor. You rest at the hotel until the balloon crew arrives at 4 or 5 a.m. the next morning. After the sunset sail and visit to Luxor Temple, you fly back to Cairo and return to your hotel late that evening.

Is this tour suitable for families with young children?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though the early balloon departure and full day of walking should be considered when planning with very young children.