Luxor & Karnak Temples Half-Day Tour Private Guide Pickup

Walk through two of Egypt's grandest temple complexes in a single morning

A half-day tour of Luxor and Karnak temples on Egypt's East Bank, departing at 7am from your hotel or Nile cruise with a licensed guide and private air-conditioned transport. You visit Luxor Temple, built around 1400 BCE with colossal statues and hieroglyphics, then the sprawling Karnak Temple complex with its grand columns and sacred sanctuaries. The guide speaks English, Spanish, German or Arabic. You choose whether to add entry fees and lunch at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Luxor Temple2h
2. Karnak Temple2h

Half day tour of Luxor East Bank

• Pick up from hotel or Nile Cruise
• Transfer to East Bank by private A/C vehicle
• Visit Karnak Temple Complex
• Explore Luxor Temple
• Drive back to hotel in Luxor

The experience

Your hotel pickup starts at 7am, and the drive to the East Bank takes you across the Nile to where both temples stand. The itinerary covers roughly five hours from start to return, so a morning departure leaves your afternoon free. You travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle with your guide, which means no waiting for group assembly or shared stops: the route moves at a single pace.

Luxor Temple sits directly on the east bank and dates to around 1400 BCE. The Egyptian name was ipet resyt, "the southern sanctuary." You walk past colossal statues and carved hieroglyphics that cover the temple walls. Karnak Temple is a much larger complex a short drive away, a sprawl of decayed temples, chapels and pylons that grew over centuries. The guide explains what you're standing in front of at each stop, so the scale and age of the structures become concrete rather than abstract.

Entry fees and lunch are optional at checkout. You can book transport and guide alone, or add both. If you choose lunch, it's at a local restaurant serving Egyptian food. A bottle of water is included with every option. The driver waits and returns you to your hotel when the tour ends, so the only logistics you handle is being ready at pickup time.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Luxor.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for all transport.
• licensed tour guide in your chosen language.
• bottle of water.
• entry fees to both temples (if selected at checkout).
• lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant (if selected at checkout).

Options for this experience

4 options

Car with driver onlyGuide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 08:00Car with driver only

Car and guide onlyGuide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 08:00Car and guide only

Car and guide, with entry fees includedGuide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 08:00Car and guide, with entry fees included

Lunch included, with car, guide and entry feesGuide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 08:00Lunch included, with car, guide and entry fees

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

Before you book

Lasts 5h, runs every day at 07:00 and 08:00, from US$ 10 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, German and Arabic, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 10

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Emo Tours Egypt

Is this one for you?Book this half-day tour if you want to see both Karnak and Luxor temples with a guide who sets the route and pacing. Choose a self-guided visit or West Bank tour if you prefer to linger at sites of your choosing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What time does the tour start and when do I get back to my hotel?

Pickup happens at 7am from your hotel or Nile cruise, and the entire tour takes about five hours, so you're back by early afternoon. The exact return time depends on traffic and how long you spend at each temple, but the morning window keeps the heat manageable.

Do I have to book entry fees and lunch, or can I just pay for transport and the guide?

Entry fees and lunch are optional. You choose at checkout. You can book the car and guide alone, or add entry to both temples and a meal at a local restaurant. Water is included no matter which option you pick.

Is Luxor Temple the same as Karnak Temple, or are they two different sites?

They are two separate temples on the East Bank, a short drive apart. Luxor Temple sits directly on the Nile and dates to around 1400 BCE. Karnak is a much larger complex of multiple temples and chapels built over centuries. The tour visits both in a single morning.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, all transport by private air-conditioned vehicle, a licensed guide, and a bottle of water are included in every option. Entry fees and lunch at a local restaurant are add-ons you select at checkout.

Is this tour suitable if I'm visiting Luxor for the first time?

Yes, the half-day format and guided stops make it a straightforward introduction to both temples. The guide explains the history and what you're looking at, so you don't need prior knowledge. The morning timing also leaves your afternoon free to explore on your own or rest.