Luxor Hot Air Balloon Tour: Valley of the Kings

Float above Luxor at dawn, then walk through four royal tombs and two temple complexes with your guide

A full-day tour in Luxor combining a 45-60 minute sunrise hot air balloon flight with a private guided exploration of the West Bank (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon) and East Bank (Karnak Temple, Avenue of Sphinxes, Luxor Temple). Includes hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned vehicle, Egyptologist guide in your choice of language, bottled water and a flight certificate. Entrance fees, lunch and gratuities are not included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Colossi of Memnon10m
2. Valley of the Kings2h
3. Tomb of Merneptah25m
4. Tomb of Ramses III25m
5. Tomb of Tutankhamun20m
6. Temple of Hatshepsut1h 30m
7. Karnak Temple2h
8. Avenue of Sphinxes10m
9. Luxor Temple1h 30m

Sunrise balloon and Luxor sightseeing

• Pickup for hot air balloon ride
• Enjoy 45-minute balloon flight
• Meet guide at Colossi of Memnon
• Visit Valley of the Kings tombs
• Explore Tomb of Ramesses IX
• Explore Tomb of Merneptah
• Explore Tomb of Ramses III
• Optional visit to Tomb of Tutankhamun
• Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• Tour Karnak Temple complex
• See Avenue of Sphinxes and obelisks
• Visit Luxor Temple

The Experience

Your day starts before sunrise with hotel pickup and a drive to the launch site. After soft drinks, you board a motorboat to cross to the West Bank, then transfer to the balloon. The flight lasts 45 to 60 minutes, rising over Luxor's open-air museum of temples and tombs as the sun clears the horizon. You land at the Colossi of Memnon (two colossal statues from the reign of King Amenhotep III), where your Egyptologist guide meets you to begin the full-day tour.

The West Bank unfolds in sequence: the Valley of the Kings, where you visit four royal tombs including those of Ramses III, Merneptah and Ramses IX, each decorated with painted reliefs and hieroglyphic texts that chart the pharaohs' journey to the afterlife. Then comes the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, the mortuary temple of Egypt's only female pharaoh, built into the cliffs in three terraced levels. Your guide explains the architecture and the history as you move through each site, and you set the pace. The tour is structured but flexible enough to linger where you choose.

The East Bank brings you to Karnak Temple, one of the world's greatest architectural complexes. You walk the Avenue of Sphinxes, pass through the Hypostyle Hall with its 134 gigantic columns, and see the obelisks of Hatshepsut and Tutmosis I, the Temple of Amon with its lotus and papyrus carvings, and the Sacred Lake. The tour ends at Luxor Temple on the riverbank, where granite statues of Ramses the Great stand in the courtyard. Hotel drop-off concludes the day. The entire experience runs 7 to 10 hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Sunrise hot air balloon flight lasting 45 to 60 minutes.
• flight certificate.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned private vehicle.
• professional Egyptologist guide.
• bottled water.
• full-day access to the Valley of the Kings (four royal tombs), Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Hatshepsut, Karnak Temple, Avenue of Sphinxes and Luxor Temple.

Days and timesDaily · 05:00 and 05:30

AgesAges 12+ · 6 to 11 years · Under 6 — No ticket type: can't be added to a booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by DrMo Tours Egypt

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Luxor for the first time and want to see the major West Bank and East Bank sites in a single day without arranging transport or a guide yourself. The private vehicle and Egyptologist guide mean you move at your own pace through each temple and tomb, stopping longer where your interests lie, rather than keeping to a group schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German, Italian and Japanese.

Can children come?

6 to 11 years. Under 6: no ticket type, they can't be added to a booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What happens if the hot air balloon flight is cancelled due to weather?

Hot air balloon flights are weather-dependent and operate only when conditions are safe. If the flight cannot operate, alternative or refund arrangements will follow the booking terms you agree to at checkout.

How many tombs do you visit in the Valley of the Kings?

You visit four royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, including the tombs of Ramses III, Merneptah, Ramses IX and Horemheb, each with painted reliefs and hieroglyphic texts.

Is the Tomb of Tutankhamun included in this tour?

The Tomb of Tutankhamun is not included in the standard tour but can be visited with an extra ticket purchased separately at checkout.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You'll have time to eat during the day, and your guide can recommend local restaurants, but you arrange and pay for your own meal.