Luxor Day Trip: Temples & Valley of the Kings Tour

Four millennia of temples in a single day, from the royal tombs to Egypt's largest shrine

A twelve-hour day trip from Hurghada to Luxor with private air-conditioned transport, live Egyptologist guide, and entry to the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple. The tour includes lunch at a local restaurant and bottled water throughout. Hotel pickup and return are included, and the guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valley of the Kings2h · entry included
2. Temple of Hatshepsut1h · entry included
3. Colossi of Memnon20m · entry included
4. Karnak Temple2h · entry included

Explore Luxor historical sites

• Pick up from Hurghada hotel
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Tour Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Karnak Temples
• Return to Hurghada hotel

The experience

Your representative picks you up from your Hurghada hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle and drives you to Luxor's west bank, where the Valley of the Kings spreads across the desert floor. This necropolis holds 63 royal and non-royal tombs carved into the rock: the burial ground of pharaohs and the centerpiece of ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife. Your Egyptologist guide walks you through the tombs and explains the hieroglyphics and burial practices that shaped the civilization for three thousand years.

From the valley, you move to the Temple of Hatshepsut, built for one of Egypt's rare female rulers who launched the first diplomatic expedition to Somalia in the ancient world. The terraced limestone structure rises from the desert floor in three tiers. Next comes the Colossi of Memnon: two colossal statues of Amenhotep III that sit alone in a field. In ancient times, locals heard a mysterious sound emanating from the statues after sunrise. The sound was caused by air friction through tiny holes in the stone, and it stopped once the statues were restored.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you cross to the east bank to visit Karnak Temple, the largest religious structure ever built, covering about 60 acres. Dedicated to the god Amon-Ra, his consort Mut and their son Khonsu, the temple complex is essentially a history book of Egypt from the Middle Kingdom through the Ptolemaic period, with pylons, courtyards, and sanctuaries layered across centuries of construction. Your guide leads you through the site before the return drive to Hurghada.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• entry to the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple.
• a live Egyptologist guide.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

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

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Reflections Travel

Is this one for you?The twelve-hour itinerary packs four major sites into one day, so you see the breadth of Luxor's monuments without splitting the trip across multiple days. The private vehicle and guide mean you move at a steady pace with time to absorb each stop rather than rushing through a large group.

Traveler reviews

4.83★★★★★★★★★★

12 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly is the Valley of the Kings and what will I see there?

The Valley of the Kings is the necropolis where pharaohs and nobles were buried over centuries, with 63 tombs discovered carved into the rock. Your guide takes you inside the tombs to see the hieroglyphics, burial chambers and artifacts that reveal how ancient Egyptians understood the afterlife.

How much walking is involved in this day trip?

The tour involves moderate walking across four separate temple sites and through the Valley of the Kings tombs. Comfortable shoes are essential, and the desert sun is intense even in winter. The air-conditioned vehicle provides breaks between stops.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food will it be?

Lunch is included at a local quality restaurant on the east bank after you finish the west bank sites. The meal is a break before the final stop at Karnak Temple.

How long is the drive from Hurghada to Luxor, and what time does the tour start?

The tour lasts twelve hours total from pickup to return. Your hotel representative will confirm your pickup time when you book. The drive itself is roughly two hours each way, with the bulk of the day spent at the four temple sites.