Luxor Day Trip from Marsa Alam: Karnak & Valley of the Kings

Karnak Temple holds 134 columns. The Valley of the Kings holds 63 royal tombs you can enter and photograph.

A private full-day tour from Marsa Alam to Luxor with an Egyptologist guide, modern air-conditioned car, and lunch included. You visit Karnak Temple (the largest and oldest temple in Egypt), the Valley of the Kings where royal tombs retain their original colors and engravings, the Temple of Hatshepsut rising in three terraces from the limestone cliffs, and the Colossi of Memnon: two 66-foot statues of Amenhotep III. Hotel pickup in Marsa Alam is included. Entry tickets to the sites are optional at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Karnak Temple1h
2. Valley of the Kings2h
3. Temple of Hatshepsut1h
4. Colossi of Memnon20m

Full day tour from Marsa Alam to Luxor

• Driver picks you up at hotel
• Travel from Marsa Alam to Luxor
• Visit Karnak Temple with guide
• Lunch break at local restaurant
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Return to Marsa Alam

The experience

Karnak Temple opens the day. Your Egyptologist guide walks you through the Great Hypostyle Hall, where 134 columns still stand, and points out the obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut. The scale of what survives (the carved hieroglyphics, the stone work) becomes clear only when you stand inside it. After an hour's break for lunch at a local restaurant (food included, drinks are separate), you move to the Valley of the Kings.

The Valley of the Kings contains 63 royal tombs carved into the rock, and you can enter them. The colors and engravings inside have survived thousands of years. King Tutankhamun's tomb is among them. Your guide explains what you are looking at (the philosophy, the craft, the history written on the walls) as you move through. Photography is allowed inside the tombs. From there, the Temple of Hatshepsut rises in three stone terraces against the limestone cliffs, built to honor the reign of Egypt's most powerful female pharaoh. The Colossi of Memnon, two 1,000-ton statues of Amenhotep III standing 66 feet tall, close the tour before the drive back to Marsa Alam.

The tour runs roughly thirteen hours door to door. Your driver meets you in your hotel lobby with a sign bearing your name, and a guide waits for you in Luxor. The car is air-conditioned throughout. Entry tickets to the temples and tombs are optional. If you choose to add them at checkout, they are arranged in advance. The guide speaks English, Arabic, or Russian.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned car with driver.
• private Egyptologist guide in English, Arabic or Russian.
• hotel pickup in Marsa Alam and return.
• lunch at a local restaurant (drinks separate).
• entry to Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon (tickets optional at checkout).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:30

Book up to6h before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Arabic and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 12 pickup points.

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 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Adam's Tours

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you travel alone or with your group: no strangers, no fixed departure times to coordinate with other bookings. Choose it if you want an Egyptologist's explanation of what you are seeing, the flexibility to linger at any site, and the comfort of a car and guide arranged in advance rather than assembled on the day.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Arabic and Russian.

Can children come?

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

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 inside the Valley of the Kings that I can actually see?

The Valley of the Kings holds 63 royal tombs carved into the rock, and you can walk inside them. The painted walls and carved hieroglyphics retain their original colors and detail. King Tutankhamun's tomb is among them, and photography is permitted inside.

How long is the drive from Marsa Alam to Luxor?

The full tour runs about thirteen hours from hotel pickup to return. Most of that time is spent at the temples and tombs. The drive itself is a significant portion of the day.

Does the tour include entry tickets to the temples?

Entry tickets are optional and can be added at checkout. Lunch at a local restaurant is included in the base price. Drinks at the restaurant are separate.

What makes Karnak Temple different from other temples in Egypt?

Karnak Temple is the largest and oldest temple in Egypt. The Great Hypostyle Hall alone contains 134 columns, and the scale and detail of the stonework and carvings are unmatched at other sites in the region.

Will I have time to take photographs at each site?

Yes. Your guide helps you find the best angles and moments at Karnak Temple and the other sites. Photography is permitted inside the tombs of the Valley of the Kings as well.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible throughout. All areas and surfaces at the sites are accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller.