Luxor East & West Banks Tour: Temples & Valley of Kings

The Valley of the Kings holds six major royal tombs open to visitors, including Tutankhamun's.

A full-day guided tour of Luxor covers both banks of the Nile: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, then the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank. Hotel pickup and a private air-conditioned vehicle are included, with a live guide in English, Spanish, German, or Arabic. Entry fees and lunch at a local restaurant are available as add-ons at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Temple of Hatshepsut1h
2. Colossi of Memnon1h
3. Luxor Temple2h
4. Karnak Temple2h

Explore Luxor's East and West Banks

• Visit the Valley of the Kings
• See the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• View the Colossi of Memnon
• Explore Luxor Temple
• Tour Karnak Temple

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup and a drive across Luxor to Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex in ancient Egypt and dedicated to the god Amon. The temple sprawls across multiple courtyards and pylons built over centuries, and your guide walks you through the layout and the inscriptions that mark each dynasty's additions. From there, it's a short drive to Luxor Temple, built by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II, which sits on the East Bank and was used for ceremonies tied to the annual flood.

After crossing to the West Bank, you reach the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs from the 18th and 19th dynasties were buried in rock-cut tombs. The valley holds six major tombs open to the public, including those of Tutmosis I, Tutmosis III, Tutankhamun, Ramses VI, Merenptah, and Amenhotep II. Your guide explains the layout and the shift in burial practices that led rulers to hide their tombs in this remote valley instead of building visible pyramids. The Colossi of Memnon (two massive stone statues that are all that remain of Amenhotep III's mortuary temple) stand nearby as a marker of the temple's original scale.

Hatshepsut's Temple, also called Deir el-Bahari, is the day's final major stop. Built by Egypt's only female pharaoh, who ruled for roughly 20 years during the 18th Dynasty around 1490–1469 B.C., the temple rises in three terraces against the cliffs and was designed as both a mortuary temple and a monument to her reign. The tour wraps with the return drive to your hotel. A bottle of water is provided throughout the day, and lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant can be added at checkout depending on which option you select.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, German, or Arabic.
• a bottle of water throughout the day.
• entry fees to all four temples and the Valley of the Kings (if selected at checkout).
• and lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant (if selected at checkout).

Options for this experience

4 options

Car with driver onlyGuide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 08:00Car with driver only

Car and guide onlyGuide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 08:00Car and guide only

Car, guide and entry feesGuide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 08:00Car, guide and entry fees

Car+Guide+Entry fees+LunchGuide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 08:00Car+Guide+Entry fees+Lunch

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 10

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Emo Tours Egypt

Is this one for you?Book the car and guide option if you want to move at your own pace between sites without paying for entry fees upfront. Add entry fees and lunch if you prefer everything arranged and priced before the day starts. The eight-hour duration means you see both banks without rushing, though the West Bank sites require sustained walking through open terrain.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What are the main tombs I'll see in the Valley of the Kings?

The Valley of the Kings holds six major tombs open to visitors: King Tutmosis I, Tutmosis III, Tutankhamun, Ramses VI, Merenptah, and Amenhotep II. Your guide explains why pharaohs chose this remote valley for burial instead of building visible monuments.

Who was Hatshepsut and why is her temple different from the others?

Hatshepsut was the only woman to rule ancient Egypt as pharaoh, reigning for about 20 years during the 18th Dynasty around 1490–1469 B.C. Her temple, Deir el-Bahari, rises in three terraces against the cliffs and was built as both a mortuary temple and a monument to her reign, making it architecturally distinct from the other temples on the tour.

How long is the full-day tour and what's included?

The tour runs for eight hours and includes hotel pickup and drop-off, private air-conditioned vehicle, a live guide in your choice of English, Spanish, German, or Arabic, and a bottle of water. Entry fees and lunch at a local restaurant are optional add-ons you select at checkout.

Can I add lunch and entry fees to my booking?

Yes. You choose your option at checkout: car and guide only; car, guide, and entry fees; car, guide, entry fees, and lunch; or the full package. Lunch is served at a local Egyptian restaurant if you select that option.

What's the difference between Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple?

Karnak Temple is the largest religious complex in ancient Egypt, built over centuries with multiple courtyards and pylons dedicated to the god Amon. Luxor Temple is smaller and was built by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II. It sits on the East Bank and was used for ceremonies tied to the annual flood.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it involves walking through temples and tombs in the Valley of the Kings over an eight-hour day. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.