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

Twelve hours crossing the Nile to four of Luxor's most powerful ancient sites

A private day tour from Soma Bay to Luxor with hotel pickup and return, visiting Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple with a professional guide, lunch at a local restaurant and all transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle. The tour departs at 5am and runs about 12 hours. Children from age 2 are welcome, and the guide speaks English, Italian, French, German and two additional languages.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Valley of the Kings3h · entry included
2. Temple of Hatshepsut1h · entry included
3. Colossi of Memnon30m
4. Karnak Temple2h · entry included

Luxor day trip from Soma Bay

• Pick up from Soma Bay hotel at 5:00 am
• Arrive in Luxor around 9:30 am
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut at 11:30 am
• Visit Colossi of Memnon at 12:30 pm
• Lunch at local restaurant in Luxor
• Visit Karnak Temple at 3:00 pm
• Optional Felucca sailboat tour late afternoon
• Return to Soma Bay hotel

The Experience

The pickup starts at 5am from your Soma Bay hotel, with the drive to Luxor taking roughly four and a half hours by private air-conditioned car. You arrive around 9:30am and cross the Nile to the West Bank, where the Valley of the Kings opens up. The burial ground of Egypt's rulers from the 18th to the 20th dynasty. The tombs here, including those of Ramses II and Tutankhamen, still hold much of their original decoration inside. Entry to Tutankhamen's tomb costs an extra 200 Egyptian pounds if you want to see it.

By mid-morning you reach the Temple of Hatshepsut, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, built in three terraced levels that rise from the desert plain and merge with the limestone cliffs behind it. Around noon you stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor, then move on to the Colossi of Memnon: two massive quartzite sandstone statues of King Amenhotep III, each rising about 18 meters from the ground. These are the only remains of what was once the largest temple complex on the West Bank. The afternoon centers on Karnak Temple, the largest ancient religious site in the world, spread across 247 acres with three main temple structures built over many generations of pharaohs. You return to your Soma Bay hotel by around 4:30pm. If you want to add time on the water, an optional felucca (traditional sailboat) ride on the Nile in the late afternoon is available to book separately.

The itinerary can be adjusted. You can swap Karnak for Luxor Temple, spend more time in the bazaars, or make other changes if the guide can arrange them. Bottled water is provided throughout the day, and the operator's staff assists during the tours themselves.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transfer from Soma Bay in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• private tour guide.
• entry to Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• staff assistance during site visits.

Days and timesDaily · 05:30

Ages12 to 95 years · 2 to 11 years

Meeting point and pickupPickup optional · ends where it starts32 pickup points to choose from.Meeting point, per the operator: “We pick up all the travelers from their lobbies at hotels”

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Marsa Alam Tours

Is this one for you?The 5am start and 12-hour day suit travelers with stamina for walking multiple temple sites and crossing the Nile twice, but allow you to see four major monuments and return to your hotel by late afternoon instead of staying overnight in Luxor.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Dutch.

Can children come?

2 to 11 years.

What's inside the Valley of the Kings tombs when I visit?

The Valley of the Kings holds the burial chambers of Egypt's pharaohs from the 18th to 20th dynasty, including Ramses II and Tutankhamen. Most of the original decoration and painted walls inside the tombs remain well preserved, showing the goods and images the rulers were buried with for the afterlife.

How early do I need to wake up for this tour?

Hotel pickup is at 5am from your Soma Bay accommodation, and the drive to Luxor takes about four and a half hours, so you'll arrive at the first site around 9:30am.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor is included in the tour price. It's scheduled around noon, between the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple visits.

Can I visit the tomb of Tutankhamen, or is it optional?

Tutankhamen's tomb is optional and costs an extra 200 Egyptian pounds on top of the tour price if you choose to enter it.