Luxor Day Trip from Safaga: Valley of the Kings Tour with Guide

Five temples and tombs in one day across the desert from the Red Sea

A private full-day tour departing from Safaga Port that crosses the desert to Luxor, where an Egyptologist guide leads you through the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple. The tour includes all entry tickets, a local lunch and hotel or port pickup. The guide tailors the pace and detail to your group's interests. Spanish and French guides are available for an additional fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

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

Full day tour from Safaga to Luxor

• Pick up from Safaga Port
• Travel to Luxor in air-conditioned vehicle
• Visit Karnak Temple Complex
• Explore the Valley of the Kings tombs
• Tour Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• See the Colossi of Memnon statues
• Return to Safaga Port

The Experience

The tour starts with pickup from Safaga Port or your hotel, then a drive across the desert to Luxor: roughly 140 kilometers inland. Your private Egyptologist guide meets you in air-conditioned transport and stays with your group through all five sites, explaining the history and mythology at a level that fits what you want to know. This is not a rushed march through monuments. The guide adjusts the time spent at each stop based on your pace and questions.

Karnak Temple opens the day: a sprawling complex of colossal columns and carved hieroglyphics that once served as the religious center of ancient Thebes. From there you descend into the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs including Tutankhamun were buried in rock-cut tombs beneath the desert floor. The Temple of Hatshepsut follows, a mortuary temple built into limestone cliffs for the female pharaoh who ruled Egypt in the 15th century BCE. The Colossi of Memnon (two massive seated statues carved from single blocks of stone) mark what remains of a temple that once stood nearby. Luxor Temple, on the east bank of the Nile, rounds out the archaeological stops before the return drive to Safaga.

A local lunch is included partway through the day, and you'll have a bottle of water during the tour. The full outing runs about 12 hours from port to port, which accounts for the drive time, the walking at each site and the meal break. Guides speak English as standard. Spanish or French guides are available if you arrange them at checkout.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transport from Safaga Port or your hotel.
• a qualified, fully licensed Egyptologist guide in English (Spanish or French available for €15 extra).
• entry tickets to Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor Temple and the Colossi of Memnon.
• a local lunch.
• a bottle of water during the tour.
• return transport to Safaga Port or your hotel.

Days and timesDaily · 04:30 and 05:00

AgesAges 9+ · 3 to 8 years · Under 3 — Free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup

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

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Icon Tours Egypt

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the guide works for your group alone and adjusts the pace, time at each site and depth of explanation to what you want to know: ideal if you prefer not to move at a group's fixed schedule or if your interests lean heavily toward one period or type of monument. The 12-hour day and desert heat mean it suits travelers comfortable with a full day of walking and driving. If you want a shorter outing or prefer to see fewer sites, a half-day tour would fit better.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

3 to 8 years; under 3, free.

What's inside the Valley of the Kings tombs that I'll actually see?

The Valley of the Kings contains royal burial chambers carved deep into the rock, decorated with hieroglyphics and paintings on the walls. You'll descend into several tombs, including the famous tomb of Tutankhamun, to see the chambers and the artwork left by ancient artisans, though most of the treasures themselves are now in museums.

How much walking is involved across the five sites?

Each temple and tomb requires moderate walking on uneven ground and some stairs, particularly in the Valley of the Kings where you descend into the tombs. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though the desert heat and the 12-hour day mean comfortable shoes and sun protection matter.

Does the guide really explain things at my level, or is it a standard script?

Your Egyptologist guide tailors the depth and pace to your group. If you want detailed mythology and architectural history, they provide it. If you prefer a shorter overview, they adjust. This is a private tour, so the guide works for your group alone, not a fixed itinerary for twenty people.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food should I expect?

Yes, a local lunch is included in the tour price. The meal is a traditional Egyptian lunch served partway through the day to break up the sightseeing and give you a rest in the heat.

How long is the drive from Safaga Port to Luxor, and will I have time to rest?

The drive is roughly 140 kilometers across the desert, taking about two to three hours each way. The full tour is 12 hours from pickup to return, which includes the drive time, walking at each of the five sites, the lunch break and a bottle of water during the day.