Private Half-Day Karnak & Luxor Temples Tour: Egyptologist Guide

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Arabic15 departure times, from 07:00 to 14:00

Guide in Spanish, French or German15 departure times, from 07:00 to 14:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Two temples, one guide, four hours: Karnak's vast sanctuary and Luxor's riverside columns

A private half-day tour of Luxor's two major temples with a professional Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup and lunch included. You visit Karnak Temple, dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut and Khonsu, then move to Luxor Temple, built by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II. The guide explains the history and architecture at each site. Transport and meals are arranged, so the day holds together without you building it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Karnak Temple2h
2. Luxor Temple1h

Visit Karnak and Luxor Temples

• Pick up from hotel or cruise
• Tour Karnak Temple with Egyptologist
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Transfer back to hotel or cruise

The Experience

Your guide picks you up from your hotel or cruise ship and drives you in an air-conditioned vehicle to Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex in ancient Egypt. The temple was built over centuries and dedicated to the god Amun, his wife Mut, and their son Khonsu, the Theban triad. Your Egyptologist walks you through the site and explains the history and meaning of what you're standing in front of, from the massive pylons to the inner sanctuaries. This is the kind of detail that makes the stones readable instead of just large.

After Karnak, you move to Luxor Temple on the East Bank, built by Amenhotep III in the 18th Dynasty and later completed by Ramses II. The temple sits closer to the river and has a different character: more compact, with its own sequence of courts and pylons. Lunch is included during the tour, so you eat without breaking the flow of the day or hunting for a restaurant. Once you've finished at Luxor Temple, your guide returns you to your hotel or cruise ship.

What’s included

• Professional private Egyptologist guide in your chosen language.
• hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off on the East Bank.
• lunch.
• all taxes and service charges.

Days and timesDaily · 15 departure times, from 07:00 to 14:00

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Nice tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the two major temples on the East Bank explained by someone who knows the history and architecture. The guide's knowledge is what turns a walk through ruins into a readable story. If you're staying on the West Bank, pickup there costs an extra $5 per person.

Traveler reviews

4.79★★★★★★★★★★

356 verified traveler reviews

5 ★322

4 ★16

3 ★6

2 ★2

1 ★10

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

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

What is Karnak Temple and why was it built?

Karnak Temple was the greatest religious complex in ancient Egypt, built over centuries and dedicated to Amun, his wife Mut, and their son Khonsu: known as the Theban triad. The site grew as successive pharaohs added temples, pylons and sanctuaries, making it one of the largest and most complex temple sites in the world.

Can I do this tour if I'm staying on a cruise ship?

Yes, the tour includes pickup from your cruise ship on the East Bank, so you don't need to arrange separate transport to the temples. Your guide will return you to the ship after the tour ends.

How long does the tour take and what's included?

The tour runs four hours and includes your private Egyptologist guide, hotel or cruise pickup and drop-off, lunch, and all taxes and service charges. Entrance fees to the temples are not included in the price.

What's the difference between Karnak and Luxor temples?

Karnak Temple is the larger, more sprawling complex dedicated to the Theban triad and built over many centuries. Luxor Temple is smaller, sits closer to the river, and was built by Amenhotep III then completed by Ramses II. Both are on the East Bank and visited in the same tour.

Is this tour suitable for children or people with limited mobility?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and public transportation options are available nearby if you need them.