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

Four millennia of monuments in one day: the West Bank temples, the royal tombs, and Karnak's vast stone columns

A full-day guided tour from Marsa Alam to Luxor with private hotel pickup, Egyptologist guide and entry to the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon. You set the pace at each site. Lunch is provided. The drive leaves at 4 am and returns by evening, covering roughly 18 to 20 hours door to door.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valley of the Kings2h · entry included
2. Colossi of Memnon1h
3. Temple of Hatshepsut2h · entry included
4. Karnak Temple2h · entry included

Full day tour of Luxor highlights

• Hotel pickup at 4:00 am
• Travel to Luxor (approx. 5.5 hours)
• Explore Valley of the Kings with guide
• Visit Colossi of Memnon statues
• Tour Temple of Hatshepsut
• Visit Karnak Temple complex
• Enjoy complimentary lunch
• Return travel to Marsa Alam

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup at 4 am in a private air-conditioned taxi, arriving in Luxor by 9:30 am. Your Egyptologist guide meets you there and leads you through Luxor's West Bank, where the royal necropolis and mortuary temples cluster along the desert edge. You move at your own pace: the itinerary bends to what interests you, and each site gets as much time as you want to spend.

The four main stops anchor the day. The Valley of the Kings holds the tombs of pharaohs buried in stone chambers carved deep into the rock. The Colossi of Memnon are a pair of colossal statues, all that remains of King Amenhotep III's mortuary temple. The Temple of Hatshepsut rises in three terraced levels from the desert floor, its ramps and colonnades built into the limestone cliffs. Karnak Temple, the largest religious site of antiquity, sprawls across the East Bank with pylons, courts and a forest of columns. Entry to all four is included, as is a guide who speaks English, Italian or German (Italian adds a small extra fee).

Lunch breaks the day midway. The return drive to Marsa Alam leaves in the late afternoon, getting you back to your hotel by evening. The full journey, pickup to return, runs 18 to 20 hours, so this is a full commitment, but it packs the highlights of ancient Luxor into a single departure from the coast. Time in the bazaars is also built in if you want to browse.

What’s included

• Private hotel pickup and return transport in an air-conditioned taxi.
• Egyptologist guide for the day.
• entry to the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon.
• lunch at Luxor.
• time to explore the bazaars.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 03:30

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 5.68

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bella Trips

Is this one for you?Small groups or families traveling together benefit from the private taxi and the guide who adjusts the pace to your interests. You're not locked into a fixed schedule or herded through each site. The 18-hour commitment suits a traveler with a full day free from the coast, not someone looking for a quick afternoon outing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6).

What's inside the Valley of the Kings that makes it worth the early start?

The Valley of the Kings holds the underground tombs of pharaohs, carved into rock chambers and decorated with hieroglyphics and paintings. Your guide walks you through the passages and explains the burial practices and the art. Entry is included and you spend as long as you want inside.

How much walking is involved at each temple?

Karnak Temple and the Temple of Hatshepsut both require walking across open ground and up ramps or stairs, though the pace is entirely yours. The Colossi of Memnon are two statues standing in an open area, so viewing them involves minimal walking. The Valley of the Kings involves descending into tombs, which is manageable for most fitness levels.

Is there time to explore the bazaars, or is the day all temples?

Shopping through the famous bazaars is part of the itinerary, so you'll have time to browse if you want. Your guide can point you toward the main markets, and you control how long you spend there.

How early do you have to wake up, and when do you get back?

Hotel pickup is at 4 am, and the full day runs 18 to 20 hours, so you return to your hotel in the evening. This is a long day, but the early start gets you to the temples before the midday heat and crowds build.