Luxor Full Day Tour: Valley of the Kings & Karnak

Three royal tombs and two temples in a single day, with a guide who reads the hieroglyphs.

A private full-day tour from Hurghada to Luxor with a personal Egyptologist guide, private air-conditioned vehicle, and hotel pickup. You explore the Valley of the Kings (three royal tombs), Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, and Karnak Temple, with lunch at a local restaurant included. The private format lets your guide adapt the pace and spend time on what interests you most, and the early 5:00 AM start gets you to the sites before the crowds arrive.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Valley of the Kings2h · entry included
2. Temple of Hatshepsut1h 30m · entry included
3. Colossi of Memnon30m
4. Karnak Temple2h · entry included

Full day tour from Hurghada to Luxor

• Early morning pickup from Hurghada
• Drive to Luxor with Egyptologist guide
• Visit the Valley of the Kings
• Explore Temple of Hatshepsut
• See the Colossi of Memnon
• Lunch at a local restaurant
• Optional felucca ride on the Nile
• Explore Karnak Temple
• Drive back to Hurghada

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup around 5:00 AM for the four-hour drive to Luxor. Your Egyptologist guide travels with you in a private air-conditioned vehicle, sharing context about the region as the desert landscape unfolds. This setup means you're not waiting for other travelers or following a fixed group rhythm. Your guide can linger at a tomb entrance if you're absorbed in the hieroglyphic carvings, or move on if you've seen enough.

Once in Luxor, you enter the Valley of the Kings and explore three royal tombs, including those of Ramses and other pharaohs. Your guide explains the symbolic meanings carved into the walls and the purpose of each chamber. The Colossi of Memnon (two massive statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III standing over 3,000 years) come next, then Hatshepsut Temple, where the terraces and colonnades rise against a dramatic desert cliff. Lunch at a local restaurant (vegetarian options available) breaks the day before you head to Karnak Temple, one of the largest religious complexes ever built. The Hypostyle Hall alone contains massive columns. You'll also see the sacred lake and intricate carvings spanning centuries of dynasties.

The return drive to Hurghada takes about four hours, with arrival at your hotel around 9:00–10:00 PM. A bottle of water is provided during the trip. If you want to see Tutankhamun's tomb or take an optional felucca ride on the Nile, those can be arranged for an extra charge.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle and hotel pickup and drop-off in Hurghada.
• professional Egyptologist guide.
• entrance fees to Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, and Karnak Temple.
• lunch at a local restaurant with vegetarian options available.
• a bottle of water during the trip.
• all taxes and service charges.

Options for this experience

3 options

Transfer OnlyUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or German · 04:00, 04:30 and 05:00Includes pickup. Transfer with driver.

Transfer+professionaTour GuideUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or German · 04:00, 04:30 and 05:00Transfer and guide, tickets not included. Pickup is included.

Guide, transfer and tickets included.Up to 30 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or German · 04:00, 04:30 and 05:00Pickup is included. Entrance fees to the mentioned temples.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:00, 04:30 and 05:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (6 to 8 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 69

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Inspired Egypt Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want expert interpretation of the hieroglyphs and tomb layouts without the pace of a group. The private vehicle and early start mean you move at your own rhythm and reach the sites before the crowds, which matters most at the Valley of the Kings. If you prefer to explore independently or travel on a tighter budget, the transfer-only option gets you to Luxor with a driver but no guide.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 8 years); Infant (under 6): free.

Can I see Tutankhamun's tomb on this tour?

Tutankhamun's tomb is not included in the standard itinerary, but your guide can arrange entry for an additional fee if you want to add it to your day.

What's included in the entrance fees?

Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, and Karnak Temple are all included. Lunch at a local restaurant and a bottle of water during the trip are also part of the package.

How early does the pickup happen, and why?

Hotel pickup is around 5:00 AM. The early start gets you to the Valley of the Kings before the larger tour groups arrive, giving you a quieter experience at the tombs.

Is the guide fluent in English?

Yes, your Egyptologist guide speaks English. Spanish and German guides are also available depending on the option you select at checkout.

What if I don't want a guide? Can I just get the transfer?

Yes, transfer-only is available as a separate option at checkout. You'd have the private vehicle and driver but no guide, and you'd arrange your own site entries in Luxor.

How much time do we spend at each site?

The itinerary doesn't fix a set duration at each stop. Your guide adjusts based on your interests. You might spend more time in a tomb you find compelling or move through the Colossi more quickly if you prefer.