Luxor and Karnak Temples tour: Private guide on the East Bank

Walk two millennia of Egyptian history in one morning, from the avenue of sphinxes to the heart of the city.

A half-day tour of Luxor Temple and Karnak on the East Bank with a private English-speaking Egyptologist guide, hotel or station pickup, and return transport. The guide leads you through Karnak's 2,000-year construction history (from the avenue of sphinxes and great hypostyle hall to the sacred lake), then across to Luxor Temple in the city center, where Amenhotep III and Ramses II left their mark.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour Luxor and Karnak Temples

• Pick up from station, airport, hotel, or cruise
• Visit Karnak Temple complex
• Explore Luxor Temple
• Drive back to hotel or cruise

The experience

Your guide meets you at your Luxor hotel, train station or Nile cruise ship and drives you in a private air-conditioned vehicle to Karnak, the largest temple complex ever built in Egypt. The site sprawls across almost 2,000 years of construction: you walk the avenue of sphinxes with their lion bodies and ram heads, pass through the great pylons, and enter the hypostyle hall with 134 columns. The guide points out the obelisks, the sanctuary of Philip III, the Akh Menu of Tuthmosis III and the sacred lake. You get free time to wander the complex at your own pace before heading back to the car.

The second stop is Luxor Temple, located in the city center and marking the southern end of the sphinx avenue that once connected the two sites. Amenhotep III began it around 1386 BC, and Ramses II expanded it a century later. Tutankhamon, Horemheb and Alexander the Great all added to it. The guide walks you through the temple's layout and history, then the driver takes you back to your hotel or ship.

What’s included

• Private Egyptologist guide in your choice of language.
• pickup from your Luxor hotel, train station or Nile cruise.
• all transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• return transport to your starting point.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Chinese

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Love Egypt Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private vehicle and English-speaking Egyptologist guide for both temples, rather than joining a shared group tour with fixed stops.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★

19 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

How long is the Luxor and Karnak temples tour?

The tour runs five hours total, including pickup, transport between sites, time at each temple and the return drive.

What is the avenue of sphinxes at Karnak?

The avenue of sphinxes is a processional walkway lined with statues that have lion bodies and ram heads. It once connected Karnak Temple to Luxor Temple across the East Bank and is one of Karnak's most recognizable features.

Does the tour include entry fees to the temples?

Entry fees to Karnak and Luxor temples are not included in the tour price and are paid separately at each site.

Can I book this tour if I'm staying on a Nile cruise?

Yes, the guide picks you up from your Nile cruise ship and returns you there at the end of the tour, so the timing works around your ship's schedule.