Luxor: Hot Air Balloon Ride & Full Day Tour with Temples

Summary

Luxor sunrise balloon ride, ancient tombs and temples in one day

You’ll float over Luxor at sunrise in a hot air balloon, then spend your day exploring royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings and walking beneath Karnak’s towering columns with an Egyptologist guide. There’s time for local lunch and stories among ancient stones before you end at Luxor Temple as dusk falls — moments that stay with you long after.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed wasn’t the view — it was the quiet. Up there in the hot air balloon above Luxor, just before sunrise, you could hear almost nothing except the hiss of the burner and a few sleepy birds. The city below was still half-asleep. Our pilot grinned and pointed out the Nile, all silver and blue in that early light. I’ll admit, my hands were cold from clutching the basket (maybe nerves?), but watching the temples and green fields drift by made it worth it.

After we landed — a bit bumpier than I expected, but everyone laughed — our Egyptologist guide met us with this easy smile and a thermos of mint tea. We drove out to see the Colossi of Memnon first. They’re huge, but what stuck with me was how locals just went about their morning nearby, waving as we passed. Then came the Valley of the Kings. The tombs are cooler inside than outside (a relief), and some paintings are so bright you’d swear they were new. Our guide knew every story — he even showed us where Howard Carter scratched his name into a wall (I didn’t expect that).

Queen Hatshepsut’s temple looked almost unreal against those cliffs; I tried to get a photo without tourists but gave up and just watched people posing in sun hats instead. Lunch was simple — grilled chicken, rice, something with eggplant that I still think about — eaten under a patchy awning while stray cats eyed our plates hopefully. Karnak Temple is massive; walking through those columns feels like wandering between giants. By afternoon, my legs were tired but my brain was buzzing from everything we’d seen.

We finished at Luxor Temple as evening crept in, lights coming on one by one along the Avenue of Sphinxes. It’s hard to explain how old everything feels here — not just old like “in a museum,” but alive in its own way. Our guide told us stories about Amun-Ra and pharaohs until we had to go back to the car. Even now, sometimes I remember that quiet up in the balloon before anyone else woke up.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hot air balloon and Luxor sightseeing

• Early morning hotel pickup
• Enjoy light breakfast and tea
• Transfer to balloon take-off area
• 45-minute hot air balloon ride
• Meet tour guide at Colossi of Memnon
• Visit Colossi of Memnon statues
• Visit four tombs in Valley of the Kings
• 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
• Lunch break (optional)
• Visit Karnak Temple complex
• Walk Avenue of Sphinxes
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Transfer back to hotel or Nile Cruise

Top questions

How long does the hot air balloon ride over Luxor last?

The hot air balloon ride typically lasts between 35 to 60 minutes.

Is hotel pickup included for this Luxor day tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included for this full-day tour.

Which sites are visited after the balloon ride?

You visit Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings (several tombs), Queen Hatshepsut’s temple, Karnak Temple, Avenue of Sphinxes, and Luxor Temple.

Is lunch provided during this day trip from Luxor?

Lunch is included after visiting several sites; vegetarian options may be available upon request.

Are guides Egyptologists on this tour?

Yes, your guide is a qualified Egyptologist who shares detailed historical context throughout the day.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation options and all areas are wheelchair accessible.

Can infants join this hot air balloon tour?

Infants can join but must sit on an adult’s lap during transportation; prams or strollers are allowed.

Does this tour include entry fees for all attractions?

The tour includes entry fees for main sites; extra tickets may be required for special tombs like Tutankhamun’s.

What’s included

Your day includes early morning hotel pickup by luxury vehicle, sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor with flight certificate, bottled water throughout your trip, transfers by motorboat to cross to the West Bank, all main entry fees covered for sites like Karnak Temple and Valley of the Kings (with optional extra tickets for special tombs), plus a traditional local lunch before returning to your hotel or Nile cruise boat in Luxor.