Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show in Luxor: Private Evening

The temple's stories are told by light, not by a guide standing beside you.

A private Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple in Luxor uses colored lights, projections and recorded narration to tell the histories of Egypt's greatest Pharaohs across the temple's columns and courtyards. Hotel pickup and return are included, along with an air-conditioned vehicle and all taxes. Entry fees are optional at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening Sound and Light Show at Karnak

• Pickup from hotel or Nile cruise
• Travel to Karnak Temple
• Walk along Avenue of Sphinxes
• Watch Sound and Light Show
• Listen to Pharaohs' narration
• See finale at Sacred Lake
• Return to hotel

The Experience

Your evening starts with pickup from your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise in a private air-conditioned car. The driver takes you to Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex ever built in ancient Egypt and dedicated to the god Amun. Once the sun sets, the show begins: colored lights wash across the stone columns and walls while a recorded voice—speaking as a Pharaoh—narrates the reigns of Tutankhamun, Ramses II and Queen Hatshepsut. You walk the Avenue of Sphinxes and through the grand halls as the temple transforms around you, each lit section revealing a different chapter of Egypt's past.

The finale happens beside the Sacred Lake, where the lights reflect off the water and create a moment the operator describes as truly magical. After the show ends, the driver returns you to your hotel in the same comfort you left in. The whole evening runs about two hours from pickup to drop-off.

The show is in English, and the experience is wheelchair accessible throughout—all surfaces are accessible, and specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with small children. If you want to add entry fees to Karnak Temple at checkout, you can; otherwise, the private transport and the show itself are included.

What’s included

• Private hotel or cruise pickup and return transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• the Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple with English-language narration.
• access to the Avenue of Sphinxes and the temple's illuminated halls and courtyards.
• all taxes and service charges.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Luxor Booking Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see Karnak Temple at night when the crowds have left and the lights make the scale of the place impossible to miss—the private car means you skip the group gathering points and the shared shuttle wait, so the evening stays yours from pickup onward.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What exactly happens during the Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple?

Colored lights and projections illuminate the temple's columns, courtyards and walls while a recorded narration tells the stories of Tutankhamun, Ramses II and Queen Hatshepsut. You walk through the lit sections of the temple, including the Avenue of Sphinxes and the grand halls, and the show concludes with a finale beside the Sacred Lake where light reflects off the water.

Is hotel pickup included in this private show?

Yes, private pickup from your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise and return transport are included. You travel in a modern air-conditioned vehicle, and all taxes and service charges are covered.

How long does the Sound and Light Show experience take?

The entire evening, including pickup, the show and return to your hotel, takes about two hours.

Do I need to buy entry fees separately, or are they included?

Entry fees to Karnak Temple are optional—you can add them at checkout if you want, or book just the private transport and show. Either way, all taxes and service charges are included in the price.

Is the Sound and Light Show accessible for people with mobility concerns or families with infants?

Yes, the experience is wheelchair accessible throughout, with all areas and surfaces accessible. Specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with small children, and you can also bring a pram or stroller.