Luxor Private Day Trip: Valley of the Kings & Karnak Temple

Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Karnak's vast columns, and two 60-foot pharaoh statues in a single day from Cairo

A private guided day trip from Cairo to Luxor by domestic flight, visiting the Valley of the Kings on the west bank where pharaohs were buried, the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon guardian statues, and Karnak Temple on the east bank—the largest religious building ever constructed. Hotel pickup, lunch at a local restaurant, and return flights to Cairo are included; the tour runs 10 to 12 hours total.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Luxor private tour

• Fly from Cairo to Luxor
• Visit Karnak Temple on East bank
• Lunch at local restaurant in Luxor
• Visit Valley of the Kings on West bank
• Visit Hatshepsut Temple on West bank
• See Colossi of Memnon statues
• Fly back to Cairo

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Cairo hotel and a domestic flight to Luxor. Once you land, a private Egyptology guide meets you and a private air-conditioned vehicle takes you across the Nile to the west bank, where the Valley of the Kings sits carved into rock cliffs. For nearly 500 years, from the 16th to 11th century BC, pharaohs and nobles were buried in rock-cut tombs here—the guide walks you through the tombs and explains the burial practices and the journey the ancients believed awaited them in the afterlife.

From the valley, you move to the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, built during the Eighteenth Dynasty and considered a masterpiece of ancient architecture. Its terraced design rises against the cliff face. Nearby stand the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that once guarded the entrance to his mortuary temple; they have stood at the front of the ruins for millennia. You stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor before crossing back to the east bank to visit Karnak Temple, the largest religious building ever constructed. Built as a cult temple and dedicated to the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu, Karnak dates back to around 2055 BC and was known to ancient Egyptians as "most select of places." The guide explains the significance of each deity and the scale of construction that made this complex a center of religious life for over 2,000 years.

After Karnak, you return to Luxor airport for the flight back to Cairo and hotel drop-off. Bottled water is provided throughout the day, and the entire itinerary—flights, guide, vehicle, lunch and transfers—is arranged so you move between sites without managing logistics yourself.

What’s included

• Domestic flights from Cairo to Luxor and back.
• private qualified Egyptology guide speaking English.
• lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor.
• hotel pickup and return in Cairo.
• all transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• all taxes and service charges.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Go Tours Egypt

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want both banks in one day and prefer a private guide who can linger at temples that interest you most, rather than moving through sites on a fixed group schedule.

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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 a valley on the west bank of Luxor where rock-cut tombs were excavated for pharaohs and powerful nobles over nearly 500 years, from the 16th to 11th century BC. Your guide takes you inside the tombs to see the burial chambers and explains the ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife and the journey the pharaohs were meant to undertake.

How long does it take to get from Cairo to Luxor and back?

The domestic flight from Cairo to Luxor takes roughly 1 to 2 hours each way. Add hotel pickup and drop-off time in Cairo, and the full day runs 10 to 12 hours from start to finish.

What is Karnak Temple and why is it significant?

Karnak Temple is the largest religious building ever constructed, built as a cult temple and dedicated to the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. It dates back to around 2055 BC and was known to ancient Egyptians as "most select of places"—it was a center of religious life for over 2,000 years and contains vast columns, sanctuaries and courtyards that your guide will explain.

Who was Queen Hatshepsut and what makes her temple special?

Queen Hatshepsut ruled Egypt during the Eighteenth Dynasty. Her mortuary temple, built on the west bank of Luxor, is considered a masterpiece of ancient architecture because of its terraced design that rises dramatically against the cliff face, unlike the traditional temple layouts of her time.

What do the Colossi of Memnon represent?

The Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, each standing roughly 60 feet tall. They once stood at the entrance to his mortuary temple and were believed to guard the Valley of the Kings, the burial place of pharaohs, queens and nobles.

Is this tour private, and what does that mean for my day?

Yes, this is a private tour—you have your own guide and your own vehicle throughout the day, so the pace and the time spent at each site are set by your interests rather than a group schedule. The guide is a qualified Egyptologist who speaks English and can answer questions specific to what you want to learn.