Luxor: Hot Air Balloon, Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Tour

Sunrise balloon ride over Luxor then ancient tombs and temples

You’ll float above Luxor at sunrise in a hot air balloon before exploring ancient tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Queen Hatshepsut’s temple with your local guide. Expect sensory surprises—the hush above the Nile, painted walls deep underground—and plenty of stories you’ll remember long after you’re home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — 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

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was the hiss of the burners—louder than I expected, even with the sky still half-dark over Luxor. We stood in a field on the West Bank, shivering a bit (Egyptian mornings can surprise you), watching as our hot air balloon slowly filled up. Our pilot, Mahmoud, grinned and told us to hold tight to our hats. I kept fumbling with my phone camera, but honestly? The view when we lifted off—palms below, Nile winding through mist—made me forget about photos for a minute. You just kind of float there, quiet except for people whispering “wow” in different languages.

Landing was softer than I thought it’d be. After that, we hopped into a van and headed straight for the Valley of the Kings. Our guide, Salma, had this way of making history feel like gossip—she pointed out King Tut’s tomb and told us how his discovery basically changed everything for modern Egyptology. The walls inside are covered in colors that somehow survived thousands of years; I tried to imagine someone painting them by torchlight. It smelled faintly dusty but not unpleasant—like old paper or dried flowers.

We wandered through Hatshepsut’s temple next. Sun on pale stone, kids chasing each other across the steps while Salma explained how Hatshepsut ruled as Pharaoh (I definitely butchered her name trying to say it in Arabic; Salma laughed). The Colossi of Memnon were our last stop—two giant statues just standing there, almost casual about being 3,000 years old. By then it was nearly lunchtime and all I could think about was falafel back in town. Still haven’t figured out how those statues survived all this time.

Top questions

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

The hot air balloon ride lasts about 40-45 minutes in total.

Is hotel pickup included for this Luxor tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are both included from your accommodation in Luxor.

Can children join the hot air balloon trip?

Children under 6 years old cannot join the hot air balloon ride; those aged 6-11 are treated as adults if accompanied by one adult.

Are cameras allowed on the hot air balloon?

You can use your cellphone for photos on the balloon but regular cameras aren’t allowed in the basket.

What sites are visited after the balloon ride?

The tour visits Valley of the Kings (including King Tutankhamun’s tomb), Temple of Hatshepsut, and Colossi of Memnon after the balloon ride.

What happens if bad weather cancels the balloon flight?

If weather cancels your flight, you’ll receive a refund of $30 per person for that part.

Is lunch included during this Luxor day trip?

No lunch is included; you’ll finish around 1 pm so you can eat afterwards.

What’s included

Your day includes early morning hotel pickup in Luxor, transfer by motorboat across the Nile to reach the West Bank launch site, a 40-minute sunrise hot air balloon ride with a professional captain (and flight certificate!), guided visits to Valley of the Kings—including King Tut’s tomb—Queen Hatshepsut’s temple and Colossi of Memnon, plus all entry fees and return transport by air-conditioned bus before lunchtime.