Karnak & Luxor Temples Private Tour: Egyptologist Guide

Two temples, 134 columns, and the history of pharaohs told by someone who knows it.

A private half-day tour of Karnak Temple Complex and Luxor Temple in Luxor with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup, transport, entrance fees and bottled water included. You walk the Avenue of Sphinxes, stand inside the Great Hypostyle Hall with its forest of massive columns and sacred lake, then move to Luxor Temple to see statues of Ramses II and reliefs built over centuries by multiple pharaohs. The guide brings the history to life. The pace is yours to set.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Karnak Temple1h 30m · entry included
2. Luxor Temple1h · entry included

Explore Karnak and Luxor Temples

• Pickup from hotel or Nile cruise
• Visit Karnak Temple Complex
• Walk along Avenue of Sphinxes
• Explore Great Hypostyle Hall and obelisks
• See sacred lake and sanctuary
• Tour Luxor Temple with guide
• Admire statues, courtyards, and reliefs
• Free time to explore Luxor Temple
• Return to drop-off point in Luxor

The experience

Your guide picks you up from your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise on the East Bank and drives you to Karnak Temple Complex, the largest religious site ever built in ancient Egypt. You walk the Avenue of Sphinxes past monumental gateways and towering pylons, then step into the Great Hypostyle Hall: a forest of 134 massive columns carved with hieroglyphic detail. The sacred lake sits nearby, and the sanctuary of Philip III Arrhidaeus anchors the complex. Your Egyptologist guide narrates the pharaohs, gods and legends as you move through the open-air museum. You stop to photograph and absorb the scale of what you're standing inside.

From Karnak, the private vehicle takes you to Luxor Temple in the heart of the city. This temple was once connected to Karnak by the Avenue of Sphinxes: part of that legendary route still forms the entrance today. You see towering statues of Ramses II, grand courtyards, monumental pylons and intricately carved reliefs. The temple was begun by Amenhotep III and expanded over centuries by Tutankhamun, Horemheb, Ramses II and even Alexander the Great, so the building itself is a record of continuous construction and cultural influence. Despite Nile floods and thousands of years of exposure, the reliefs remain remarkably well preserved. After the guided portion, you have free time to explore at your own pace before returning to your drop-off point in Luxor.

What’s included

• Hotel or cruise ship pickup and return transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• entrance fees to Karnak Temple Complex and Luxor Temple.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• a private Egyptologist guide who speaks English (Spanish, Italian, French and other languages available).
• all service charges and taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Vehicle and Tour Guide ServiceGuide in 6 languages · 6 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 15:30Optional: entry fees to Karnak Temple (EGP 600) and Luxor Temple (EGP 500), charged per person. Tour guide speaks a language other than English. Lasts 4 hours, with bottled water. Vehicle options: limousine, minivan, van or coaster car. Includes an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, traffic permit, an air-conditioned modern car and a professional driver. Pickup is included.

Private guided tour, premium editionGuide in 6 languages · 6 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 15:30Private tour lasting 4 hours, with bottled water. Vehicle options: limousine, minivan, van or coaster car. Includes entry fees to historical sites, an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, an air-conditioned modern car and a professional driver. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 15:30

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

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

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 29 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Nile Holiday

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want an Egyptologist's insight into how the temples were built and rebuilt over centuries, rather than walking them alone. The private guide and flexible pace let you linger at the columns, reliefs and statues that hold your attention, and you skip the logistics of finding transport and paying entrance fees separately.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Temple?

The Great Hypostyle Hall is a vast chamber inside Karnak Temple filled with 134 massive columns carved with hieroglyphic detail. It is one of the most visually striking spaces in the complex and a centerpiece of the tour.

How long does the tour take and what time does it start?

The tour is a half-day experience lasting around four hours. Your guide picks you up from your hotel or Nile cruise in the morning, though the exact start time is arranged when you book.

Will I have time to take photos at both temples?

Yes. The itinerary includes photo stops at Karnak Temple, and at Luxor Temple you have free time after the guided portion to explore and photograph at your own pace.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and return transport, entrance fees to both temples, bottled water during the tour, and a private English-speaking Egyptologist guide are all included. Service charges and taxes are also covered.

Do I need to arrange anything before the tour starts?

No. Your guide handles the entrance fees, transport and timing. You just need to be ready for pickup at your hotel or cruise ship on the East Bank of Luxor.