Karnak & Luxor Temples tour from Luxor: Egyptologist guide

The hypostyle hall and sacred lake of Karnak, then Ramses II's statues at Luxor Temple

A guided tour of Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple in Luxor, Egypt, with an English-speaking Egyptologist who meets you at your hotel and drives you between the two sites. Your guide explains the temples chronologically as you walk through the 62-acre Karnak complex, see the hypostyle hall and sacred lake, and visit Luxor Temple to view the colossal statues of Ramses II and carved pillars. The tour lasts 4 to 5 hours and includes bottled water, all fees and taxes, and an air-conditioned vehicle.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

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

Visit Karnak and Luxor Temples

• Meet Egyptologist at hotel lobby
• Drive to Karnak Temple
• Explore Karnak Temple complex
• Take photos at Karnak Temple
• Drive to Luxor Temple
• Explore Luxor Temple complex

The experience

The guide meets you at your hotel lobby and drives you to Karnak Temple, the larger of the two sites. Karnak sprawls across 62 acres of decayed temples, chapels, pylons and other structures built over centuries. Your Egyptologist explains what you are standing in front of: the sequence of construction, the purpose of each section, the hieroglyphics carved into the pillars. You walk through the hypostyle hall, visit the sacred lake, and photograph the gigantic obelisks. The guide helps you frame the best shots as you move through the temple sections.

From Karnak, the air-conditioned vehicle takes you to Luxor Temple on the east bank of the Nile. Built around 1400 BC and known in Egyptian as Ipet Resyt, the southern sanctuary, this temple holds colossal statues of Ramses II and pillars carved with hieroglyphics. Your guide walks you through the site, explaining the carvings and the temple's role in ancient Egyptian religion and daily life. The tour is paced so you see both temples without rushing, and the guide stops when you want to photograph or linger.

The whole experience runs 4 to 5 hours. Bottled water is provided, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. All entry fees and taxes are included in the price. The guide speaks English and is trained to make the day memorable and to help you capture the details that matter: the scale of the obelisks, the precision of the carved hieroglyphics, the layout of the complexes as they were built and rebuilt over dynasties.

What’s included

• English-speaking Egyptologist guide.
• hotel pickup and air-conditioned vehicle transport between the two temples.
• bottled water.
• all entry fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years): free

GroupPrivate

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

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Wonders of Egypt Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Luxor without a car and want a guide who explains the temples as you walk them, rather than exploring on your own. The pickup at your hotel and the fixed itinerary mean you don't arrange transport or entry separately, and the Egyptologist's chronological explanations make the scale and purpose of the 62-acre Karnak complex and the statues at Luxor Temple make sense as you move through them.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 5 years): free.

What is the hypostyle hall at Karnak Temple?

The hypostyle hall is a vast chamber at Karnak Temple filled with massive stone columns carved with hieroglyphics. Your guide will explain its purpose and the chronology of its construction as you walk through it.

Can I visit both Karnak and Luxor temples in one tour?

Yes. The tour includes both temples. Your guide drives you from Karnak to Luxor Temple, and the full itinerary takes 4 to 5 hours, so you see the major sites of both complexes in a single day.

What are the colossal statues of Ramses II at Luxor Temple?

Luxor Temple displays enormous statues of Ramses II carved from stone. Your guide will explain who Ramses II was, when the statues were built, and what they meant in ancient Egyptian culture as you stand in front of them.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes. Your guide meets you at your hotel lobby, drives you to Karnak Temple, then to Luxor Temple, and returns you to your hotel. The air-conditioned vehicle and all transport between sites are included.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included. The tour provides bottled water and lasts 4 to 5 hours. You can arrange a meal before or after the tour, or ask your guide for restaurant recommendations near the temples.