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

Cross the Nile to explore four of Luxor's greatest monuments in a single day

A private day tour from El Gouna to Luxor by air-conditioned car with your own Egyptologist guide covers the Valley of the Kings (where you visit three tombs), the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon, and Karnak Temple: the largest ancient religious site in the world. Hotel pickup starts at 4:30 AM from El Gouna. The drive takes four hours each way. Lunch at a local restaurant and bottled water are included. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and four other languages.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valley of the Kings3h · entry included
2. Temple of Hatshepsut30m · entry included
3. Colossi of Memnon15m
4. Karnak Temple3h · entry included

Luxor day trip from El Gouna

• Pick up from El Gouna hotel at 04:30
• Drive to Luxor (4 hours)
• Cross Nile to West Bank
• Visit Valley of the Kings (3 tombs)
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Visit Colossi of Memnon
• Lunch at local restaurant in Luxor
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Drive back to El Gouna hotel

The experience

You're picked up from your hotel in El Gouna at 4:30 AM and driven four hours south to Luxor in a private air-conditioned vehicle. The route passes through Hurghada, Safaga and Qena, with a break halfway through. By 9:30 AM you're crossing the Nile to the West Bank, where your guide leads you through the Valley of the Kings. The burial ground of Egypt's most powerful rulers from the 18th to 20th dynasty. You enter three tombs, including those of Ramses II and Tutankhamen (the latter costs an extra 200 Egyptian pounds if you choose it). The decoration inside most tombs remains well preserved.

From there you visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, built in three levels with wide ramps and terraces that rise from the desert plain and merge with the limestone cliffs of the Theban Mountain. At 12:30 PM you stop at the Colossi of Memnon. Two massive quartzite sandstone statues of King Amenhotep III, each rising about 18 meters from the ground. These blocks were moved 700 kilometers from Cairo to Luxor and are the only remains of what was once the largest complex on the West Bank. Lunch follows at a local restaurant in Luxor.

Your final stop is Karnak Temple at 3:00 PM, the largest ancient religious site known anywhere in the world and the largest temple complex ever built. It spans 247 acres and consists of three main temples, representing the combined work of many generations of ancient builders and pharaohs. After exploring Karnak, you're driven back to your hotel in El Gouna, arriving around 8:30 PM. An optional late-afternoon felucca (traditional sailboat) ride on the Nile costs 15 pounds per person and can be arranged if you wish to adjust the itinerary. The guide can also swap Karnak for Luxor Temple or add time in the souq.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• hotel pickup and return to El Gouna.
• qualified Egyptologist guide.
• entry to Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• bottled water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 95 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Russian and Swedish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 28 pickup points.

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

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Excursies Egypte-Day Tours

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from El Gouna means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport. The guide handles navigation and timing across four major sites in a single day, which is only possible with a private vehicle and someone who knows where each stop fits.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Swedish, Russian and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What exactly will I see inside the Valley of the Kings tombs?

The Valley of the Kings holds the burial chambers of Egypt's rulers from the 18th to 20th dynasty. You visit three tombs, which contain well-preserved decoration and were originally stocked with material goods for the afterlife. The tombs of Ramses II and Tutankhamen are among those buried here. Visiting Tutankhamen's tomb costs an extra 200 Egyptian pounds.

How long is the drive from El Gouna to Luxor?

The drive is four hours each way. Pickup from your hotel in El Gouna starts at 4:30 AM, and you arrive in Luxor by 9:30 AM. The return journey begins after Karnak Temple at around 3:00 PM, with arrival back at your hotel near 8:30 PM.

What is the Colossi of Memnon and why is it worth seeing?

The Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of King Amenhotep III, each rising about 18 meters from the plain. Made from quartzite sandstone blocks transported 700 kilometers from Cairo, they are the only remains of what was once the largest temple complex on Luxor's West Bank, built by Amenhotep the Third.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Yes, lunch is included at a local restaurant in Luxor around noon. Bottled water is also provided throughout the day.

Can the itinerary be changed if I prefer different sites?

Yes, your guide can make adjustments where possible. You can swap Karnak Temple for Luxor Temple, spend more time in the souq, or add other stops. An optional felucca ride on the Nile in the late afternoon costs 15 pounds per person if you'd like to include it.