Luxor Hot Air Balloon Tour: Valley of Kings & Temple

Rise above Egypt's open-air museum, then walk through tombs and temples on the ground.

A full-day tour of Luxor's West Bank that starts with a hot air balloon flight over the desert, followed by guided visits to the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, and Colossi of Memnon. The balloon ride lasts about 40 minutes. The entire tour runs roughly eight hours from hotel pickup to return. An expert guide, motorboat transfer, air-conditioned transport, and a flight certificate are all included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hot air balloon and West Bank tour

• Pickup from hotel in Luxor
• Transfer to motorboat
• Boat to West Bank
• Hot air balloon ride over Luxor
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Explore Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Transfer back to hotel or Nile cruise

Stops and time spent at each 4 stops

1. Luxor passing by
2. Valley of the Kings 2h
3. Temple of Hatshepsut 1h
4. Colossi of Memnon passing by

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return in an air-conditioned bus.
• motorboat transfer to the West Bank.
• 40-minute hot air balloon flight with a flight certificate.
• expert guide commentary in English, Spanish or Arabic.
• guided tours of the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, and Colossi of Memnon.
• all service charges and taxes.

Times

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• Every day 05:30 06:00 06:15

Information

Fly 40 minutes over Luxor's West Bank at sunrise, then explore Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon with a guide.

Group Up to 20 6 similar private tours ›

Live guide English, Spanish and Arabic Another language? ›

Audio guide English, Spanish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 6 pickup points. See the pickup points

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (12 to 96 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5)

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h 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.

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Public transport nearby

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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The experience

The day begins before dawn. A driver picks you up from your Luxor hotel and takes you to the West Bank by motorboat, where you board a hot air balloon for a 40-minute flight over the desert. From the air, you photograph the sprawl of Luxor's monuments (the temples, the river, the valley floor) all at once. When you land, you receive a flight certificate.

After the balloon comes the ground tour. Your guide leads you into the Valley of the Kings, where 63 tombs sit carved into the rock. King Tutankhamun's tomb is here, along with the burial chambers of other pharaohs, their walls decorated with Egyptian mythology and hieroglyphics. The guide walks you through the history and the beliefs that shaped these burials. You have time to photograph and absorb the scale of what you're standing inside.

Next is the Temple of Hatshepsut, the massive mortuary temple of the female pharaoh who ruled in the 15th century BCE. The guide explains her reign and her role in establishing trade routes. Then you move to the Colossi of Memnon: two enormous quartzite sandstone statues that once guarded the entrance to another temple. Both sites offer strong photo opportunities. The tour wraps by early afternoon, and you're driven back to your hotel in air-conditioned comfort.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5).

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 24 h before the start.

What time does the hot air balloon depart from my hotel?

Pickup time depends on the season and sunrise, but the operator confirms the exact time one day before your tour. The balloon flight itself lasts about 40 minutes.

What's inside the Valley of the Kings?

The Valley of the Kings holds 63 tombs carved into the rock, including the burial chamber of King Tutankhamun. The walls are decorated with Egyptian mythology and hieroglyphics that tell the story of the pharaohs buried there and their beliefs about the afterlife.

Is the Temple of Hatshepsut included in this tour?

Yes. The Temple of Hatshepsut, also called Deir el Bahari, is a main stop on the West Bank portion of the tour. Your guide explains the history of Queen Hatshepsut and her role in establishing Egypt's early trade routes.

What happens if the weather cancels the balloon flight?

If bad weather prevents the balloon from flying, you receive a refund of $30 per person. The rest of the West Bank tour (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and Colossi of Memnon) proceeds as scheduled.

Can I take photos during the balloon ride?

Cameras are not allowed in the balloon basket, but you can use your cellphone to take pictures from the air.

Operated by Cupid EgypTravel. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago