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

Four pharaonic sites in one day, from underground tombs to cliff-carved temples

A private day trip from Marsa Alam to Luxor with a live Egyptologist guide, visiting the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with entry to all sites, lunch and bottled water. The tour runs 15 to 17 hours and covers both the West Bank tombs and East Bank temples.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Karnak Temple1h 30m · entry included
2. Valley of the Kings2h · entry included
3. Temple of Hatshepsut1h 30m · entry included
4. Colossi of Memnon30m

Explore Luxor's ancient sites

• Visit Karnak Temple Complex
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Explore Valley of the Kings tombs
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon statues
• Return to Marsa Alam hotel

The experience

The Colossi of Memnon (two 67-foot statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III carved from single blocks of stone) stand at the end of this day, but the morning starts at Karnak Temple on the East Bank, where you walk through grand halls and past colossal pillars covered in hieroglyphics. Your guide, a trained Egyptologist, unpacks the stories behind what you're seeing rather than just naming the sites. After lunch at a local restaurant, you cross the Nile to the West Bank, where the real depth of the day unfolds.

The Valley of the Kings is where pharaohs were buried in underground tombs painted with scenes meant to guide them in the afterlife. You enter at least one tomb, the itinerary mentions Tutankhamun's, and see the hieroglyphs and artwork still visible on the walls. The Temple of Hatshepsut, carved directly into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari, belongs to one of Egypt's rare female pharaohs and breaks the pattern of other temples with its terraced design rising against the desert rock. Both sites sit on the West Bank, so you move between them without backtracking.

You can book this tour as a car-only option or all-inclusive: the difference is whether your Egyptologist guide and all site entries are arranged in advance or you handle them separately. Either way, the private AC vehicle and hotel pickup from Marsa Alam are included. The full day, 15 to 17 hours, packs four major sites, so the pace is steady but not rushed. You're not sprinting through each stop.

What’s included

• Entry to the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple.
• private AC vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• bottled water.
• taxes and charges. A private Egyptologist guide is included in the all-inclusive option.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private air-conditioned vehicle onlyGuide in 4 languages · 04:30, 05:00, 05:30 and 06:00No guide and no tickets; pickup is included

Air-conditioned car with an Egyptologist guideGuide in 4 languages · 04:30, 05:00, 05:30 and 06:00Entry fees not included; pickup is included

All-inclusiveGuide in 4 languages · 04:30, 05:00, 05:30 and 06:00Car, guide, tickets and lunch; pickup 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 dayDepartures at 04:30, 05:00, 05:30 and 06:00

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Icon Tours Egypt

Is this one for you?Choose the all-inclusive option if you want the history explained as you move through each site. The car-only option works if you prefer to explore independently or have your own guide. The 15- to 17-hour day suits travelers who want to see both banks of Luxor in one trip and don't mind a full schedule to fit it in.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What's actually inside the Valley of the Kings tombs?

The Valley of the Kings holds elaborately decorated underground chambers where pharaohs were buried. Each tomb is painted with hieroglyphs and scenes depicting the afterlife, and you enter at least one, often Tutankhamun's, to see the artwork and inscriptions still preserved on the walls.

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

The Temple of Hatshepsut stands out because it's carved directly into the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari rather than built as a separate structure. Its terraced design rises against the desert rock, and it was built to honor one of Egypt's most famous female pharaohs, giving it a unique architectural character compared to Karnak or the mortuary temples elsewhere.

How much time do you spend at each site?

The itinerary covers Karnak Temple in the morning, then lunch, then the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut in the afternoon, finishing at the Colossi of Memnon. The full day runs 15 to 17 hours from pickup to drop-off, so you move through the sites at a steady pace without lingering for hours at any single location.

What happens if I choose the car-only option instead of all-inclusive?

The car-only option includes the private AC vehicle and hotel pickup and drop-off. The all-inclusive option adds the Egyptologist guide, entry to all four sites (Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple), and lunch. You choose which option suits your needs at checkout.